06:38 15-09-2025

Russia Emerges as Drone Superpower with Record UAV Production

Russia has rapidly expanded drone production, launching over 34,000 UAVs in 2025 and overtaking Ukraine’s edge. Experts say output could double by 2026.

Russia has made a rapid leap in drone development, becoming one of the world’s leading producers in just a few years, according to The New York Times. What began as a limited-use capability has grown into an industrial-scale enterprise that has left Ukraine’s once-notable advantage in the field behind.

The report notes that Moscow has turned unmanned aerial systems into a national priority, drawing on both state and private resources to build what some analysts describe as a «drone empire." While three years ago Russia deployed UAVs only occasionally, it now has the capacity to launch hundreds of strike drones and decoys in a single night.

This surge was made possible by the opening of two large-scale production facilities and the involvement of regional industries, manufacturing complexes, and even educational institutions. Journalists point out that in 2025 alone, Russia sent more than 34,000 drones and decoys toward Ukraine-nearly nine times more than during the same period a year earlier.

Experts estimate that current Russian output stands at around 30,000 strike drones annually, with the potential to double by 2026. This expansion has completely erased Ukraine’s initial lead in drone warfare.

From the outset of the conflict, drones have been central to Russian battlefield tactics. Operators provide round-the-clock surveillance, effectively serving as the eyes of frontline units and tracking enemy movements in real time. Beyond reconnaissance, Russian UAVs are actively employed in destroying Ukrainian military assets, equipment, and personnel, making them one of the most decisive tools on the front line.