Russia turns to creative solutions to fill UAV capability gaps
Sourcing drones from Iran is one answer to Russia's UAS problems. This light quadcopter was displayed at Army-2022 event near Moscow and is capable of carrying a 1-7kg payload with endurance of 30-60min. Note the mortar round under the fuselage. (Photo: via author)
Deals with Iran and using regional government funds to bypass traditional defence procurement channels are some of the ways Russia is trying to fill its qualitative and quantitative drone capability gaps.
As the scale and intensity of the war in Ukraine has expanded, the need for multiple classes of UAVs at tactical and operational levels is increasingly clear. However, the ongoing conflict has revealed the inability of the Russian defence industry to produce a full spectrum of UAS in the required quantities, on time or meeting MoD specifications.
The severity of the problem was recently officially acknowledged. ‘Most of the unmanned aircraft produced in Russia do not meet the tactical and technical requirements of the Ministry of Defence,’ said Col Igor Ishchuk on 27 September during the round table ‘Prospects for the development of technologies
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![Turkey’s Eurofighter process going to plan despite German block, says minister]()
Turkey’s Eurofighter process going to plan despite German block, says minister
The comment, made by Turkish defence minister Yasar Guler, also noted that the 40-strong sale of Eurofighter Typhoons was primarily managed by the UK, not Germany.
-
![Belgium considers additional F-35 order to boost fleet]()
Belgium considers additional F-35 order to boost fleet
The statement from Prime Minister Bart De Wever during a parliamentary session follows the country’s Easter Agreement which would see it increase defence spending to 2% of GDP by the end of 2025.
-
![Northrop Grumman notes $477 million loss as it manages higher B-21 programme costs]()
Northrop Grumman notes $477 million loss as it manages higher B-21 programme costs
In its Q1 earnings call, the company disclosed a US$477 million pretax loss related to the programme as it works to scale up.
-
![India set to sign Rafale-M deal]()
India set to sign Rafale-M deal
New Delhi gears up to sign Navy Rafale deal as talks swirl around a potential assembly line in Nagpur.
-
![Lockheed Martin wants to “supercharge” F-35 after NGAD loss]()
Lockheed Martin wants to “supercharge” F-35 after NGAD loss
The investment in technologies developed for Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft bid will now be applied to its F-35 and F-22 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet.
