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First Post
19 hours ago
- Science
- First Post
Directed Energy Weapons: Why India must take the lead
Directed Energy Weapons offer advantages such as high speed, precision, and the potential for lower cost per shot compared to traditional weapons–the future of weaponry lies in DEWs read more India successfully tested the Mk-II (A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) this April at the National Open Air Range (NOAR) in Kurnool. The 30 kW (kilowatt) laser weapon designed to neutralise drones, UAVs, and other aerial threats puts India in a select group of nations with this capability. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) trial demonstrated the system's ability to disable surveillance sensors and cause structural damage to drones. DEWs are a type of ranged weapon that use concentrated energy, rather than physical projectiles, to damage or disable targets. This energy can be in the form of lasers, microwaves, or particle beams. DEWs offer advantages such as high speed, precision, and the potential for lower cost per shot compared to traditional weapons, but they also pose challenges related to atmospheric conditions and potential long-term health effects. The world's leading defence companies are working towards DEWs. DEW could also use a beam of sound for crowd control and other policing functions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Directed Energy Weapons DEWs emit highly focused electromagnetic energy, which is directed at the target, causing damage by heating, melting, or disrupting electronic systems. The specific type of energy used determines the wavelength and how effectively it can penetrate different materials. High-Energy Lasers (HEL) can be continuous or pulsed, delivering power outputs as low as 1 kW. Their precision allows them to target and melt metal, plastic, and other materials. They can be used to destroy or disable drones, missiles, and other airborne threats, as well as to damage or destroy ground-based targets. Millimetre Wave Weapons (MWW) operate in the 1 to 10-millimetre wavelength range, delivering more than 1 kilowatt of power. They can affect multiple targets simultaneously due to their broader beam. High-Power Microwaves (HPM) generate microwaves with longer wavelengths than lasers or millimetre waves. They're capable of producing around 100 megawatts of power and can disrupt multiple targets within their larger beam area and can disrupt or disable electronic systems, including those in vehicles, aircraft, and communication systems. Particle Beam Weapons (PBW), which are still under development, could potentially be used to damage or destroy targets at much greater ranges. DEW Advantages Advantages of DEWs include action at the speed of light, allowing for near-instantaneous engagement of targets. DEWs are very precise and can be directed with high accuracy, minimising collateral damage. DEWs are highly cost-effective and potentially much less expensive per shot than traditional weapons. DEWs can continue to fire as long as they have a power source, unlike traditional weapons with limited ammunition. DEWs can be used discreetly; radiation does not generate sound and is invisible if outside the visible spectrum. Light is, for practical purposes, unaffected by gravity and wind, giving it an almost perfectly flat trajectory. This makes aim much more precise and extends the range to line-of-sight, limited only by beam diffraction and spread and absorption or scattering by intervening atmospheric contents. Lasers travel at light speed and have a long range, making them suitable for use in space warfare. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD DEWs offer a spectrum of effects from nonlethal to lethal that can be influenced by factors such as exposure time, distance, and target area. Moreover, they can be employed in a graduated manner. Nonlethal responses include temporarily disabling electronic systems or preventing access to specific physical areas or systems, while degradation involves reducing the effectiveness of enemy sensors or electronics. Lethal responses entail destroying or severely damaging targets by focusing energy to melt or incapacitate critical components. Unlike traditional munitions, DEWs can offer benefits such as temporary and reversible effects. They can degrade or disable electronic systems without completely destroying them. DEWs are currently moving from the research and development phase to the practical deployment phase. Many countries are investing in DEW technology, and the market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. DEW Challenges and Limitations Adverse weather (fog, rain, dust) can interfere with laser beams and reduce their effectiveness. DEWs can lose effectiveness over longer distances due to atmospheric absorption and scattering. Opposing forces can develop countermeasures to deflect or disrupt DEWs. DEWs could potentially cause unintended harm to their own personnel or equipment, and their long-term health effects are not fully understood. