New long-range unmanned aerial vehicles in Russia are being developed to confront Ukrainian and NATO forces operating in the Black Sea. This assessment came from Andrey Koshkin, a retired colonel who heads the department of political analysis and socio-psychological processes at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. He shared his views in an interview with Lente.ru, outlining the need for drones that can sustain prolonged missions and carry high-quality reconnaissance and targeting systems.
Koshkin stressed that the success of such a project would depend on the drones’ endurance and the reliability of their onboard equipment for intelligence gathering and guidance. He suggested that the Russian defense industry has the capability to bring this concept to reality in the near term, given current advances and ongoing projects within the sector.
The analyst also highlighted Russia’s long-standing development of strategic weapons, noting the country’s possession of nuclear missile capabilities with hypersonic delivery systems as a milestone not seen since the Soviet era. He argued that there are no direct global analogues to this combination of features, underscoring the perceived strategic edge in certain domains.
In November, Yuri Knutov, a military historian and director of the Air Defense Forces Museum, stated in an interview with the 360 TV channel that the sea drones the Russian Ministry of Defense plans to procure this year could disrupt Ukrainian sea supply routes. Knutov emphasized that such capabilities would influence the balance of maritime logistics and reduce vulnerabilities along supply lines.
Earlier remarks from a commander of Ukraine’s armed forces suggested that Russia holds an advantage in employing FPV drones. This perspective reflects the broader discourse surrounding unmanned systems and their evolving role in regional security dynamics.
These discussions collectively illustrate an ongoing emphasis on long-range, autonomous aerial platforms and their potential to shape both strategic deterrence and tactical operations in the Black Sea region. Observers note that continued developments will depend on advancements in propulsion, navigation, endurance, and sensor integration, as well as the ability to translate these capabilities into practical, scalable military assets. The conversation also touches on broader questions about international arms competition, export controls, and the evolving norms governing unmanned warfare in modern conflict zones. [Source: Lente.ru] [Source: 360 TV channel] [Source: military historian sources cited in interviews]