Russia is preparing for a protracted war as never before: an overview of the Russian military-industrial complex
19 May 14:21
Despite the sanctions and economic difficulties, Russia is demonstrating an intensive increase in weapons production, adapting equipment to the realities of the front line, and strengthening defense cooperation with partners such as Iran and China. The Russian military-industrial complex is not only keeping up its pace, but is also switching to mobilization mode. This is stated in the monitoring of the Russian information space by the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Rocket production: a bet on mass production
According to an investigation by Channel 24 and the Dallas company, Russia plans to produce at least 400 X-101 cruise missiles in 2025 under basic state contracts alone. Another 233 missiles are envisaged under additional agreements. Dozens of enterprises are involved in the production, both Russian and from Belarus, China and Kazakhstan, which indicates extensive shadow logistics schemes to circumvent sanctions.
Su-35S and new model tanks: factories are working non-stop
Russia has handed over another batch of Su-35S fighters to the army, which have been tested and sent to units. At the same time, Uralvagonzavod continues to supply T-90M Breakthrough and T-72B3M tanks adapted to the conditions of the war in Ukraine. According to the manufacturer, more than 200 changes have been made to the design of the vehicles since the beginning of the invasion: armor against UAVs and ATGMs has been strengthened, crew protection has been improved, and active protection elements of the Arena-M type have been integrated.
Defense cooperation: hundreds of companies involved
In the Chelyabinsk region, the number of companies involved in the state defense order has increased from 23 in 2022 to more than 600 in 2025. These are not only factories, but also small and medium-sized businesses that supply food, clothing, transportation, and even insurance services to the army. Centralized financial support is provided by the BIS Bank, which provides contract financing, bank guarantees, and educational programs for suppliers.
Iranian installations: expanding Russia’s combat capabilities
According to Reuters, Iran is preparing to transfer launchers for Fath-360 ballistic missiles with a range of up to 120 km to Russia. These missiles have already been used against Ukraine. The transfer is being delayed due to the need for modifications: the launchers are mounted on European trucks, which are unsuitable for military use without modification. The loss of equipment at the front also forced Russia to adapt the new weapons to its conditions.
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New explosives production facilities: relying on artillery
A new line for the production of explosives – hexogen (RDX) and octogen (HMX) – is being built at the Sverdlov plant in Biysk (Siberia). The capacity is up to 6,000 tons per year, which is enough to produce more than 1.28 million 152 mm shells. The construction is being carried out in the context of import substitution, and raw materials are supplied by companies related to the agricultural sector that are not subject to sanctions.
Innovations and technical modernization: betting on AI and UAVs
Russia is focusing its efforts on developing drones, artificial intelligence, and directed energy weapons. Priority developments: Lancet, Shahed, Rusak-S, Orlan-10 with electronic warfare capabilities. Special attention is paid to AI systems that automate fire control and target detection, such as the S-500 Prometheus. The development of the Peresvet laser weapon, which is aimed at UAVs and NATO satellite channels, is also underway.
The latest “Bandera” missile: foreign filling under sanctions
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has released data on the new Russian S8000 Banderol cruise missile, which is launched from Orion UAVs. The manufacturer is the Kronstadt company. The missile has more than 20 foreign components, including 10 made in the United States, as well as chips from Japan, China, Switzerland, and Australia. The supply of parts is organized through the Chip and Dip company, which is not yet on the sanctions list of the EU, Japan, Canada, and Australia.
High-precision strikes against the Russian military-industrial complex
Despite large-scale militarization, the Russian military-industrial complex is not invulnerable. During the week, it was reported that the Basalt and Splav factories, which are key to the production of ammunition and multiple launch rocket systems Grad, Smerch and Tornado, were hit. This is another blow to the infrastructure that supports the war.
Conclusion: Russia’s defense economy is shifting to a long war mode
The collected data shows that: The Kremlin continues to reorient the economy to a military focus. Mass production of weapons, adaptation to frontline conditions, shadowy import schemes, and cooperation with Iran and Belarus create a sustainable infrastructure for a protracted war. Despite Western attempts to limit the Russian military-industrial complex, Russia demonstrates the ability to mobilize internal and external resources, growing in a mode of forced military industrialism.
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