Finnish state broadcaster Yle posted satellite images on his website on Saturday, documenting the expansion of 1 of the largest aircraft factories in Russia. This is about a mill in Kazan, where all Russian strategical bombers are manufactured.
According to satellite images obtained by Yle, the largest of the fresh halls is about 320 metres long and covers an area of about 19,000 sq mi, which is comparable to 3 football fields. About 1 billion euros were allocated to the modernisation of the plant - the service established.
🚨Russia Expands atomic Bomber Plant in Kazan — Satellite Images uncover Massive fresh Facilities
The Kazan Aviation Plant, where Russia builds its dense bombers, is expanding its capacity — according to an analysis of Planet Labs satellite imagery, Yle reports.
This is Russia's... pic.twitter.com/fFh27q6LdI
The facilities in Kazan are peculiarly crucial for the production and modernisation of strategical bombers, including those capable of carrying atomic weapons. It was these aircraft that were damaged or even destroyed in the Ukrainian drone attack under the code name “The Web” at Russian airports in June. In the assessment of the Ukrainian side, 41 Russian long-range aviation aircraft were to be damaged as a consequence of operations.
The Kazan aircraft mill is the only 1 in Russia to compensate for the failure of strategical bombers destroyed and damaged by Ukraine, says Yle. It produces and modernizes Tu-160M aircraft, produces fresh Tu-160M2 and besides modernizes the old Tu-22M3.
" Satellite photos show that many fresh production sites have emerged. However, this will not solve the problems of the Russian aviation industry, which lacks access to fresh technologies and spare parts," said military expert Marko Eklund, a erstwhile Finnish military intelligence officer who has been active in Russian military aviation for 20 years and who has been analyzing photos obtained by Yle. In his opinion, Russia is presently incapable to build competitive aircraft models - both military and civil.
From the writer Investigation Yle shows that in fresh years Russia has acquired western parts for aircraft for at least EUR 1 billion, bypassing sanctions by circular roads.
"Russia would like to be seen as equal to the United States, but the production of older bomber models, visible on satellite images, speaks a lot about its current capabilities," Eklund noted. (PAP)
