Russia plans major drone production expansion with Belarus
Russia has proposed to Belarus the construction of drone factories on its territory, with the potential to produce up to 100,000 drones annually. Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that this presents a "huge prospect" for his country, according to Russian and Belarusian media reports. The project was proposed by one of Vladimir Putin's key advisors.
Russia will build a drone factory in Belarus to "ensure security" for its key ally, Belarusian state media reported. The initiative was suggested by Maksim Oreshkin, one of Vladimir Putin's key advisors and deputy head of his administration.
During a joint viewing of the Russian drone exhibition in Minsk, Oreshkin told Lukashenko that Russia could build the factories in Belarus. He mentioned that such facilities could be constructed within a year and would produce "all key components" using Russian technical solutions.
We are ready to build a factory, Lukashenko declared. He added that this is a "huge prospect" for his country.
- It is very important for Belarus to have its own production facilities that will make the country's economy and security sector truly sovereign. These facilities will use the technologies and solutions that Russia has, said Maksim Oreshkin.
Russia is using drones en masse in the war with Ukraine
Once full production capacity is achieved, the factory would produce up to 100,000 drones annually. Moscow and Minsk need to finalize the remaining details of the factory construction, including its location.
The Belsat TV portal highlighted that Oreshkin noted that drones are "changing both the civilian and military spheres," without mentioning that Russia is using them en masse in the war against Ukraine.
He reminded that Belarus currently produces its own drones, but it is unknown in what quantities and whether they are supplied to Russia. There have been no signals indicating that this production is on a large scale.