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Taking DEWs from development to operational deployment presents challenges. Operationally, wide-beam DEWs can affect both friendly and enemy assets within the area of impact. They may also struggle against well-shielded targets or in environments where line-of-sight is obstructed. Additionally, international norms and regulations related to DEWs are in their infancy and do not offer a clear framework by which to mitigate the risks of their use. Furthermore, there are open-ended questions over the ability of existing industrial supply chains to produce DEW capabilities at scale. Practical Military Applications DEWs offer practical air and surface defence applications. Specifically, they are best oriented to counter slower-moving and swarm threats such as drones, rockets, artillery, and mortars by disrupting or destroying their electronic components and guidance systems. DEWs are frequently cited as having potential for missile defence, including against ICBMs, but the technological challenges to such applications are currently prohibitive. The US Department of Defence claims that DEWs have the potential to counter slower-moving missile threats such as anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, the basic logic being that DEWs are a lower-cost way to defeat less advanced aerial threats that would allow more expensive interceptors to be saved for the faster and more troublesome ballistic threats that DEWs cannot reliably engage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It's also possible that DEW capabilities could be used against enemy surface boats and autonomous maritime vehicles, as well as adversarial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. DEW will be increasingly used to blind and destroy satellites. Leading Global Players in DEW In the United States, the Pentagon, DARPA, and the service-specific military research laboratories are all researching DEWs to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles. These systems of missile defence have already begun getting operational. China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and Israel are also developing military-grade DEWs, while Iran and Turkey claim to have them in active service. Some of the leading global private players in defence are involved in the DEW market. These include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Northrop Grumman, with significant contributions from Boeing, BAE Systems, and others. These companies are actively involved in research, development, and deployment of various DEW technologies, including lasers and high-power microwaves, for defence applications. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lockheed Martin is particularly interested in laser weapon systems for defence against various threats. Raytheon Technologies (now RTX) is known for its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS), deployed in multiple countries. Northrop Grumman focuses on solid-state laser technology and has developed a 500-kilowatt laser system. The Boeing Company develops compact and mobile DEW systems, like the Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS). BAE Systems is a major defence contractor with expertise in various DEW technologies. L3Harris Technologies is a key supplier of components for DEW systems. Leonardo S.p.A, a global leader in aerospace, defence, and security, has expertise in high-energy laser technologies. Other significant players include Germany's Rheinmetall AG, involved in the development of DEWs. French multinational Thales Group has a presence in the DEW market. Israel's Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd is a significant player. Major Indian Companies DRDO, India's primary defence research organisation, is actively developing DEWs. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are major players in India's DEW market. Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC) is an Indian research centre focusing on laser technology for defence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These companies are actively involved in research, development, and deployment of various DEW technologies, including lasers and high-power microwaves, for defence applications. The market is seeing increased investment and collaboration between these companies to develop advanced DEW systems for various applications, including countering drones, missiles, and other threats. Simultaneously, the private sector is also developing laser and high-power microwave-based air defence and counter-drone systems by companies like Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), Adani Defence, Tonbo Imaging, Big Bang Boom Solutions, and Paras Defence. DRDO's DEW Programme The Mk-II (A) 'Shahastra Shakti' is a vehicle-mounted laser DEW system. At the heart of the Mk-II (A) is a 30-kilowatt high-energy laser. During trials, it demonstrated the ability to engage lightweight helicopters and long-endurance UAVs at distances of up to 3.5 kilometres. It showcased its entire spectrum of capability by engaging fixed-wing drones at long range, thwarting a multiple drone attack, and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae. It is evolving into the most potent counter-drone system and is designed for flexible deployment from ground vehicles or naval vessels and can be transported by air, sea, or road. DRDO intends to operationally field the Mk-II (A) by 2027. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The prototype of the Mk-II (A) DEW system has been under a prolonged development of DRDO at the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad, along with Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), and Defence Laboratory (DL) Jodhpur, in harnessing the high power of laser. The critical subsystems along with components are designed and developed indigenously by CHESS, other DRDO laboratories, academic institutions, and more than 15 Indian industries. The cost of firing it for a few seconds is equivalent to the cost of a couple of litres of petrol. All three Indian armed forces are already using the earlier version of DEW Mk-I as part of their air-defence capabilities. The new system is capable of engaging aerial targets at greater range and, therefore, a significant step in Atmanirbharta. This landmark achievement will also act as the cornerstone for all the future development of high-power