Russia's aircraft production boom faces critical challenges, ISW reports
Tu-160 aircraft (Photo: Getty Images)
Russia is trying to increase the production of combat aircraft in the medium and long term, but this process is slowing down due to a number of factors, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to analysts, the Finnish edition of Yle previously cited satellite images showing that Russia built or expanded at least five buildings totaling 19,000 square meters at the Kazan Aviation Plant between mid-2024 and May 2025.
It is noted that the facility manufactures and modernizes Russian strategic aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-160M, Tu-160M2, and Tu-22M3, as well as helicopters. Russian authorities plan to continue expanding the construction until the end of 2026 to increase the plant’s production capacity, analysts report.
In January 2025, Russian officials reported that a new workshop had already been built. They also boasted about modernizing production technology and acquiring new equipment.
It was claimed that the Kazan plant plans to produce four Tu-214 aircraft by 2025, seven by 2026, 17 by 2027, and 28 by 2028.
According to the ISW, the plant is struggling to keep up with modernization and production plans due to sanctions and a prolonged labor shortage in Russia. In 2024, the facility delivered only two Tu-160M2 and two Tu-160M aircraft.
“Sanctions and parts and labor shortages will likely continue to slow Russia's aircraft production, even as Russia works to expand physical production capabilitie,” the ISW noted.
Ukraine’s strike on Russian airbases
On June 1, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out Operation Spiderweb. SBU drones attacked multiple Russian airfields simultaneously.
The drones hit four military bases: Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, and Ivanovo. A total of 41 aircraft were damaged, nearly one-third of Russia’s strategic aviation capable of launching cruise missiles.
The SBU estimated Russia’s losses from this single Ukrainian special operation at approximately $7 billion.
