The new branch specialized in drone warfare established by Russia numerically exceeds the entire army of Great Britain, A development that raises concerns about the pace of adaptation of Western armies to the new realities of war, against the background of the conflict in Ukraine, reports the British press.
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According to data published by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Unmanned Systems Forces, the specialized drone branch of the Russian military, currently has around 87,000 soldiers, a figure that significantly exceeds the strength of the British armed forces. According to the latest statistics, as of October 2025, this consists of approximately 74,000 active military personnel. Staffing has reached its lowest level in 200 years, following a series of budget cuts, notes the Daily Mail.
Russia continues to rapidly integrate specialized drone forces into its military, and these have reached impressive numbers: seven regiments, 25 battalions, one division and three independent units. In addition, within the elite Rubicon unit alone, the Russian military has approximately 1,000 military personnel, along with hundreds of other specialized operators within the Bars-Sarmat Special Purpose Center for Unmanned Systems.
A British defense official described the figures as “really worrying”, according to The Sun.
According to defense sources, units are just beginning to equip and train with drones.
For example, some units have used external sources of funding to familiarize themselves with the military use of drones.
The Parachute Regiment's Charitable Foundation has allocated around £10,000 towards the purchase of hobby racing drones for training purposes, and this elite unit is also the first to establish a drone-focused platoon.
British Defense Minister Al Carns, a former commando commander, backed calls for expanded training programmes, including through dedicated university courses.
He warned of the need for the British military to keep pace with new ways of waging war in the context of the technological race between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.
“In Ukraine, drones cause more casualties than artillery. This is the reality of modern warfare”the British official appreciated.
The British Ministry of Defense has announced an investment of around £4 billion to strengthen the UK military's drone capability.
He stated that, so far, 3,000 soldiers have been trained in the operation of drones, with another 6,000 to be trained next year.
