{"id":102568,"date":"2026-09-22T09:05:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T06:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedefender.media\/?p=102568"},"modified":"2026-09-22T09:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T06:09:39","slug":"black-mirror-77","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedefender.media\/en\/2026\/09\/black-mirror-77\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Mirror #77: Expansion of Alabuga, Geran-4 Seeker teardown, and other Russian miltech developments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week, an arms exhibition in Moscow featured state-owned Kalashnikov Concern showcasing new counter-UAS air defence systems. In addition, foreign media investigated the expansion of the Shahed assembly hub in Tatarstan, while Ukrainian journalists examined a captured Geran-4 Seeker. Read about these and other developments in Russia\u2019s defence-industrial complex in Defender Media\u2019s weekly Black Mirror<\/a> review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alabuga-Volokno may launch new carbon fibre production line with annual capacity of up to 500 tonnes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Alabuga-Volokno enterprise in Tatarstan plans to bring online a new production line with a capacity of up to 500 tonnes of aerospace-grade carbon fibre per year by 2029. This was revealed in an investigation published by European media outlets POLITICO and The Telegraph<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carbon fibre is utilised in the structural elements and airframes of Geran-series uncrewed aerial vehicles. According to David Albright, an expert at the Institute for Science and International Security, an additional 500 tonnes could theoretically support the manufacture of about 28,000 UAV airframes annually. This represents an expert projection rather than the facility’s official production target: by comparison, POLITICO estimates current Russian output of this drone family at over 36,000 units per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albright notes that carbon fibre reinforces the wing spars and internal airframe structures, including housing around the engine and fuel cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to sources cited in the report, a primary objective of the project is to mitigate reliance on imported materials and secure carbon fibre supplies for Russia\u2019s strategic industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counter-drone systems Zveroboy and Kalitka-KA<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

State-owned Kalashnikov Concern has publicly demonstrated the Zveroboy and Kalitka-KA counter-UAS systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Zveroboy is engineered to provide round-the-clock point defence for critical infrastructure against medium strike UAVs such as the Leleka, Lyutyi, Bober, and other platforms. The system comprises an automated ground control workstation, an electro-optical targeting suite, three containerised launchers, a digital relay, a technical compartment housing power distribution and switching units, a mast-mounted digital compass, and a radar unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system employs Kraken and Kraken-N multirotor interceptors as effector mechanisms, with three interceptors housed per launch container. The platform is offered in both static and vehicle-mounted configurations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kalitka-KA system is an automated, remotely operated weapon station (ROWS) that has reportedly undergone combat evaluation. It features a stabilised mount for a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun, an electro-optical sight with dual day-channel cameras and an integrated laser rangefinder, an electronic turret control unit, and a remote control terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deployment of the Ariadna navigation system<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Russia is finalising preparations to field the Ariadna navigation system, designed for high-precision guidance of strike weapons and reconnaissance UAVs in contested electronic warfare environments. According to Russian state media channels, the system is intended to substitute satellite navigation: rather than an orbital constellation, it leverages a terrestrial network of radio beacons with calibrated coordinates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ariadna is planned for integration into Geran-2 strike drones, guided aerial bombs, and cruise missiles to maintain guidance when GPS and GLONASS signals are unavailable. An onboard receiver determines platform location via trilateration based on time-difference-of-arrival signals from the beacon network. The stated positioning accuracy is 15\u201320 cm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schemes journalists examine captured Geran-4 Seeker<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ukrainian investigative journalists at Schemes have detailed the component base of the Russian Geran-4 Seeker kamikaze UAV, revealing a MESH modem used to establish C2, telemetry, and video links with a claimed range of up to 300 km via air or ground relays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UAV is also fitted with commercial 4G telemetry modules as a fallback mechanism if the primary MESH link degrades. These modules enable video streaming from the gimballed electro-optical homing head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the platform incorporates an inertial navigation system with satellite navigation correction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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