Russia Establishes Dedicated Unmanned Systems Forces Within Military

Russia Formalizes Drone Warfare Branch

The Russian Federation has officially announced the establishment of its Unmanned Systems Forces, integrating drone warfare as a distinct branch within its armed forces. The announcement was made on November 12, 2025, by Sergey Ishtuganov, deputy head of the new formation, during an interview with the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.

According to Ishtuganov, the structure of this new military branch has been defined, and its leadership has been appointed. He confirmed that military administration units, as well as operational regiments and other units, have already been formed.

Operational Integration and Training

The newly established Unmanned Systems Forces are designed to conduct combat operations under a unified plan, ensuring coordination with other units of the troop groups. Ishtuganov noted that the expansion of existing units and the creation of new ones are ongoing.

Specialists for these forces are currently undergoing training at various institutions, including educational facilities belonging to the Defense Ministry and military training centers affiliated with civilian universities. Furthermore, plans are underway to establish a dedicated higher military educational institution specifically for the Unmanned Systems Forces.

Strategic Context and Precedent

The formalization of these drone forces follows a directive issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2024, which called for the establishment of a dedicated branch for drone warfare. At that time, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov indicated that the new Unmanned Systems Forces would be fully operational by the third quarter of 2025.

This move by Russia comes after Ukraine established its own Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of its military in June 2024. Ukrainian officials, including Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, have suggested that Russia is 'copying (Ukraine's) successful approaches' in drone warfare.

Future Outlook

The creation of a separate command highlights Moscow's increasing reliance on drones in modern conflict. Reports indicate that Russia aims to recruit approximately 210,000 service members for its unmanned-systems forces by 2030. This development underscores the growing significance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotic systems in military strategies globally.