Russia plans to create new branch of unmanned systems
16 December, 2024 Russian operators of the Supercam S350 reconnaissance drone. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry The Russian army is planning to form unmanned systems troops based on the experience of the war against Ukraine.
This was stated by the country's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov on December 16. The minister publicly announced the plans to form a new kind of troops during a meeting of the military department's board, which was attended by President Vladimir Putin. "In accordance with the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, we propose to form a new type of troops - troops of unmanned systems.
According to your decision, we will complete their creation in the third quarter of next year," Belousov said. It is currently unknown what structure and tasks the new formation will have, as well as whether it will include existing units of UAV operators operating as part of the occupation forces in Ukraine. It is likely that the Russians will copy the general principles underlying the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), which were created as a separate branch of the Armed Forces in February 2024.
The UAF is divided into separate battalions and regiments of unmanned systems that provide both direct support to the Defense Forces on the front lines in defense and offense, as well as Special Operations using long-range kamikaze drones and maritime drones. They are not a replacement for the respective units of the Army, Airborne Assault Forces, and Navy, but rather complement them. Like Ukrainian troops, the Russian Armed Forces actively use FPV strike drones, loitering munitions, tactical and operational-tactical reconnaissance drones, and robotic ground systems.
Russian NRTK "Kuryer" ground attack drones, March 2024. Photo credits: 47th Brigade
This is not the first time that Russia has adopted the successful practices of the Ukrainian army. Militarnyi reported in March that the Russians planned to create mobile fire groups to protect against Ukrainian long-range kamikaze drones.
The mobile air defense teams are to be formed as part of several Russian combined arms armies. The Aerospace and Air Defense Forces will create mobile groups to combat Ukrainian drones. They will reportedly be armed with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns on truck chassis, as well as pickup trucks with heavy machine guns.
The new units will also include electronic warfare equipment and smoke screening vehicles.