Samuel Bendett
@sambendett.bsky.social
Uncrewed, autonomous, robotic systems and Artificial Intelligence. Russian and Ukrainian weapons development. CNA, CNAS and CSIS. Opinions my own.
3rd Combat Aviation Brigade Builds the Future of Drone-Enabled Army Aviation www.war.gov/News/News-St...
www.war.gov
November 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
3rd Combat Aviation Brigade Builds the Future of Drone-Enabled Army Aviation www.war.gov/News/News-St...
The Future of Drones in the US Army: Learning from Germany’s Successful—and France’s Failed—Tank Integration in the Interwar Years mwi.westpoint.edu/the-future-o...
The Future of Drones in the US Army: Learning from Germany’s Successful—and France’s Failed—Tank Integration in the Interwar Years - Modern War Institute
In the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, drones now define the conflict—from the ubiquitous small commercial reconnaissance quadcopter drones that give units down to the squad level persistent situational ...
mwi.westpoint.edu
November 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The Future of Drones in the US Army: Learning from Germany’s Successful—and France’s Failed—Tank Integration in the Interwar Years mwi.westpoint.edu/the-future-o...
A typical example of Russian DIY UGV manufacturing - building a small mining and logistics UGV in a week from an exercise treadmill. t.me/inzheneryChM...
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
A typical example of Russian DIY UGV manufacturing - building a small mining and logistics UGV in a week from an exercise treadmill. t.me/inzheneryChM...
Reposted by Samuel Bendett
For recently graduated undergrads and enrolled graduate students, the CNA internship program is open for summer 2026! Come join us and work on exciting research, analysis, and #wargaming for the Navy & Marine Corps! Open until Dec 1st.
🔗 www.cna.org/careers/inte...
🔗 www.cna.org/careers/inte...
November 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
For recently graduated undergrads and enrolled graduate students, the CNA internship program is open for summer 2026! Come join us and work on exciting research, analysis, and #wargaming for the Navy & Marine Corps! Open until Dec 1st.
🔗 www.cna.org/careers/inte...
🔗 www.cna.org/careers/inte...
Rus state media announced that Airborne Forces in the Kherson area will be equipped with USVs to strike coastal infrastructure and watercraft, and resupply troops. Apparently, some of these USVs can carry up to 500 kg, indicating types like Vizir, Murena, BEK-1000 or others. iz.ru/1993758/bogd...
November 21, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Rus state media announced that Airborne Forces in the Kherson area will be equipped with USVs to strike coastal infrastructure and watercraft, and resupply troops. Apparently, some of these USVs can carry up to 500 kg, indicating types like Vizir, Murena, BEK-1000 or others. iz.ru/1993758/bogd...
Another Russian report on the Courier UGV delivered to frontline units - the operator also shows UGVs built by soldiers themselves for mining and demining ops. t.me/stormdron/99
November 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Another Russian report on the Courier UGV delivered to frontline units - the operator also shows UGVs built by soldiers themselves for mining and demining ops. t.me/stormdron/99
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and chief of staff Gen. Randy George became the highest-level Trump Pentagon officials to visit Ukraine when they arrived on an unannounced trip this week. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Top Army officials visit Kyiv on peace and tech sharing mission
It's the highest-level visit by the Trump administration to the war-torn country since Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveled to Kyiv in February.
www.politico.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and chief of staff Gen. Randy George became the highest-level Trump Pentagon officials to visit Ukraine when they arrived on an unannounced trip this week. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
One of the aspects of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has been the assistance to the military by the Russian civil society - an underreported topic. Appreciate @prestonstew.bsky.social for inviting me to discuss Russian "Peoples' VPK" - a crowdsourced war. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi5o...
Russia's Crowd-Sourced War
YouTube video by Preston Stewart
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
One of the aspects of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has been the assistance to the military by the Russian civil society - an underreported topic. Appreciate @prestonstew.bsky.social for inviting me to discuss Russian "Peoples' VPK" - a crowdsourced war. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi5o...
The Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences presented a design for a boat with a UAV launcher: "shock absorbers protect the UAVs from seawater/vibration/stress. The hull is surrounded by a radar-absorbing mesh, reducing radar signature by a factor of four." t.me/yuzhny_front...
November 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences presented a design for a boat with a UAV launcher: "shock absorbers protect the UAVs from seawater/vibration/stress. The hull is surrounded by a radar-absorbing mesh, reducing radar signature by a factor of four." t.me/yuzhny_front...
Very relevant take on the Russian MOD from my CNA colleague Julian Waller.
#OpEd Installing technocratic bureaucrats without their own patronage networks helps the Kremlin rein-in the leaders of the military and security services, writes Dr Julian Waller.
Russia's Defense Ministry Is Undergoing Generational Change - The Moscow Times
Opinion | Debates about Russia’s internal authoritarian politics have long been defined by questions over the relative importance of security or military elites compared to their civilian counterparts...
www.themoscowtimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Very relevant take on the Russian MOD from my CNA colleague Julian Waller.
