The main striking power of the Russian army is about to be raised to a new level.
In the past year, Russia's military-industrial complex delivered 1.5 million drones to the front lines, including 4,000 first-person view (FPV) drones per day. However, Vladimir Putin stated that this was still insufficient. What are the reasons for the growing demand for FPV drones and why have they become one of the factors contributing to the success of Russian soldiers in combat zones? How is Russia expanding the production scale of such drones?
On Tuesday, during the meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that last year, all defense enterprises completed their defense order tasks comprehensively, with high quality and on time, and even ahead of schedule in some types of weapons and equipment.
"For example, the output of strike weapons, communication systems, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare systems has more than tripled. The army received over 4,000 armored tank weapons, 180 fighters, and helicopters." The head of state said. According to him, more than 1.5 million different types of drones were also delivered, "including about 4,000 so-called FPV virtual reality system-controlled drones sent to the front lines every day."
However, "so far, these strike weapons are still insufficient." "There is not enough quantity. I know the efforts made by the Ministry of Defense, the ministers, and various industrial enterprises. There are relevant plans, and work is being carried out every day." The president emphasized.
Putin expressed his belief that all plans to increase drone production "will undoubtedly be implemented." "People are eagerly awaiting these drones on the battlefield. In fact, they have now become an important factor in achieving combat success." The Russian leader explained.
The head of state particularly noted that the most popular drone models at the front lines are rapidly improving, with their tactical and technical performance constantly increasing, "taking into account practical combat experience as well as countermeasures from the enemy." "Moreover, the developers of these drones, including major Western arms companies, have not stood still – we all know this, and the soldiers on the battlefield also know it," Putin added.
It is worth noting that Russia has a "Drone Aviation System" (BAS) national project, which was approved in December 2023. Within the framework of this national project, more than 400 Russian domestic companies have become入驻enterprises in research and production centers, creating conditions for the study and production of drones. In January this year, Putin stated that by 2030, Russia should rank among the leading countries in the field of drone aviation systems worldwide.
Currently, Russia has established 15 drone production centers. Companies engaged in drone production include state-owned giants like "Rostec", contractors such as "Kalashnikov" and "Kronshtadt", as well as private enterprises.
In recent years, Russia's drone production volume has significantly increased. For instance, in November 2021, Putin mentioned at a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and heads of military-industrial enterprises that "the number of drones equipped by our army exceeds 2,000." But by last spring, Russia had already ranked among the top three in terms of drone patents, trailing only China and the United States. However, questions arose: why did the demand for FPV drones grow faster than supply, and how can Russia expand the production scale of these drones?
"The high demand for FPV drones stems from several reasons: first, due to their low cost and good effectiveness, they have become one of the most widely used types of drones. In some cases, they can replace artillery, although they are often inferior in striking power compared to artillery, but they have advantages in precision and the ability to attack targets from difficult-to-reach angles," explained Denis Fedutinov, an expert in the drone aviation field. Indeed, military analysts have already pointed out that drones are becoming the main striking force of the Russian army.
Fedutinov stated that to expand production capacity, it is necessary to clarify "what exactly has become the bottleneck in the process of manufacturing new drones": "I see various industrial companies making efforts to increase production capacity, including increasing the number of machine tools, to address existing bottlenecks. However, due to some components needing to be imported from abroad, companies may encounter difficulties."
Fedutinov believes that to some extent, this issue can be resolved by improving the logistics of short-supply parts: "But there may also be internal difficulties, such as issues related to customs. These problems must be addressed very seriously. The bureaucratic system should not create obstacles for defense enterprises, especially during such a difficult period."
It is worth noting that a large portion of the drones currently used in the special military operation area are developed and produced by private companies. Some notable companies here include Ulyanovsk Aviation Plant (UZA), "Kronshtadt," ZALA, "Finko," "Eniks," and "Kalashnikov," among others. In these companies, "if the state is involved, it is also as a co-owner, sometimes as a minority shareholder."
"Additionally, a significant portion of drone suppliers are private companies that have grown from 'garage' production. These companies have grown significantly in recent years, but their business model is unstable – usually, the funds for producing each batch of new drone systems come from the sales revenue of the previous batch of products. The state should pay more attention to the problems faced by these companies and actively participate in solving them," the expert believed.
"FPV drones have indeed given almost every small unit or platoon a precise 'long arm.' These drones have largely replaced artillery, mortars, and in a sense, even tactical military aviation," said Oleg Makarov, co-founder of the "Wattful" project. According to him, in the special military operations, the consumption of this type of drone is "very large." "Statistical data shows that only 20% of strikes are successful. Therefore, numbers like 150,000 drones per month no longer surprise many people," the speaker continued.
This analyst pointed out that currently, all types of production enterprises, whether large or small, face "quality issues." "There is no unified recognized design plan, no months of testing on the firing range, and no established testing methods and procedures. Everything is trial and error," the expert detailed.
"In any other type of weapon, soldiers do not need to improve the weapon in some way after receiving it. But for FPV drones, this is a common practice. This is the reality of combat operations. Soldiers literally pick up soldering irons and modify the equipment according to specific needs," Makarov said.
The interviewee believes that to solve these problems, the state could purchase drones in bulk from private enterprises and test them with the participation of a testing team. The entire testing process should follow unified standards.
"Test personnel will collect feedback and suggestions and provide them to manufacturers for revisions. Only after that is it suitable to purchase drones in bulk and send them to the front lines," the analyst said. However, some small enterprises have already "received contracts from the state."
When discussing the potential for scaling up production, Makarov also pointed out that direct cooperation between small private enterprises and the state is necessary. "State-owned enterprises can provide production capacity and assist in drafting technical drawings, allowing large-scale production of qualified drones there," he concluded.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496802915642917415/
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