Surge in Russian Drone Production Amid Ongoing Conflict and Escalating Military Actions

Drone manufacturing in Russia has seen a swift surge, as indicated by a report released on Friday by the Kremlin-aligned Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF).

This escalation occurs despite ongoing international appeals for a ceasefire in Ukraine and renewed discussions between Moscow and Kyiv.

In May, Russia experienced nearly a 17% increase in the output of combat drones compared to April, continuing its efforts to advance on Ukraine’s Eastern front.

The average production growth of drones over the five months preceding this was 3.7%.

The report highlighted that the average daily production of drones reached an unprecedented high in May.

Approximately two-thirds of this increase stemmed from a significant rise in sectors focused on military manufacturing.

The center reported that the current production rate has surged to 1.6 times the average monthly output anticipated for 2024.

In April, Vladimir Putin called for a major boost in drone production, noting that while 1.5 million drones had been manufactured in 2024, this figure was deemed “insufficient” for Russia’s military needs.

Concurrently, Russian offensives have become markedly more lethal. For instance, on May 25, a strike involving 367 drones and missiles caused 12 fatalities.

On June 8, Russia executed a massive assault, deploying 479 drones and 20 missiles, which was the largest bombardment since the onset of hostilities.

Konrad Muzyka, director of the Polish firm Rochan Consulting, which monitors the situation, informed the Financial Times that “Russia is now capable of carrying out actions reminiscent of strategies used by Russian and Soviet forces in past conflicts: targeting civilian populations, critical infrastructure, as well as military installations.”

He remarked that “in June, they have already launched 4,342 drones, and if the current pace continues, the total could surpass 5,000 by month’s end.”