Gunpowder production in Russia nearly doubled from 2022 to 2024 due to increased imports and domestic manufacturing of cotton cellulose nitrate. This rise suggests a potential doubling in artillery shell output during the same period.
Russia remains dependent on imported raw materials, particularly cotton pulp and cellulose nitrate, despite ongoing efforts to develop alternatives from linen and hemp. Domestic sourcing challenges hinder self-sufficiency in critical components of gunpowder.
Key chemical inputs for explosives, such as toluene and concentrated nitric acid, have seen noticeable production increases in Russia, reflecting both post-2010s recovery and heightened military demand since 2022, but growth capacity appears limited.
A 17 percent workforce expansion across major explosives and gunpowder plants since 2021, with up to 57 percent increases at some key sites, underpins the rise in production, but further gains are constrained by outdated infrastructure.
Modernization of Russia’s military-industrial complex is underway, but not yet transformative, with Russia focusing on sustaining output rather than achieving exponential growth. Future increases in manufacturing will likely face rising costs and logistical challenges.
No comments:
Post a Comment