Russia will set up a devoted navy department for unmanned methods, President Vladimir Putin mentioned on June 12 throughout a gathering on the state armament program.
"We’ve amassed an excessive amount of expertise to create this department of the armed forces," Putin mentioned, noting the transfer consists of personnel coaching, manufacturing, and deployment of recent gear.
The announcement comes as each Russia and Ukraine more and more use drones for strike missions and surveillance. Unmanned methods have turn into central to battlefield operations and enabling deep strikes.
Ukraine established its personal Unmanned Programs Forces (USF) in June 2024 to formalize and scale its drone-based operations on the battlefield. The USF has since launched a whole lot of deep strikes into Russian territory and labored to combine drone expertise throughout fight items.
Russia, in the meantime, has ramped up drone manufacturing over the previous yr, launching waves of Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones in near-daily assaults on Ukrainian cities.
President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Could 27 that Moscow intends to supply as much as 500 drones day by day, with Russian producers gearing as much as manufacture 300-350 drones every day.
Russian drone manufacturing has been supported by a gentle move of elements from China and a workforce that features youngsters and international laborers from African international locations.
The Kremlin's transfer mirrors Kyiv's earlier navy reform and indicators Russia's recognition of drones as a essential pillar of recent warfare.
The Kyiv IndependentChris York