The Economist reports that Russia has cut the cost of jet-powered drones to $50,000–$70,000 each by using 3D-printed turbine components, potentially allowing a major increase in strikes.
Russia may sharply increase strikes using jet-powered drones after halving the production cost of such unmanned aircraft, according to a report by The Economist cited in the post.
The Kremlin obtained equipment for 3D-printing components for turbines used in jet engines, a step that has helped lower the unit price of each drone to between $50,000 and $70,000. The report did not identify the equipment supplier or the previous price, but described the cost reduction as roughly half.
The publication noted that jet-powered drones are a difficult target for Ukrainian air-defense systems. The new manufacturing process cuts both cost and production time, so Russia could field substantially more of the UAVs, allowing it to sustain a higher tempo of attacks against Ukrainian cities, military positions and infrastructure. The Economist concluded that there will now be far more jet-powered drones and that their production will be significantly faster, adding further strain to Ukraine's air-defense network.
https://t.me/smolii_ukraine/159755