Watch: Russia’s drone war machine on show as Putin watches massive military drills
Russian President Vladimir Putin observed the final phase of the 'Center 2026' military exercises, which featured a significant deployment of drones and robotic systems. The drills involved 47,000 troops and participation from several allied nations, emphasizing Russia's focus on modernizing its battlefield strike capabilities.
Why it matters
The integration of battlefield experience from the Ukraine conflict into large-scale military drills signals Russia's strategic shift toward drone-centric warfare.
Drones rained fire on targets as explosions tore across the battlefield in dramatic footage from Russia’s Center 2026 military exercise, showcasing Moscow’s growing focus on drone warfare and battlefield strike capabilities.According to the Associated Press, the footage comes from the final stage of Russia’s Center 2026 strategic military exercises, which Russian President Vladimir Putin watched at the Chebarkulsky training ground in the Chelyabinsk region on October 2.Putin said the drills were intended to improve the ability of commanders and staffs to respond to external threats.The drills involve around 47,000 troops across 11 training ranges and the Caspian Sea, with about 6,000 troops taking part in the final phase.Russia’s defence minister Andrei Belousov…
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