Russia and Ukraine have both made some spectacular advances in drone warfare technology. Russian advances are aimed at gaining an advantage along the battlefront to speed up the capture of Ukrainian territory, while Ukrainian advances are aimed at more effectively striking deep into Russian territory.
Russian Drone Tech Advances
Russian technology advances are making Russian drones more lethal without increasing their cost. Also, and perhaps more importantly, the advances are reducing Russia’s dependence on imported drone components, thereby facilitating massive-scale domestic production.
Russia first established a technological edge over Ukraine with the introduction of fiber-optic cable-controlled FPV kamikaze drones in August 2024.
We recently posted an analysis of the Prince Vandal Novgorodsky (KVN) fiber-optic cable-controlled FPV (First Person View) kamikaze drones covering its combat capabilities and advantages over radio frequency-controlled FPV kamikaze drones.
More recently, Russia has introduced short-range, inexpensive FPV kamikaze drone variants that navigate and home onto targets using AI-enabled machine vision.
Russia has operationally deployed two AI and machine vision-enabled drones – Ovat-S and Microbe. We posted an analysis of the Ovat-S drone and compared it with the US V-BAT drone, which too uses AI and machine vision.
Microbe Drone
Very recently, TASS reported the operational deployment of another AI and machine vision-enabled Russian kamikaze drone called Microbe, which can autonomously track and destroy a target once it has been designated by the drone operator.
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The first 3 thousand Microbes have been delivered to the Russian forces. According to the developer of the Microbe drone, Alexander Gryaznov, “Our drone has artificial intelligence, a guidance system. Accordingly, after the operator captures the target, [the drone can] independently [track] it, no matter how the target maneuvers.’
The Microbe is highly maneuverable. It can fly at high speeds and sustain high G loads.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, one drone unit with a two-person crew working with 40 drones destroyed enemy equipment of greater value than the cost of all three thousand drones that have been supplied.
The drone is modular. It can be configured with different sensors, such as Thermal Imaging for night operations, alternative control, and video frequency bandwidth to circumvent electronic warfare. The modularity of the drone keeps it light and versatile.
Sanctions Related Drone Manufacturing Challenges
The operational impact of the technical advances introduced so far has been limited because Russia’s ability to mass manufacture drones has been constrained by its dependence on imported components for powering and controlling the drones.
Unlike Ukraine, Russia doesn’t have a wide range of drone components to choose from because of Western sanctions. Russian drones likely depend on whatever components can be sourced in defiance of the sanctions.
Also, the payload, range, and flight characteristics of Russian drones have been dictated more by the capabilities of components sourced rather than design goals.
Rostec’s Drone Component Breakthrough
In a recent press statement, Rostec announced that it has mastered serial production of key components for drones, which so far had no domestically manufactured analogs.
“Among them are navigation modules that allow the drone to ‘navigate’ not only by satellites but also by ground-based mobile base stations. This increases the accuracy of UAV positioning in the air.
“The new navigation modules have special domestic software with a high degree of security, which allows you to receive the most accurate data on the position and condition of the unmanned vehicle. Including directly during the performance of flight tasks.”
In addition, Russia’s Roselectronics has developed a more advanced controller for power plants of unmanned aerial, underwater and surface drones.
Roselectronics had earlier developed a controller for UAVs with a payload capacity of up to 10 kg. Its new controller is designed for motors with higher torque. The new controller can be installed on drones with a payload capacity of up to 25 kg. Replacing the old controller with the new controller increases the maximum power of the drone from 850 W to 4 kW.
In addition, the development of a flight controller for small UAVs has been completed. The device can operate in harsh operating conditions.
Ukrainian Drone Tech Advances Hurt Russia
Ukraine, too, has made significant strides in drone warfare capability and ramped up production of drones.
However, unlike Russia, which has focused on improving the strike capability of battlefield drones, Ukraine has focused on improving the strike capability of its long-range drones.
Several Ukrainian companies are now producing long-range attack drones at scale. The production ramp-up has been facilitated by generous finance and technology transfers from Western countries.
Ukraine is now rolling out drones with extended range, improved aerodynamic designs, and better resistance to electronic jamming, making them more effective against Russian defenses.
The introduction of new models like the “Peklo” missile drone, which can travel further and faster, has significantly enhanced Ukraine’s strike capabilities.
As a result of the production ramp-up, Ukraine is able to launch massive attacks.
For example, on January 24, 2025, Ukraine launched 120 drones to strike the Russian oil refinery in Ryazan and other locations. The strike included jet-powered drones.
Russian air defense systems appear to be faltering in the face of such massive drone onslaughts.
Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure like oil refineries disrupt Russia’s economy and adversely affect its military capabilities. Strikes on military bases, especially airfields, have forced Russia to reposition its aircraft further away from the front lines, reducing the effectiveness of its air operations against Ukraine.
Like Russia, Ukraine too is using AI enabled machine vision for navigation and targeting.
Conclusion
Ukraine’s long-range drone advances are aimed at leveraging the psychological effect of bringing the war to Russian civilians and weakening the Russian leadership’s resolve to continue fighting.
Russian drone advances are aimed at wresting more and more territory from Ukraine in order to force it to negotiate for peace.
Much will depend on how soon and effectively Russia and Ukraine are able to adapt their defenses to neutralize the technological advantage of each other’s drones.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
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