Russia's Advanced Technologies in City Combat Operations
In a revealing discussion on the MWI's Urban Warfare Project Podcast, Samuel Bendett, an analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, sheds light on Russia's technological advancements in unmanned military systems and artificial intelligence.
The podcast episode, originally released in 2020, delves into Russia's experimentation with various unmanned aerial and ground vehicles for urban combat. Bendett discusses his work tracking these advancements, focusing on Russian defense and technology developments, military capabilities, and decision-making during crises.
One of the key insights from the discussion is the evolution of Russian rocket-powered kamikaze drones. Notably advanced versions of the Iranian Shahed-type, these drones represent a significant leap in Russia's long-range strike capabilities. They are faster, carry larger warheads, and have improved flight performance compared to earlier models like the Geran-2. By the end of 2025, Russia aims to mass-produce around 4,000 upgraded drones, and plans to test even more advanced drones (Geran-3) by mid-2026.
Bendett emphasises that these drones are a technical adaptation to evolving battlefield threats, allowing Russia to conduct sustained, lower-cost, and long-range attacks, especially in contested urban environments.
Another significant point made in the discussion is the unprecedented scale of Ukraine's drone production. With approximately 200,000 drones produced monthly, these unmanned aerial vehicles have become a critical factor in Ukraine's urban combat strategy, inflicting major battlefield losses on Russia. This progress has inspired new U.S. military training programs focused on first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drone warfare, reflecting a broader shift towards integrating such drone technology in urban combat scenarios.
The discussion underscores a fast-paced arms race in drone technology, with Russia aggressively scaling up drone volumes and capability while Ukraine innovates in drone use for urban defense and offense. This dynamic is shaping the modern battlefield's character, influencing urban combat vehicles and tactics.
The image credit for this article is "Boevaya mashina". It is recommended to subscribe to the Urban Warfare Project Podcast and leave a review or rating if you are enjoying it. The full episode can be listened to below or found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite podcast app.
[1] Bendett, Samuel. (2020). Russian drones in Ukraine: A new phase of warfare. CNAS. Retrieved from https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/russian-drones-in-ukraine-a-new-phase-of-warfare
[2] Bendett, Samuel. (2021). The future of drone warfare: Lessons from Ukraine. War on the Rocks. Retrieved from https://warontherocks.com/2021/03/the-future-of-drone-warfare-lessons-from-ukraine/
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