Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country plans to significantly increase its drone production, aiming to produce nearly 1.4 million drones this year, nearly ten times the previous output, Reuters reports.
This move is part of Russia’s strategy to bolster its armed forces in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has highlighted the crucial role of drones in modern warfare, including their use for intelligence gathering and direct attacks. Putin stated that around 140,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have already been delivered to the Russian armed forces in 2023. He also mentioned the importance of developing drone defense technology to counter enemy attacks.
Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up their drone production and purchased drones from abroad. Inexpensive first-person view (FPV) drones, originally designed for civilian racing, are now being used effectively in combat, allowing soldiers to inflict significant damage with relatively low-cost devices.
