Samuel Bendett
@sambendett.bsky.social
Uncrewed, autonomous, robotic systems and Artificial Intelligence. Russian and Ukrainian weapons development. CNA, CNAS and CSIS. Opinions my own.
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
Russian military's ZALA ISR UAV and Lancet loitering munition tandem is a powerful combination - now, according to state media, the Russian MOD wants to launch Skat 350M ISR drone to guide KUB loitering munitions in another attack tandem. tass.com/defense/2038...
November 2, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Russian military's ZALA ISR UAV and Lancet loitering munition tandem is a powerful combination - now, according to state media, the Russian MOD wants to launch Skat 350M ISR drone to guide KUB loitering munitions in another attack tandem. tass.com/defense/2038...
US Army’s new 3D printed FPV drone ‘can put lethal effects on target right now’ breakingdefense.com/2025/10/army...
Army’s new 3D printed FPV drone 'can put lethal effects on target right now' - Breaking Defense
The deployment of 3D printers and other additive manufacturing tools will be needed in the INDOPACOM theater given the "tyranny of distance," said Gen. Ronald Clark, commanding general of Army Pacific...
breakingdefense.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
US Army’s new 3D printed FPV drone ‘can put lethal effects on target right now’ breakingdefense.com/2025/10/army...
NATO has agreed to expand their defense budgets by the year 2029 and talk about funding innovative companies that are building ground robots and drones. But the participant said that much of the spending is going to established companies, not nimble innovators. www.defenseone.com/threats/2025...
Ukraine isn’t just hurling attack drones; they’re waging real robot warfare
A new RUSI report describes the broad use of air and ground robotic systems—and what they mean for NATO.
www.defenseone.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
NATO has agreed to expand their defense budgets by the year 2029 and talk about funding innovative companies that are building ground robots and drones. But the participant said that much of the spending is going to established companies, not nimble innovators. www.defenseone.com/threats/2025...
1/ In September 2025, the inaugural Drone Crucible organized by the US National Drone Association brought together teams from Army Rangers and Aviation Center of Excellence, Navy SEALs, Air Force and the Marines. Thanks to @dflawrence.bsky.social for the summary: taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics...
No clear winner in military's first ‘drone crucible’
Teams from each service went head-to-head in training events for unmanned systems, including convoy ambushes and reconnaissance.
taskandpurpose.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
1/ In September 2025, the inaugural Drone Crucible organized by the US National Drone Association brought together teams from Army Rangers and Aviation Center of Excellence, Navy SEALs, Air Force and the Marines. Thanks to @dflawrence.bsky.social for the summary: taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics...
Reposted by Samuel Bendett
What Legos do when we're not looking
October 27, 2025 at 4:31 PM
What Legos do when we're not looking
Rus tactical UGV with an EW system against drones t.me/official_49_...
October 27, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Rus tactical UGV with an EW system against drones t.me/official_49_...
A (heavily edited) Rus state news video on a field drone production and repair workshop, built underground and within 15km from the line of contact, and manufactures fiber-optic cable spools up to 30km in range (the place looks unusually clean for a field lab). t.me/izvestia/224...
IZ.RU
Специалисты лаборатории по производству беспилотных летательных аппаратов (БПЛА) 123-й бригады "Южной" группировки войск 25 октября рассказали "Известиям" об особенностях своей работы в зоне СВО.
"Эт...
t.me
October 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
A (heavily edited) Rus state news video on a field drone production and repair workshop, built underground and within 15km from the line of contact, and manufactures fiber-optic cable spools up to 30km in range (the place looks unusually clean for a field lab). t.me/izvestia/224...