Russia creates exclusive military force for drones and intensifies technological rivalry with Ukraine (X @Varun55484761)
The Russia has created a new military branch dedicated exclusively to the development, operation, and improvement of drones, called the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF).
This initiative, following a model similar to the one adopted by Ukraine, aims to organize and centralize regiments and units responsible for the use of air, land, and sea drones. According to Russian authorities, the goal is to increase efficiency on the battlefield, particularly in areas where Moscow has gained an advantage through the intensive use of these devices.
The new force also participates in combat testing, integration with electronic warfare systems, and direct partnerships with manufacturers for rapid technological adaptations. Russia is heavily investing in expanding its production capacity, with ambitious goals such as the monthly production of thousands of Shahed drones and millions of FPV drones. In addition, it is recruiting highly skilled military personnel to form the teams for operating and maintaining the equipment, attempting to correct operational failures and lack of standardization observed previously.
However, this move worries Ukraine, which claims that Russia is copying and trying to expand on innovations that Kiev implemented first. Ukrainian authorities assess that Moscow now has more resources to scale up the use of drones in large volumes, which presents a strategic risk. In response, Kiev states that it needs to accelerate its own technological development to maintain the advantage and ensure that its drone units continue to operate at a superior level.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @Varun55484761 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
1/ THREAD: Now that the Rus MOD has signaled that the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) are established, here is a take from Rus mil commentators on what USF can mean for the larger force – main points translated in this thread below. https://t.co/MrICeTog1P https://t.co/DMskea5zvH pic.twitter.com/m4lIuNN1Ht
— Samuel Bendett (@sambendett) November 13, 2025
