In the key arena of military technological advancement and mass production, the West has its work cut out for it, as both Russia and China catch up.
Russia continues to prove to the world that it is, in fact, a potent nation with an advanced and self-sufficient military. As part of the country’s massive military rearmament strategy, President Vladimir Putin has ordered significant changes to Russia’s defense production priorities, including the acceleration of unmanned systems, artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, and directed energy weapons (DEW). This is in keeping with similar changes made by China and, more recently, reforms ordered by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—though America remains woefully behind the curve in all three areas.
In a talk with Russian defense leaders, Putin highlighted how drones had already reshaped the face of war. Yet, the Russian leader was forced to acknowledge the persistent shortages of drones for frontline combat operations. That’s because the operational tempo of Russia’s military on the frontline is so great that no amount of production could keep up with demand.
Russia’s Drone Army Is Bad News for Ukraine
Some of the drones that the Russians have employed along the front include the Orlan-10, which is predominantly used for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and electronic warfare (EW) missions. Orlan-10 uses things like the Leer-3 complex for mobile communications jamming.
Another drone the Russians utilize is the medium range combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). First tested in the killing fields of Syria, this system has been used by Russia to do targeted strikes in Ukraine. A heavy combat UAV that Russia is still testing is the Okhotnik (Hunter), meant for strike missions. The Russian military dreams about this system rivaling American systems like the Global Hawk.
The Lancet is another system that Russia uses. It is known as a loitering munition and has been augmented with AI, allowing for autonomous targeting. Russia’s Lancet loitering munition is also resistant to EW and has become a fixture in the unfriendly skies above the Ukrainian frontlines.
Of course, the Lancet loitering munition is not the only unmanned system in Moscow’s growing arsenal enhanced by AI. The Rusak-S and Iranian-built Shahed are both being equipped for autonomous navigation and target recognition—enabling these systems to identify critical infrastructure, such as power plants, even if they are operating in electronically degraded environments.
AI Can Make Russia’s Weapons Smarter
As for AI, Moscow views this technology as the key to their military modernization, notably because of how AI applications in command-and-control systems can improve Russia’s war machine.
Indeed, the Kremlin has rightly observed that its budding AI systems are as critical for information dominance as it is for disrupting an adversary’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems.
Regarding command-and-control, AI can be used to process vast amounts of battlefield data, enhancing decision-making speed. The new S-500 Prometey (meaning Prometheus) missile defense system is highly automated, allowing for vehicle operations with real-time data processing.
Russia Is Building Giant Lasers, Too
DEWs, meanwhile, are part of Russia’s pursuit for military technological dominance. A ground-based laser for countering satellites—and probably drones as well—was deployed in 2018. It is known as the Peresvet Laser System. Moscow possesses electromagnetic weapons that can disrupt an adversary’s electronics. These EM weapons target C4ISR systems and satellite communications. And Russian scientists are exploring whether DEWs can be explored for anti-satellite (ASAT) mission sets.
It is clear that Russian engineers and scientists are prioritizing DEWs, in conjunction with their development of AI and robotics. If developed successfully, DEWs can counter NATO’s likely technological edge over Moscow by disrupting key satellite-based C4ISR and missile defense systems. Russia’s focus on space-based DEWs aligns with its perception of space as a potential theater for “strike weapons.”
Overall, there is little doubt that Russia continues to make significant strides in these three new technological domains. Systems like the Orlan-10 or the S-500 Prometey demonstrate practical advancements, while AI enhances autonomy and information operations. What’s more, the Ukraine War has put the Russian defense industrial base into overdrive so much so that the Russians will likely be able to keep pace with both their American and Chinese great power competitors in these key areas.
The West has been overcome by events. Certainly, its tech sector is still dynamic. But in the key arena of military technological advancement and mass production, the West has its work cut out for it, as both Russia and China catch up. If the Americans found themselves in a direct war with either Russia or China, Washington’s forces would struggle to achieve victory in ways that no living American had ever experienced.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / anelo.
