Drones Target Russian Aircraft Repair Plant Servicing Il-76 Military Transports

Drones reportedly targeted Russia’s 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant in Staraya Russa, Novgorod region, overnight on November 10, with explosions and possible fires reported near the facility responsible for maintaining Russian military transport aircraft.

According to the monitoring group Exilenova+ on November 10, a series of explosions was heard near the plant after Russian authorities issued a drone threat warning across the Novgorod region shortly after midnight.

Local residents reported explosions in the vicinity of the facility, while emergency vehicles were subsequently seen heading toward the industrial site. Footage circulated by monitoring channels appeared to show fires in the area, although their precise location and the extent of any damage remain unverified.

The 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant is part of Russia’s state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec through the United Aircraft Corporation.

The facility specializes in repairing, modernizing, and maintaining Il-76 military transport aircraft, Il-78 aerial refueling tankers, and L-410 light transport aircraft. It also services aircraft engines, making it part of Russia’s military aviation maintenance infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 155 drones overnight on November 10.

Earlier this year, on March 16, drones targeted Russia’s Aviastar aircraft manufacturing plant in Ulyanovsk, which produces Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft and Il-78M-90A aerial refueling tankers. Operations at the facility were reportedly temporarily suspended following the attack.

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