Russia plans to significantly increase production of Geran strike drones by expanding the output of materials needed for their manufacture, Politico reported.

One of the main areas of expansion will be carbon fiber production. Additional capacity is planned at the Alabuga-Volokno plant in Tatarstan.

According to information published on the plant’s website, the project calls for the construction of four new production lines. The expansion is expected to raise carbon fiber output to 10,000 tons, while sites for the additional equipment have already been prepared.

David Albright, an expert cited by Politico, estimated that this volume would be sufficient to manufacture airframes for roughly 28,000 drones per year. Based on a Ukrainian estimate that current annual Geran production exceeds 36,000 units, the additional capacity could represent an increase of about 78 percent.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2027, with the plant expected to reach its planned production levels during 2028.

Politico also reported that the expansion could reduce Russia’s dependence on Chinese carbon fiber supplies while providing additional material for the aviation and defense industries.

Earlier, Ukrainian military intelligence said Russia was increasing both the production and use of the new Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet-powered drones. According to the Ukrainian agency, some of the manufactured drones were allegedly being placed in storage to build reserves in case the conflict expands. Earlier piston-powered versions of the Geran drone also continue to be used in strikes.