Russia has officially established a new branch dedicated to Unmanned Systems Forces, aimed at managing its increasingly sophisticated drone operations, as reported by state media outlets. Lt. Col. Sergey Ishtuganov, deputy chief of the newly formed military segment, announced that the branch is fully staffed and actively collaborating with frontline units.
Ishtuganov elaborated that operational regiments and other specialized units have been constructed, facilitating coordinated combat activities in accordance with a centralized operational plan. This strategy enables seamless integration of unmanned systems with conventional battlegroups on the battlefield.
The scope of the branch extends beyond mere operation; it includes training personnel in drone usage and procurement of advanced unmanned systems. Command structures have been instituted at various levels of the organization, with roles for controllers, engineers, and technicians being enhanced as additional operational segments are developed.
Significantly, Ishtuganov mentioned that futures specialists are currently being trained through government-run educational institutions as well as military programs at civilian universities. New courses focused on drone technology have been introduced to align with the branch’s expansion plans. Furthermore, to bolster these initiatives, plans are underway to establish a specialized drone academy.
The creation of this new military branch was initiated under a directive from President Vladimir Putin in December 2024, with the intent to have a fully operational command for unmanned warfare by late 2025. This move comes on the heels of Moscow’s efforts last June to centralize its drone operations, reflecting their increasing value in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
In response, Ukraine has criticized Russia’s establishment of the Unmanned Systems Forces, highlighting the similarities to its own initiative launched in 2024. Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, suggested that Russia’s actions are a direct imitation of Ukraine’s successful implementation of drone units. He highlighted that Ukraine’s advancements in drone technology provided a tactical edge in the ongoing conflict, characterizing Russia’s efforts as an attempt to replicate and scale these innovations, thus posing a heightened threat.
