Russia has expanded its Yelabuga UAV factory in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone to 116 buildings by early 2026, as shown in CSIS satellite imagery. The site, established in 2023 near Kazan on the Kama River, produces Geran-2 drones, Russian variants of the Iranian Shahed-136, measuring 3.5 meters long, weighing 200 kilograms, with a 50-kilogram warhead, capable of reaching 1,800 kilometers at 300 km/h.
Initial construction repurposed two large buildings from a March 2021 project in the southeast corner of the zone, evolving into a multi-building complex with walkways, storage, and security. Expansion includes new factory complexes, accommodation blocks, parking, and rows of small structures for personnel housing, visible in imagery from June to July 2025. The zone added four industrial plots covering 163 hectares, with a fifth 30-hectare area prepared.
Three Pantsir air defense systems, completed in 2025, protect the facility, which Ukraine has targeted with drones. Workforce growth involves imported labor, including women from African countries under vocational programs and potential North Korean workers up to 25,000. A Russian Defense Ministry video shows teenagers on Geran-2 assembly lines. Production exceeds 5,000 long-range drones monthly, with 18,000 expected in the first half of 2025, supporting nightly attacks averaging over 500 UAVs and missiles on Ukraine.
Paintball fields linked to a local school appear in recent imagery, alongside dormitories with kitchens and workshops. The site underscores Russia’s commitment to UAV/UCAV manufacturing for tactical and operational use.