Alabuga-Volokno in Tatarstan is expanding its carbon fiber production: a new line is expected to add up to 500 tons of aerospace carbon fiber per year. This is reported by POLITICO.

According to expert David Albright, as cited by POLITICO, the additional volume of carbon fiber could provide material for the production of approximately 28,000 Geran-type drone bodies per year. This figure is the specialist's estimate, not a stated production plan of the enterprise. For comparison, POLITICO cites an estimate according to which the current production of Russian drones of this family exceeds 36,000 units per year.

Carbon fiber is used in the airframe design: according to Albright, the material is used to reinforce the wing and internal elements, including structures around the engine and fuel tank. Therefore, the expansion of raw material production is considered by POLITICO as one of the elements for increasing drone production capabilities.

The documents provide for the construction of a new production line, with its launch and achievement of full capacity belonging to different stages of the project. POLITICO indicates completion of construction in 2027 and reaching design capacity in 2029.

One of the project's goals, according to the publication's sources, is to reduce dependence on imported materials and provide carbon fiber to Russian strategic industries.