Russia expands Kazan aircraft plant — Satellite images reveal new hangars
Photo: Russia is preparing to produce more strategic bombers (Getty Images)
Russia ramps up aircraft production at Kazan Aviation Plant. Satellite images reveal nearly 19,000 square meters of new hangars, Yle reports.
Russia is actively expanding the Kazan Aviation Plant, which plays a key role in the production of strategic aircraft. Satellite imagery shows new hangars under construction, with the largest measuring up to 320 meters in length.
What happened
According to the outlet, tens of thousands of square meters of new production space were added to the Kazan plant in 2025.
This is part of a large-scale modernization project worth around 90 billion rubles (nearly 1 billion euros), expected to be completed no earlier than the end of next year.
The expansion is driven by the Kremlin’s aim to offset losses from Western sanctions and boost domestic aircraft production for both military and civilian use.
The Kazan Aviation Plant is the only facility in Russia capable of manufacturing Tu-160M and Tu-160M2 strategic bombers, which Moscow actively uses in strikes against Ukraine. The plant is also involved in upgrading Tu-22M3 bombers.
Photos: Kazan Aviation Plant a year ago vs. late May 2025 (Planet Labs PBC)
This is the same facility whose aircraft Ukraine has targeted with drone strikes deep behind enemy lines.
However, military experts note that actual production progress is slow — in 2024, the plant delivered only a few modernized aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Production challenges
Despite large-scale expansion, the plant is facing serious difficulties.
Due to sanctions, there is a shortage of components, as well as a lack of personnel — some have been mobilized or lost in the war. The production of civilian Tu-214 aircraft is also lagging: out of 23 ordered, only one has been completed so far.
In 2024, even Aeroflot threatened to cancel its order due to delays. However, experts say that’s unlikely, as too much state funding has already been invested.
Operation Spiderweb
On June 1, Ukrainian drones struck Russian strategic aviation stationed at the airbases.
As a result of the operation, Ukrainian forces managed to hit 41 enemy aircraft — most of them strategic bombers used by Russia to launch missile strikes on Ukraine.
According to recent remarks by Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) chief Vasyl Malyuk, the attack involved 117 unique drones equipped with specialized shaped-charge and high-explosive warheads.
