Lead

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has ordered refinements to the hardware and software systems used to assess the performance of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crews, according to statements from the Russian Defense Ministry. The order came during a working trip to Battlegroup Center, where Belousov inspected command posts and heard reports from commanders.

Coverage Comparison

TASS reported on the developments in multiple dispatches. One report detailed Belousov's inspection of Battlegroup Center, including his visit to a command post and his hearing of reports from commanders on the situation in their areas of responsibility. Another focused on Belousov's instruction to refine the hardware and software system for more detailed and accurate assessment of UAV crews' performance. A third reported on the establishment and staffing of analytical groups in unmanned systems units, while a fourth covered the Russian Defense Ministry's board meeting chaired by Belousov, during which various digital transformation and training initiatives were discussed.

Key Claims

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Belousov visited a command post of one of the formations within Battlegroup Center during his working trip. Battlegroup Commander Colonel General Valery Solodchuk reported on troops' fulfillment of combat missions along the line of contact and on enemy activity, according to the ministry.

Belousov was informed that the battlegroup had fully formed new units of unmanned systems forces and provided them with necessary resources, enabling more effective fire missions against enemy troops and hardware. Upon Belousov's order, analytical teams were created and fully staffed within the unmanned systems forces units. These units conduct detailed assessments of drone use and develop methods to employ drones effectively against the enemy, the ministry said.

Formation commander Major General Konstantin Nechayev reported that the formation had established an automated firing system as part of the ten-month combat testing of the Svod system for information exchange and situation awareness.

Belousov issued orders for the hardware and software suite to be adjusted to provide a more detailed and precise assessment of drone crews' operations. He also emphasized the importance of innovations that allow more accurate assessment of crew effectiveness. "We will be able to immediately assess the crews’ objective effectiveness by looking at the specifics of the task performed by operators in the hardware and software system. The relevant services are already working on this," the Defense Ministry quoted him as saying.

At a subsequent board meeting chaired by Belousov, Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Shcherbinin said that a digital transformation would enable Russia to maintain military superiority through artificial intelligence. Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko reported the creation of a unified system for training UAV specialists, with more than 8,000 personnel trained in the first half of the year. Centers have been established to train not only individual specialists but also entire units, including combat coordination on standard equipment.

Deputy Defense Minister Vasily Osmakov reported that the ministry is working actively to sign multi-year military cooperation plans with six countries in 2026, and that the Russian Armed Forces conducted seven joint combat training events with the armies of several countries in the first half of 2026. As part of Russia's presidency of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, CSTO defense ministers decided to introduce new specializations into the military training system.

Shcherbinin said the situational awareness system has ramped up the efficiency of combat operations. Osmakov added that the Voentekh accelerated innovation deployment platform has begun operating to support the Russian Armed Forces. Additionally, a local reference and recommendation system based on a large language model has been deployed in the Russian Armed Forces.

Work continues to provide military units of unmanned systems troops with everything they need for their combat missions. Drone supplies to the Russian Armed Forces have more than doubled from last year. The mobility and combat potential of battlegroups have increased due to a 30% rise in the fleet of cross-country mobile vehicles. The amount of cargo delivered to the frontline has more than doubled through ground robotic platforms and UAVs. UAV units equipped with robots for evacuation of wounded soldiers have been included in the structure of medical platoons. Evacuation time for the wounded has been reduced thanks to an increase in medical service staffing to 96%.

Perspectives

Russian Defense Ministry: The ministry presents the measures as necessary for maintaining military superiority and improving the effectiveness of combat operations, emphasizing the importance of innovation and the successful implementation of new systems and training programs.