Uralvagonzavod has become the fifth major Russian enterprise to switch to a four-day workweek due to a production slowdown. According to the company, the reason is a decline in demand for railway rolling stock. A quarter of employees will be offered retraining to transition to other work areas within the enterprise.
China has sharply increased its supply of components for FPV drone production to Russia. According to China’s customs service, in August, fiber-optic cable exports reached a record 527,000 km — three times more than in June. Over the same period, only 115.8 km were shipped to Ukraine. Exports of lithium-ion batteries are also growing: $54 million in June and $47 million in August, compared to just $11–12 million per month to Ukraine. Despite its declared “neutrality,” Beijing effectively restricts the supply of ready-made drones to Ukraine and the West while supporting Russian manufacturers with components after DJI’s market withdrawal.
Russia is using South African–made lasers in its kamikaze drones. Ukrainian forces have found Lighware SF-20/B laser rangefinders — used to determine the detonation altitude of warheads — in “Harpia-A1” drones (a modification of the Iranian Shahed). Lightware Optoelectronics, based in Pretoria, stated that its equipment is designed for civilian use and does not require an export license. According to CEO Nadia Nielsen, the devices may have been purchased by “unscrupulous intermediaries” without the manufacturer’s knowledge. South African authorities have launched an investigation and confirmed that Lightware is not registered as a supplier of military or dual-use goods.
Russia has unveiled a new Shahed-like kamikaze drone called Klin, capable of flying for over an hour and operating at distances exceeding 100 km. The drone has a takeoff weight of 13.5 kg, flight speed between 108 and 300 km/h, and an altitude ceiling of up to 2 km. Its fuselage measures 1.6 m in length with a wingspan of 1.9 m, and its warhead weighs 5 kg. The UAV is equipped with an airburst detonation system and has two types of warheads — cumulative and high-explosive. Some components, including the optical module, are produced using 3D printing.
Russia is launching a large-scale program to develop its rare and rare-earth metals sector, aiming to increase production sixtyfold by 2030. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has initiated a federal project titled Development of the Rare and Rare-Earth Metals Industry, with funding of about 60 billion rubles. Currently, Russia produces around 50 tons per year while importing over 1,500 tons, but by 2030 it aims to reach 3,000 tons — enough to fully meet domestic demand.
More from Russia’s information space — in ESCU Monitoring #39 ⬇️