DEWs. Its success puts India in the exclusive and limited club of the global powers who possess the high-power laser DEW. Strategic Defence Initiative In the 1980s, US President Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) programme, which was nicknamed Star Wars. It suggested that lasers, perhaps space-based X-ray lasers, could destroy ICBMs in flight. Several DEWs were examined by the SDI Organisation for potential use in missile defence. In July 1989, the accelerator was launched from White Sands Missile Range as part of the Beam Experiment Aboard Rocket (BEAR) project, reaching an altitude of 200 kilometres and operating successfully in space before being recovered intact after re-entry. No known weapon system utilising this technology has been deployed. Israel's Iron Beam Israel is developing many DEWs, including the Iron Beam laser system, as part of its multi-tiered missile defence strategy. These systems are designed to complement existing missile defence technologies like the Iron Dome. It is being jointly developed by the Israel Missile Defence Organisation (IMDO) and the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA). The Iron Beam, developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, is a 100 kW-class High-Energy Laser Weapon System. It is designed to intercept and neutralise various threats, including rockets, artillery, and mortars (RAM), cruise missiles, and drones. It has reportedly been operational since October 2024. Few Other DEW Systems Active Denial System (ADS) is a millimetre wave source that heats the water in a human target's skin and thus causes incapacitating pain. Vigilant Eagle is a ground-based airport defence system that directs high-frequency microwaves towards any projectile that is fired at an aircraft. Raytheon had announced in 2005 that field tests had been highly effective in defeating MANPADS missiles. The system is not operationally deployed. Bofors HPM Blackout is a high-powered microwave weapon that is said to be able to destroy at a short distance a wide variety of electronic equipment and is purportedly non-lethal. The effective radiated power (ERP) of the EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar makes it a hypothetical candidate for conversion into a DEW by focusing pulses of radar energy on target missiles. The Pischal-Pro anti-drone rifle was featured at the Dubai Airshow, 2019. It is a battery-powered electromagnetic pulse weapon held to an operator's shoulder, pointed at a flying target in a way similar to a rifle, and operated. The device emits separate electromagnetic pulses to suppress navigation and transmission channels used to operate an aerial drone, terminating the drone's contact with its operator and sending it out of control. The Russian Stupor is reported to have a range of two kilometres, covering a 20-degree sector; it also suppresses the drone's cameras. It has reportedly been used in Syria. The Ukrainian army has reportedly used the Ukrainian KVS G-6, with a 3.5 km range and able to operate continuously for 30 minutes. It can disrupt remote control, the transmission of video at 2.4 and 5 GHz, and GPS and Glonass satellite navigation signals. A UK-developed system unveiled in May 2024 uses radio waves to fry the electronic components of its targets, rendering them inoperable. It is capable of engaging multiple targets, including drone swarms, and reportedly costs less than 10 pence (13 cents) per shot. Epirus Inc, a defence technology start-up based in Torrance, California, unveiled on March 25 the Leonidas system, a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon designed to neutralise unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms. Chinese researchers have claimed to develop a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon that is capable of producing electromagnetic pulses with an intensity similar to that of a nuclear explosion. The US Army tested a high-power microwave weapon as part of the US-Philippines Balikatan 2025 joint military drills. This is the first time the weapon has been employed in the Indo-Pacific region and coincides with rapidly rising tensions with China. During the Iraq War, electromagnetic weapons, including high-power microwaves, were used by the US military to disrupt and destroy Iraqi electronic systems. The first officially known use of DEWs in combat between military forces was claimed to have occurred in Libya in August 2019 by Turkey, which claimed to use the ALKA directed-energy weapon. To Summarise Mastering the DEW technologies has long been the holy grail of air defence systems. While there have been global efforts to replace traditional kinetic weapons and missile air defence systems, the recent proliferation of much cheaper Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and the emergence of drone swarms as asymmetric threats have driven the demand for DEWs with counter-UAS and counter-swarm capabilities. This has been witnessed during the recent conflicts like the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict or Houthi attacks on US naval fleets, where relatively weaker state and non-state players are accruing disproportionate gains against their stronger adversaries. Once detected by a radar followed by tracking through an electro-optic (EO) system, DEWs can engage targets at the speed of light and neutralise the target. This type of cutting-edge weaponry has the potential to revolutionise the battle space by reducing the reliance on expensive ammunition while also lowering the risk of collateral damage. DRDO is also working on higher-powered laser systems, including a 300 kW 'Surya' DEW with a 20-kilometre range. The Kilo Ampere Linear Injector 'KALI', is being co-developed