Putin Announces Tenfold Increase in Russian Drone Production to 1.4 Million for 2024

Sep 19, 2024, 09:04 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a significant increase in the country's drone production for 2024. At a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission on Special Purpose UAVs in St. Petersburg, Putin stated that Russia plans to produce nearly 1.4 million drones this year, a tenfold increase from the 140,000 units produced in 2023. This ramp-up in production is intended to bolster the Russian armed forces' capabilities in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, Putin revealed plans to establish 48 special research and production centers by 2030 to further enhance drone design, testing, and production. Sergej Chemezov, general director of the Russian state corporation Rosteh, which provides almost 80 percent of all weapons, also announced increased production of combat boats without crew.