Microelectronics plant halts production after UAV attack
21 October, 2024 Smoke at the Silicon El enterprise after the drone attack.
19.10.2024. Russia. Photo: ASTRA
The Russian Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Bryansk has stopped production after a Ukrainian UAV attack. The company's press service reported about this on its website. A nighttime attack on the plant's production and administrative buildings reportedly disrupted the power supply, damaged the specialty energy facilities, and interrupted the production chains.
The plant's team participates in the aftermath of explosions and fires. "The main task today is to resume the production of electronic equipment as soon as possible to ensure that plans are met. The construction workers are assessing the possibility of repairing the damage," commented Oleg Dantsev, CEO of the company.
It is also reported that the resumption of the production was problematic due to sanctions. There are difficulties in purchasing spare parts to restore technological equipment and the energy infrastructure.
The aftermath of the attack on the microelectronics plant. On the left is an image from October 18, on the right from October 21, 2024.
Photo credits: Sentinel
Signs of damage to the plant's production facilities can be seen on publicly available low-resolution satellite imagery taken on October 21. The plant was attacked on the night of October 19, 2024 by the Ukrainian strike drones.
Kremniy El is one of the largest microelectronics manufacturers in Russia. Its products are used, in particular, for military purposes.
One of Kremnyi El's production sites. Photo from the company's website
In 2014, the company reported that it had increased its output 8 times since 2000.
In 2018, it was reported that the largest Russian microelectronics plant for the defense industry had increased its output by 40%. The company's trade volume in 2021 reached RUB 3.9 billion. In August 2022, it was reported that KREMNYI EL GROUP planned to invest RUB 5 billion in microelectronics production during the year.
At the same time, the volume of the marketable products should double.
In the first half of 2022, KREMNY EL GROUP produced products worth RUB 2.312 billion.
It is known that the products had been used in the strategic Russian programs for the development of the radar stations using APARs (active phased array radars).