with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. KALI will generate high-intensity electron pulses, which can be translated into electromagnetic radiation in the form of X-ray or microwave frequencies. It will act like a high-power microwave gun, designed to destroy incoming aircraft and missiles with a 'soft-kill' system that disables their sensitive electronic systems. India's private sector is getting big into DEW. The future is in DEW. DEWs are being designed to be flown on aircraft or housed on military satellites. Action is expanding. The DEW market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 16.16 per cent and 19.6 per cent. Specifically, one report projects the market to grow from $1.77 billion in 2023 to $6.96 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 16.16 per cent. India must remain at 'full throttle' to become a major player. The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
British Army tests German-made kamikaze drones
The British Army has been trialling German-made kamikaze drones designed to detect and knock out Russian crafts before they can target troops. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been working with Alpine Eagle, a German start-up founded in 2023 that has developed an airborne sentry drone capable of intercepting hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Known as Sentinel, the defence system flies a 'mothership' drone above a friendly base or patrol. If a hostile UAV is detected, it can release small, expendable single-use drones to destroy the attacker by flying into it. The Sentinel swarm is intended to be operated remotely by a single pilot. Cheap drones that cost just a few hundreds pounds have become ubiquitous on the battlefields of Ukraine. Soldiers on both sides have been using remote-controlled drones originally designed as toys to drop grenades and bombs on the enemy or for surveillance. Drones are now responsible for an estimated 70pc of all casualties in Ukraine. They are able to patrol vast areas of the front line and target vehicles or patrols that stray into range. Western forces are increasingly turning to new technology to try to counter the threat. This has included investing in jamming technology or automated turrets that can shoot down drones faster than a human. In Ukraine, soldiers have turned to cruder methods for destroying drones such as shotguns. British know-how In March, the MoD launched Project Vanaheim, a series of field tests run with the US army and Ukrainian forces to try out new counter-UAV technology. Alpine Eagle took part. Earlier this year, the start-up raised more than £9m from investors including US fund General Catalyst and British venture investor IQ Capital. While the business is based in Germany, it is exploring manufacturing in the UK. The start-up has hired Michael Golden, a former Royal Navy engineer, as its head of UK to spearhead expansion. Mr Golden said: 'For us, the UK is both an incredibly important target to develop and demonstrate this technology, but also from an industrial network perspective, we see it as a fantastic place for us to build and expand.' Britain has been exploring a major expansion of its drone and counter-drone capabilities as part of Labour's Strategic Defence Review. Ministers and military officials envisage a future where operations will be carried out combining conventional ground forces with swarms of drones that rove ahead of soldiers and tanks. In June, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, announced an initial £100m to research drone swarms. The military is already in the process of deploying 3,000 strike drones and 1,000 surveillance drones for use by soldiers. Jan-Hendrik Boelens, Alpine Eagle's chief executive, said Britain had a clear strategy for drone warfare and the start-up was planning to establish a strong footprint in the UK. Unlike other anti-drone systems that might be better suited to defending large bases or static targets, Alpine Eagle's drones can support soldiers on patrol or vulnerable convoys. Alpine Eagle is also pitching its technology towards defending shipping against piracy and for border security. Mr Boelens, a former Airbus helicopter engineer, said its technology is being trialled on the ground in Ukraine. He added: 'There is no alternative. Russia and other adversaries are not sitting still.' There has been a surge in interest in defence technology among investors as Europe looks to rearm to counter a more dangerous Russia.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BSF raises 'drone squadron' for Indo-Pak border post-Operation Sindoor
The Border Security Force (BSF) is raising a maiden "drone squadron" for deployment along the India-Pakistan border even as it has begun "hardening" its defences and posts against lethal UAV attacks in the wake of lessons drawn during Operation Sindoor. The squadron, to be based in specific border outposts (BoPs) at this front, will comprise an assortment of reconnaissance, surveillance and attack drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and specially-trained personnel who can operate these machines, official sources in the security establishment said. The squadron will be navigated by a control room based in the western command headquarters of the BSF in Chandigarh, the sources said. The BSF is primarily tasked to guard the India-Pakistan international border (IB). The decision to raise the unit was taken after a recent review of the strengths, weaknesses and threats facing the force post-Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched by India to strike at terrorist and defence bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliation against the Pahalgam attack of April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the