Shahed production in Russia hits 2,000 drones monthly

Among the downed Russian long-range Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones in recent days was one with the serial number "Ы 11934." A photo of the wreckage, captured by Anadolu Agency and distributed via Getty Images, shows the remnants of the drone that the enemy attempted to use during an attack on Kharkiv on December 21, 2024.

If serial numbers were issued without gaps, this suggests that Russia has produced around 10,000 Shahed drones in 2024 at its own facilities, Defense Express reports. In February 2024, drones with the index "Ы" already had numbers exceeding 2,600, with the first instance of such markings recorded in July 2023.

Initially, Russia used drones with the "М" index, believed to be exclusively Iranian-made. Starting in 2023, the "К" and, to a lesser extent, "КБ" series appeared, indicating assembly in Russia. However, these series are no longer observed.

This indicates that Russia's production of Shaheds at the Alabuga facility has achieved a significant pace. The production rate exceeded 1,000 drones per month—an average figure for the year during which monthly output increased. By late October 2024, serial number "Ы 7069" was documented.

If the numbering of "Ы 11934" is sequential, the monthly production rate of Shaheds in Russia has reached about 2,000 units by the end of the year, doubling earlier figures of around 1,000 units per month. How Russia managed to double production remains an open question.

It is worth noting that Russia's Alabuga plant achieved its goal of producing 6,000 Shaheds a year earlier than planned. The target was initially set for September 2025. This underscores the critical importance of strikes like the one carried out by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, which destroyed a storage facility for components.