Since there is a lack of heavy Rus drones at the front, one company is now selling large frames made from plywood for attaching 2 to 4 10-inch FPV drones: "Vobla", "Tyoschya" (Mother-in Law) and "Driada". DIY is the way to go now if Rus soldiers want an heavy drone. fpv-frame.ru
November 13, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Since there is a lack of heavy Rus drones at the front, one company is now selling large frames made from plywood for attaching 2 to 4 10-inch FPV drones: "Vobla", "Tyoschya" (Mother-in Law) and "Driada". DIY is the way to go now if Rus soldiers want an heavy drone. fpv-frame.ru
Russian MOD apparently unveiled an Unmanned Systems Forces logo that features a crossed arrow and sword with a winged microcircuit with a star at the crosshairs. t.me/genshtab24/9...
Портфель Генштаба
Минобороны впервые показало эмблему новых войск беспилотных систем.
На ней изображены крылья, сверху пересекающиеся стрелой и мечом, а посередине — микросхема с золотой звездой.
t.me
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Russian MOD apparently unveiled an Unmanned Systems Forces logo that features a crossed arrow and sword with a winged microcircuit with a star at the crosshairs. t.me/genshtab24/9...
Russia (officially) establishes Unmanned Systems Forces tass.com/defense/2042...
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Russia (officially) establishes Unmanned Systems Forces tass.com/defense/2042...
Uncrewed Boats Controlled From 500 Miles Escort UK Warships in Landmark Test thedefensepost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thedefen...
Uncrewed Boats Controlled From 500 Miles Escort UK Warships in Landmark Test
A fleet of uncrewed boats proved they can operate hundreds of miles from their human controllers, escorting warships in a 72-hour trial.
thedefensepost-com.cdn.ampproject.org
November 9, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Uncrewed Boats Controlled From 500 Miles Escort UK Warships in Landmark Test thedefensepost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/thedefen...
Colombia Is struggling to keep up with a criminal air Force - cheap, store-bought drones warontherocks.com/2025/10/colo...
Colombia Is Struggling to Keep Up With A Criminal Air Force
Armed groups in Colombia have built an air force — and it flies on cheap, store-bought drones. In late August 2025, the National Liberation Army claimed
warontherocks.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Colombia Is struggling to keep up with a criminal air Force - cheap, store-bought drones warontherocks.com/2025/10/colo...
US Army wants to buy one million drones by 2028 breakingdefense.com/2025/11/serv...
Army wants to buy one million drones over next two to three years - Breaking Defense
This uptick in drone acquisition will be possible through a new pilot program, called SkyFoundry, an initiative headed by Army Material Command, an Army Spokesperson told Breaking Defense.
breakingdefense.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 PM
US Army wants to buy one million drones by 2028 breakingdefense.com/2025/11/serv...
Just like in Ukraine, Russian volunteers and tech start ups began supporting the military with acquisition and R&D of UAV, drone, EW, UGV, CUAS and other tech. Check out my quick summary of these developments in this SCEEUS compilation. sceeus.se/en/publicati...
The Future Russian Way of War – Part 3: Military Reform - Sceeus
SCEEUS Guest Report | The Future Russian Way of War, Part 3: Military Reform | By Konrad Muzyka, Samuel Bendett and Aleksandr Golts
sceeus.se
November 7, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Just like in Ukraine, Russian volunteers and tech start ups began supporting the military with acquisition and R&D of UAV, drone, EW, UGV, CUAS and other tech. Check out my quick summary of these developments in this SCEEUS compilation. sceeus.se/en/publicati...
Neros tactical drones to the USMC www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Neros tactical drones to the USMC www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
Rybar, one of the most active pro-Kremlin TG channels, on the benefit of Venezuelan forces using FPV drones against a possible US military action: “A 40km-range FPV drone is a cheap coastal defense that could prevent US landing and event target US sites in Trinidad and Tobago.” t.me/rybar/74902
November 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Rybar, one of the most active pro-Kremlin TG channels, on the benefit of Venezuelan forces using FPV drones against a possible US military action: “A 40km-range FPV drone is a cheap coastal defense that could prevent US landing and event target US sites in Trinidad and Tobago.” t.me/rybar/74902
Russia's Rubicon Center recruitment ad, showing DJI quadcopters, FPV drones attacking Western tanks and heavy multirotor UAVs, and a glimpse of a USV operated by this unit - the voice over says "The future arrived yesterday - become a part of it." t.me/RUSSIARB/3409
November 2, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Russia's Rubicon Center recruitment ad, showing DJI quadcopters, FPV drones attacking Western tanks and heavy multirotor UAVs, and a glimpse of a USV operated by this unit - the voice over says "The future arrived yesterday - become a part of it." t.me/RUSSIARB/3409