The Unmanned Systems Troops have officially been established as a new branch of the Russian Armed Forces, the deputy commander of this unit announced. The formation was completed in the third quarter of 2025 in accordance with a decree of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, as previously announced by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov at a board meeting on December 16, 2024.

The creation of the new branch of the armed forces was a response to the successful use of drones in the conflict in Ukraine, where Russia deploys hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles daily. Their arsenal includes the Lancet strike drone, the Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone, and the Geran-2, which are actively used in attacks.

Western analysts, including CSIS, note that Russia has outpaced many countries in institutionalizing drones. Ukraine, the first to establish such a force in 2024, has already integrated 170 types of UAVs.