Russia is creating a force of unmanned systems, - ISW
Date: 2025-01-29 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
Russia has begun to form separate regiments of unmanned systems at the level of military districts. The goal of these processes is to strengthen the potential in the field of unmanned technologies and centralize the control of drones, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
In particular, the 7th separate reconnaissance and strike regiment of unmanned systems with a strength of 1,342 servicemen has appeared as part of the Central Military District of Russia. The personnel are trained at the 473rd District Training Center of the Russian Federation.
The structure of the regiment includes:
- command staff;
- strike battalion of unmanned systems;
- three reconnaissance and strike battalions;
- logistics units, in particular communications, medical and repair units.
In addition, Russia plans to create 102 subordinate units: 41 strike and 61 reconnaissance.
In the summer of 2024, Russian volunteer groups launched crowdfunding campaigns to support this regiment. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry also announced the reorganization of informal drone units and other specialists into "joint technical battalions." By October 2024, several unmanned systems units were formed based on the Rubicon Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies, and the creation of five more such units was announced.
Military analyst Konrad Muzyka noted that these organizational changes in the Russian armed forces and the formation of drone units indicate that similar regiments may appear in other Russian military districts in the future.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said that the formation of unmanned systems troops as part of the Russian Armed Forces is planned to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.
"Russian forces will likely gain enhanced drone support capabilities if the Russian Defense Ministry successfully forms these new unmanned systems regiments and centralizes its efforts to procure unmanned systems for the forces. At the same time, the success of these efforts will depend on the commitment of the Russian Armed Forces to implement the necessary reforms and the availability of resources," he said.
