A large underground facility that could be used to produce Geran strike drones is under construction at the Alabuga industrial complex in Russia’s Tatarstan region, according to Military Watch Magazine, citing satellite imagery analyzed by the Ukrainian OSINT project Dnipro Osint.

Around 42,000 square meters of underground space is estimated to have already been built. Part of Alabuga’s drone production could eventually be moved into the new facilities, although their intended purpose has not been officially disclosed.

Military Watch links the construction of protected underground infrastructure to the threat of Ukrainian strikes. Alabuga is located approximately 1,200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and has previously been targeted in attacks.

The complex is Russia’s main production center for Geran drones. Airframe components and engines are manufactured there, while electronics are installed and completed drones are assembled and stored at the site. Production has expanded significantly in recent years, turning what was initially concentrated in several buildings into a much larger industrial network.

According to figures cited by the publication, Geran production has increased more than tenfold. Output reportedly rose from around 300 drones per month to more than 100 per day. There have also been reports that production capacity could eventually reach as many as 500 drones daily.

The Geran-2, based on the Iranian Shahed-136, was first used by Russian forces in September 2022. The drone has since undergone multiple upgrades, with new variants appearing, including the jet-powered Geran-5.

Military Watch notes that if assessments about the underground facility’s purpose prove correct, moving part of the production process below ground could significantly improve the plant’s protection against potential strikes.