Baisaran meadows. The BSF actively participated in the operation, launched on May 7, along with the Army. Pakistan sent thousands of drones, including a swarm of these flying objects, in response to Operation Sindoor to target Indian bases as well as civilian areas along the western front. On May 10, a bomb-laden Pakistani drone dropped explosives at its border post Kharkola in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. Two BSF personnel and an Army jawan deployed at the post were killed while four troops were critically injured, with one of them undergoing a leg amputation during treatment. Sources said the BSF drone squadron will be located in a specific number of BOPs located along the more than 2,000-km-long India-Pakistan border running from Jammu in the north to Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat on the western side of the country. The squadron will be equipped with a variety of small and large surveillance, reconnaissance and attack drones that will be launched during operations or any 'hot war' like situation similar to Operation Sindoor, the sources in the security establishment said. A small team of about 2-3 personnel each will be deployed in "vulnerable and specified" BOPs. Some drones and gadgetry are being procured for the maiden squadron and the personnel chosen for the task are being trained in batches, they said. The BSF, learning from the May 10 drone attack, has also begun hardening its defences and bunkers, along the border with Pakistan to fend off attacks in which enemy drones cross over and drop bombs and explosives. The roofs and walls of the BOP bunkers are being strengthened using alloy sheets. Some more measures are being taken to fortify the posts that are vulnerable to drone attacks, sources said as they refused to elaborate, citing operational confidentiality. A BSF officer deployed along this front added that the force is in touch with defence research and intelligence agencies to deploy counter-drone machines at select border posts so that "rogue or armed drones" flying in from across the frontier can be neutralised. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the BSF destroyed more than 118 Pakistani posts and "completely dismantled" their surveillance system during Operation Sindoor.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BSF raises 'drone squadron' for Indo-Pak border post-Operation Sindoor
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Border Security Force (BSF) is raising a maiden "drone squadron" for deployment along the India-Pakistan border even as it has begun "hardening" its defences and posts against lethal UAV attacks in the wake of lessons drawn during Operation Sindoor The squadron, to be based in specific border outposts (BoPs) at this front, will comprise an assortment of reconnaissance, surveillance and attack drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and specially-trained personnel who can operate these machines, official sources in the security establishment told squadron will be navigated by a control room based in the western command headquarters of the BSF in Chandigarh, the sources said. The BSF is primarily tasked to guard the India-Pakistan international border (IB).The decision to raise the unit was taken after a recent review of the strengths, weaknesses and threats facing the force post-Operation operation was launched by India to strike at terrorist and defence bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliation against the Pahalgam attack of April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the Baisaran BSF actively participated in the operation, launched on May 7, along with the sent thousands of drones, including a swarm of these flying objects, in response to Operation Sindoor to target Indian bases as well as civilian areas along the western May 10, a bomb-laden Pakistani drone dropped explosives at its border post Kharkola in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. Two BSF personnel and an Army jawan deployed at the post were killed while four troops were critically injured, with one of them undergoing a leg amputation during said the BSF drone squadron will be located in a specific number of BOPs located along the more than 2,000-km-long India-Pakistan border running from Jammu in the north to Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat on the western side of the squadron will be equipped with a variety of small and large surveillance, reconnaissance and attack drones that will be launched during operations or any 'hot war' like situation similar to Operation Sindoor, the sources in the security establishment said.A small team of about 2-3 personnel each will be deployed in "vulnerable and specified" BOPs. Some drones and gadgetry are being procured for the maiden squadron and the personnel chosen for the task are being trained in batches, they BSF, learning from the May 10 drone attack, has also begun hardening its defences and bunkers, along the border with Pakistan to fend off attacks in which enemy drones cross over and drop bombs and roofs and walls of the BOP bunkers are being strengthened using alloy sheets. Some more measures are being taken to fortify the posts that are vulnerable to drone attacks, sources said as they refused to elaborate, citing operational confidentiality.A BSF officer deployed along this front added that the force is in touch with defence research and intelligence agencies to deploy counter-drone machines at select border posts so that "rogue or armed drones" flying in from across the frontier can be Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the BSF destroyed more than 118 Pakistani posts and "completely dismantled" their surveillance system during Operation Sindoor.
