Russia

Unmanned Systems Forces (VBS)

Russia is currently actively turning universities into military recruitment hubs for drone warfare. Students are being offered up to $64,000, free tuition, academic leave, loan forgiveness, and combat veteran status to join unmanned drone units.

Recruiters prioritize gamers, programmers, drone pilots, and e-sports players as Russia rapidly expands its unmanned systems forces following heavy battlefield losses. Students say the pressure often goes beyond ordinary recruitment pitches.

Prison recruitment pipelines are shrinking, battlefield losses remain high, and universities provide a pool of nearly two million young men with technical skills well suited for drone warfare.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation plans to recruit 78,800 personnel into its newly established Unmanned Systems Forces by the end of 2026.

According to leaked data, the new force structure is expected to include:

• 7 separate brigades

• 15 regiments

• 70 battalions

• 1 division

• 12 Rubicon detachments

• 12 “heavy” UAV companies

• 12 ground robotic systems companies

The Russian military reportedly aims to recruit around 58,000 personnel from students, graduates of drone-piloting courses, former aviation personnel, and women with relevant training. Another 10,800 personnel are expected to come from conscripts transitioning to professional contracts, while the remaining 10,000 positions will reportedly be filled through transfers from existing military units.

Intensified Drone Production

• Russia is increasingly focusing on the production of jet-powered long-range drones and reportedly plans to raise their share to 50% of the total number of Shahed-type UAVs.

• According to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, the jet-powered “Geran-4” and “Geran-5” drones have already entered serial production, with existing manufacturing capacity reportedly capable of producing up to 500 such UAVs per month. Serial production of the “Geran-3” is reportedly expected to begin in the second half of this year.

• Overall, Russia plans to increase production of long-range drones of all types by 40% in 2026. Russia continues to rapidly expand production of Shahed, Gerbera, and other long-range UAVs. Through stockpiling, this already allows Moscow to conduct mass strikes involving up to 1,400 drones of various types within a single day.

Gerbera Drone Upgrade

• Russia began using cheap foam-based “Gerbera” drones roughly two years ago to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses, and is now reportedly equipping them with jam-resistant “Kometa-M” satellite navigation antennas. Photos published by defesnse ministry advisor Serhii Beskrestnov, “Flash,” show “Gerbera” drones fitted with 12-element Kometa-M antenna systems.

• According to Beskrestnov, the installation of 12-element Kometa-M antennas on Gerbera drones suggests Russia has significantly expanded production of these systems. He noted that around a year ago, Russian forces reportedly lacked sufficient Kometa antennas even for guided aerial bombs (KABs), with waiting times for the systems reportedly reaching up to five months.

Ukraine

Targeting Russian Manpower

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