Skhemy: Satellite images show Russia actively increasing production capacity at military plants
Satellite images obtained by Skhemy journalists show that Russia is actively increasing production capacity at its military plants.
These include companies that manufacture and repair tactical and strategic aircraft, combat helicopters, and assemble military drones and guided munitions.
These companies are building new hangars and workshops.
In particular, a new hangar was spotted at the Kazan Aviation Plant. It produces strategic bombers used to launch missiles at Ukraine. The new hangar was built this year. It consists of two combined buildings housing the workshop.
Although the first construction work began in 2018, it was in 2022 that construction accelerated - and this year, according to satellite photos, it was almost completed.
Journalists noticed that in the period from 2019 to 2021, an extension with access to the runway appeared on the territory of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant near the main facilities, and this year the construction of another, similar facility is being completed. Most likely, the second building will also be connected to the runway.
Aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi says that such a building is similar to a hangar, but only for routine maintenance and minor repairs.
In the period of 2021-2023, a large building appeared next to the Dubna Machine-Building Plant and Kronstadt, which began construction in 2021 and was completed this year, according to satellite photos. Two helipads have also been set up nearby. This building shares a common entrance with the territory of the Dubna Machine-Building Plant.
This building is a new private plant for the production of Russian UAVs owned by the Kronstadt Engineering company.
Kronstadt announced its creation back in 2021. The company's profile is the production of military drones under the Orion, Helios, and other brands, with various modifications ranging from reconnaissance to attack drones.
Kronshtadt is a company associated with the AFC-System holding of Russian oligarch Vladimir Yevtushenkov, who is close to Putin.
In May 2022, the management of AFK-Systems announced its withdrawal from Kronstadt, while, according to the Russian register of legal entities, AFK-Systems still holds a 49.6% stake in Kronstadt's subsidiary KT-Unmanned Systems, which, according to the company's official website, cooperates with the Russian Ministry of Defence and the FSS.