New York Post
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Russian teenagers man ‘world's biggest drone factory' used to attack Ukraine, state media shows
Russian teenagers are helping the country build its new line of suicide UAVs used to strike Ukraine in what Moscow officials have dubbed the 'world's biggest drone factory.' Footage from inside the Yelabuga production plant shows Russian students lined up as they help assemble the killer drones and study their internal mechanisms, according to Zvezda, the Russian army's TV channel. The state-run outlet touted that teens as young as 14 are invited to study and work at the factory, creating a pipeline that would see them employed at the drone facility once they finish college — fulfilling Russian President Vladimir Putin's goal of ramping up the country's attack against Ukraine. 4 Russian TV aired footage of teenagers helping construct Moscow's killer Geran-2 drones inside the Yelabuga factory on Sunday. TV Zvezda/east2west news 4 The relatively cheap drones have been behind the mass bombardments against Ukraine in recent months. TV Zvezda/east2west news The footage from inside the factory highlighted the in-house assembly line that puts the drones together from start to finish, with the army station showing the UAVs lifting off from the back of US RAM pickup trucks. As it celebrated the factory, the station claimed that Putin was pleased with the results and called for its success to be replicated across the country. The documentary specifically showed the young workers and other staffers completing countless Geran-2 drones, which are modeled after Iran's Shahed suicide aircraft. The Shaheds had served as Russia's primary weapon to attack Ukraine miles past the border, but Moscow is now able to produce the relatively cheap drones in-house. Experts have put the cost of the drones somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 per aircraft. 4 Russian media touted that children as young as 14 can enter the drone-producing pipeline and gain full-time jobs at the factory once they finish college. TV Zvezda/east2west news The Geran-2, which can fly as far as 932 miles, is now the lynchpin of Russia's escalating bombardments against Ukraine ever since Moscow announced its mass production plans in 2023. Timur Shagivaleyev, the factory's general director, boasted that the workers at the Yelabuga plant have produced tens of thousands of new drones — nine times more than the 'several thousand Geran-2 drones' originally promised to the state two years ago. Shagivaleyev did not provide specific figures, nor did he say how many drones are currently being produced at the factory. 4 Smoke billows over Kyiv following a Russian drone attack, which has grown in intensity. REUTERS The Alabuga facility, which is part of the Special Economic Zone established in 2023, also has its own drone testing facility, Zvevda added. The plant has been previously eyed by Ukraine as a target to halt Russia's war machine, with one person killed after a Ukrainian drone was intercepted near the facility last month. Drones have become the primary tool of war in the conflict that has spanned more than three years, with Ukraine and Russia firing hundreds of UAVs a day to target military and energy infrastructure. Moscow, however, has been accused of using its drones to target civilians and residential areas, with schools and hospitals regularly under fire. The Kremlin has also been accused by the United Nations and humanitarian groups of using its drones to hunt down civilians, including children, in Kherson, where residents describe their city as a 'human safari' zone for Russian soldiers. With Post wires
