|
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov outlined 10 priority objectives for the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) during the Russian MoD Collegium on August 29. These objectives indicate that the Kremlin is committed to its war in Ukraine and may be preparing for a larger confrontation with NATO in the medium term. Belousov stated that the MoD’s first objective is to achieve victory in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war goals, and defined recruitment as a key issue for Russia’s ability to sustain offensive operations. Belousov claimed that Russia has successfully increased contract service recruitment in 2025 but indicated that Russia still needs to improve the Russian tactical groups’ rate of advance. Belousov claimed that the MoD plans to increase tactical drones and electronic warfare (EW) supply to frontline units, improve logistics support, improve drone training, and address Russia’s tactical battlefield awareness problems via the newly created Svod situational awareness system, which will undergo combat testing between September and November 2025. Belousov defined Russia’s rearmament of strategic nuclear forces and space, air defense, EW, signals, unmanned and robotic artificial intelligence (AI) systems by 2036 as the MoD’s second priority objective. The Russian MoD’s focus on unmanned systems and other emerging technologies indicates that the Kremlin is preparing to incorporate its combat lessons and technological innovations from its war in Ukraine into future military confrontations.
Belousov stated that the Russian MoD will modernize the Russian officer training protocols within the framework of the “Military Education – in the Service of the Fatherland” project, likely in an effort to address the Russian military command’s challenges with integrating new technologies. Belousov stated that the MoD aims to update the list of Russian military specializations by the end of 2025 to account for assessed future military conflicts, the updated Russian Armed Forces structure, and new military equipment. Belousov stated that three unspecified Russian military academies will train officers in 11 new specialties, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotic systems. Russian MoD sources revealed in late July 2025 that Russia plans to reopen 15 higher military schools by 2034, including the Moscow Oblast Higher Military School for Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) in 2027. Putin notably ordered Belousov on August 21 to develop a counter-drone training course for Russian servicemen and volunteers by October 1. The Russian MoD and the Kremlin are likely trying to address a persistent problem of the Russian military command being unable to effectively integrate emerging technologies, such as drones, into combat operations, because many Russian commanders are not tech-savvy. A former Russian Storm Z instructor and milblogger noted that Russian military commanders often undermine the effectiveness of Russian drone units (which are reportedly banned from independently selecting their areas of responsibility and targets) because the commanders are not familiar with technological planning considerations such as EW coverage, radio horizons, and how weather conditions impact drones.
|
