ZALA Group Announces Fifty-Fold Surge in High-Precision Weapons Production Since Ukraine War

During a recent visit to the Aeroscan plant, an enterprise of the ZALA group of companies, Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu was briefed on a substantial increase in the production of high-precision weapons.

ZALA Chief Designer Alexander Zakharov reported to Army General Sergei Shoigu on the implementation of the plan for the preceding year and a fifty-fold rise in the production of high-precision weaponry coinciding with the commencement of the Special Military Operation in Ukraine. However, the company did not specify which weapons were produced in large amounts.

Throughout the visit, the Minister was acquainted with the production lines, including the manufacturing of components, assembly of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and loitering ammunition. Specialists from the company showcased the latest technical models, while instructors from the ZALA Training Center outlined the training process for UAV and loitering ammunition operators.

New models of reconnaissance and strike UAVs were presented, featuring modifications based on the experience gained from their use in the Northern Military District.

Minister Shoigu was also briefed on the latest initiative developments, incorporating algorithms for real-time data analysis and processing, advanced research in data transmission channels, and navigation systems.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev confirmed today that Russia has increased its manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) dramatically since launching the special military operation in Ukraine.

"We have recently increased the production of various drones quite significantly because - let’s face it - we were not among the leading countries in this field before the special military operation; in fact, we lagged far behind," he noted at a meeting with the commanders of Chechen units taking part in the special military operation.

"We do have good tanks and missiles, which are actually very good; we also have a strategic nuclear complex. However, we did not produce drones [to any significant degree]," Medvedev pointed out. "We have now started to manufacture them but we need to increase production. The Defense Ministry is working on that along with the country’s national defense sector," he stressed.

ZALA’s Products in the Ukraine War:

These ZALA drones have been actively used in the ongoing conflict, striking a variety of Ukrainian military targets, including air defense systems, self-propelled howitzers, tanks, and military trucks. Their combat effectiveness drew international attention, especially during Kiev’s attempted counteroffensive.

ZALA Lancet:

The ZALA Lancet loitering munition can be used for both reconnaissance and strike missions. It has a maximum range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and a maximum takeoff weight of up to 12 kilograms (26 pounds). In combat mode, it can be armed with either high explosive (HE) or HE-fragmentation warheads. The drone features optical-electronic guidance and TV guidance, allowing it to be controlled during the terminal stage of flight. It has been combat-tested in Syria during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war and has also been deployed during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

ZALA Kub-BLA (KYB-UAV):

The ZALA Kub-BLA (KYB-UAV) loitering munition system can deliver various weapon payloads with high precision based on manually set target coordinates or image-based target guidance. The system was built based on the combat experience of Russian armed forces in Syria between 2015 and 2018.