Russia to Boost Carbon-Fiber Output for Attack Drones, Targeting 500 Tons Annually by 2029

Russian officials have approved a major expansion of carbon-fiber manufacturing at the Rosatom-run Alabuga-Volokno plant, targeting an additional 500 tonnes of material each year by 2029. This output would be sufficient to fabricate the airframes of about 28,000 Shahed-136-type drones annually, according to expert analysis. The initiative aims to cut reliance on Chinese imports and meet the growing carbon-fiber needs of Russia’s military and aerospace sectors, including the Geran attack-drone line that currently yields more than 36,000 units per year.

Construction of a new raw-material facility in the Alabuga special economic zone began in August, with the full complex expected to be operational in 2027. Analysts project that the boosted capacity could enable Russia to scale drone production to 130,000 units by 2030 and 350,000 by 2035, underscoring a long-term strategic push for self-sufficiency in unmanned weapons.