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Russia Forms Unmanned Systems Forces Amid Growing Drone Arms Race With Ukraine
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Russia has formally created a new branch of its armed forces, the Unmanned Systems Forces, to consolidate drone warfare capabilities, according to ASTRA on November 12.
ASTRA reported that the branch comprises fully organized regiments and units under a designated command structure.
The outlet said the leadership and operational framework have been appointed, and quoted deputy branch head Colonel Sergey Ishtuganov as saying: “The buildup of existing formations and the creation of new units of the Unmanned Systems Forces continue. Operators, engineers, technicians, and other specialists are being assigned to these units.”
The development follows a December 2024 directive by Vladimir Putin to establish a dedicated drone warfare branch. At the time, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said it would be fully operational by the third quarter of 2025, according to the Kyiv Post.
The newspaper added that Ukraine’s parliament approved the creation of its own Unmanned Systems Forces in September 2024.
Earlier, it was reported that Russia plans to recruit about 210,000 service members by 2030 for its new unmanned‑systems forces.
