Satellite imagery of Taganrog aircraft plant after UAV attack has been released

Satellite images of the Taganrog aviation plant, which was attacked by drones on the morning of March 9, have been released.

OSINTers published the corresponding pictures on X (ex-Twitter).

The published satellite images, taken on the afternoon of March 9, 2024, capture damage to one of the hangars.

There are also signs of arson on the roof of the hangar, indicating a fire. It should be noted that the attacked hangars were the final assembly site for the aircraft.

It should be noted that the enterprise was used to repair special aircraft based on Tu-95 and Il-76. In addition, according to OSINT experts, one of the A-50 AEW&C aircraft is not present on the territory of the plant in the images of March 8-9.

However, it was present in the February 29 images. It is unclear where the aircraft went, but if it was moved to the hangar, it was likely damaged.

On the morning of March 9, 2024, in Taganrog, Russia, a large number of drones attacked an aircraft factory where special aircraft, including A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft, were repaired and manufactured.

It was reported that about 41 drones were targeting various military facilities in the city. According to local residents, at least 5 explosions have been heard.

It should be noted that the attack took place after Sergey Chemezov, Head of Rostec, claimed that the company would resume production of this type of aircraft.

According to him, the resumption of production is due to the need for these aircraft by the Russian Aerospace Forces, as well as the interest of foreign countries.

He noted that production would definitely resume since enterprises have the appropriate capacity to produce both the radar station and the aircraft themselves.

The resumption of production is primarily due to the loss of A-50 aircraft in the first two months of 2024. Both went down near the Sea of Azov. The first lost aircraft was an A-50U with tail number RF-50601, which was shot down by Ukrainian air defense forces over the Sea of Azov on January 15, 2024.

The second A-50 was shot down over the Krasnodar Krai on February 23, 2024. The aircraft’s tail number, as well as its modification, were not reported.