Officials announced that Russia will send its first surface unmanned aerial vehicle into a designated special operations testing zone. The disclosure came from Mikhail Danilenko, the general director of the military-industrial holding KMZ, as reported by RIA News. The move marks a notable step in Russia’s unmanned systems program, signaling a push to evaluate advanced capabilities in real-world conditions within a controlled environment. The announcement underscored the importance of testing coastal and maritime drone platforms to ensure reliability, endurance, and mission-specific performance before broader deployment. These trials are part of ongoing efforts to expand autonomous aerial and maritime reconnaissance and support operations for the armed forces.
In parallel, Danilenko also indicated that the maiden unmanned vessel is slated for testing within the same operation area. He referred to the high-speed carrier boat by the working name Dandelion. The plan includes establishing a preliminary experimental batch comprising ten seaplanes, with testing anticipated to continue through the year as part of a staged development program aligned with national defense goals. The approach emphasizes rapid iteration, rigorous field evaluation, and the integration of these platforms into larger force structures once performance benchmarks are met.
Earlier, Andrey Baranov, Deputy General Director of Rubin Central Design Bureau, described the capabilities of Russia’s latest titanium drone, known as Argus. He highlighted that the drone, constructed from advanced composite materials, could function as an onboard system designed to endure extended submersion, potentially remaining underwater for six months in future scenarios. Baranov noted that Argus models may be capable of diving to depths reaching six kilometers, suggesting significant potential for underwater surveillance, reconnaissance, and sabotage applications when paired with surface and air platforms. This progress reflects ongoing research into multi-domain autonomy and the fusion of unmanned assets across air, sea, and subsurface environments.
Against this backdrop, Russia has also advanced new drone suppression technology along with related countermeasure developments, signaling a broader push to enhance situational awareness, electronic warfare capabilities, and operational resilience in contested environments. The collective trajectory points to a comprehensive program aimed at expanding the reach and sophistication of unmanned systems across multiple domains, strengthening defense capabilities while refining the integration of unmanned assets into strategic and tactical missions.