Russia is preparing to build 100,000 drones on the NATO threshold
- Russia is preparing to build a factory in Belarus that can form up to 100,000 drones per year.
- Moscow said the factory would bring “effective security” to Minsk, but it did not say whether it was related to weapons.
- Russia aims to build millions of drones annually, but a factory in Belarus is experimenting with production from NATO.
Belarus said on Thursday that it was open to host a Russian factory that can build up to 100,000 drones annually, which expands Moscow’s production to the backyard of NATO.
The Russian actors, including Maxim Orichkin – Deputy Chief of Staff of the Kremlin – suggested the idea at the drone exhibition In Minsk on Thursday.
“This is a high possibility for us,” said the leader of the bikander Lukashenko, who attended the event with Orangein, in a statement from his office.
The Belarusian officials at the exhibition said the factory will initially build 2000 drones for agriculture and other logistics services.
Although Oreshkin did not explicitly say that the factory will also be used to build military drones, it will bring “effective security” to berus.
“This, of course, is the issue of guaranteeing sovereignty,” Orangein told the Belarusian government media.
Lukashenko said that Belarus would indicate aircraft specialists in April and May, but he did not specify when the factory is expected to finish the building.
Russia said in September it is already able to build 1.4 million drones annually, but official production has focused deeply on its territory through areas such as Tataretan. Some Russian volunteer groups also provide their forces with cheaper drones.
A factory in Belarus will expand the official production to a country on the borders of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The three are NATO members who seek to expand defensive spending quickly with high concerns about a growing Russian threat.
These efforts also include the production of drones at the end: Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are part of a European alliance from six countries planning to build a “drone” to buy their eastern borders.
The rest of the world is closed in the armament race to increase the ability of drones, and Russia and Ukraine were at the forefront. Both say they want to build 3 to 4 million drones in 2025.
However, military drones can vary in size and function, and it is not clear the type of drone that intends to help manufacture. For example, the Kremlin relied on the long -term Iranian aircraft to harass Ukrainian cities.
At the same time, the war witnessed the sharp rise in the explosives drone, which serves as a cheap, deadly and accurate means to attack the valuable forces and equipment.
Regular Air Force reports in Ukraine say that it usually lands about 1,000 Russian drones-a mixture of Shahid, drones from the first person, and surveying drones.
Belarus is already hosting many important Russian capabilities, including tactical nuclear weapons and advanced air defense systems. In 2022, Moscow forces used the country to station part of the invasion force to attack the northern border of Ukraine.
Press services for the defense ministries in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia did not respond to requests for comments sent outside the regular working hours by Business Insider.