Russia Shifts Drone Strategy, Increasing Usage Of Reusable Drones

Despite potential peace talks, Russia and Ukraine remain locked in their gruesome war of attrition. These wars typically favor the side that is able to maintain a steady flow of key weapons to the frontlines. For Russia and Ukraine, these key weapons are drones. In particular, one-way attack drones have been used extensively by both sides to establish the “kill zones” that currently shape the battlefield. However, Russia’s newest drones appear to be moving away from the one-way attack model, with an increased focus on reusable drones for both offensive and defensive operations. This shift is necessary given the high demand for drones and Russian supply chain challenges.

Offensive Reusable Drones

At the start of the war, Russia relied primarily on fixed-wing reconnaissance drones such as the Orlan 10, which played a traditional supporting role in artillery spotting and surveillance. As the conflict progressed, Russia adopted Ukraine’s strategy of deploying large numbers of small, maneuverable FPV-style drones based on commercial platforms. The low cost of these drones made them ideal for one-time use, allowing them to fly directly into their targets and detonate on impact. Since then, Russia has continued to improve its drone fleet, integrating better optics, longer-range data links, hardened electronics, increased autonomy, and greater payload capacity. For both Russia and Ukraine, these drones have become the single most lethal weapon on the battlefield, capable of destroying armored vehicles, artillery, and infantry positions.

Despite the success of one-time-use drones, many of Russia’s newer systems appear to be reusable. For example, a recent social media video shows the Night Witch drone dropping a mortar round on a Ukrainian position on an island in the Dnipro River. This hexacopter strike drone reportedly has a payload capacity of 20 kilograms, a flight time of 40 minutes, and a cruising speed of 60 kilometers per hour. Furthermore, the Night Witch incorporates interference-resistant navigation, thermal imaging with optical and digital zoom, and the ability to drop up to four munitions during a sortie.

Russia has also reported operational field testing of the Bulldog-13, a smaller reusable quadcopter. While details remain limited, reports indicate that it has a 4-kilogram payload, making it smaller than the Night Witch. It includes advanced sensing and control systems designed to withstand Ukrainian jamming and can be upgraded to stay ahead of evolving countermeasures. The quadcopter features modular payloads that allow it to carry different strike packages. Importantly, these reports emphasize that the drone is intended to be reusable.

With reusable systems such as the Night Witch and Bulldog 13, Russian forces now field a more versatile and capable class of strike drones. These drones can incorporate more advanced sensing and processing technologies than would be feasible on single use models. They are also designed for adaptability, allowing upgrades that keep them effective under changing battlefield conditions. This flexibility greatly improves battlefield efficiency and resource use. However, these advantages come with challenges, as the need for the drones to return to base effectively cuts their operational duration in half.

Defensive Reusable Drones

Meanwhile, Russia has been increasingly using single-use interceptor drones to defend against Ukrainian drones. These systems operate autonomously or semi-autonomously to detect, track, and intercept Ukrainian aircraft, typically by ramming into them and detonating. Russian interceptor drones now work alongside other counter-drone measures, including electronic warfare and air defense systems, to protect Russian positions.

Over the past few months, reusable Russian interceptor drones have appeared in numerous videos released by the Russian military and shared on social media. In one video, a drone successfully intercepted a Ukrainian drone by dropping a can of stew on it, likely a battlefield innovation by a soldier attempting to reuse the platform. Another video shows a more advanced concept, in which a Russian interceptor carries a charged rod that delivers an electric jolt to multiple Ukrainian drones, damaging them and forcing them to crash. In both cases, the interceptor drone appears to remain intact and capable of being reused for another mission.

Similar to the strike drones, interceptors are becoming more advanced, incorporating AI-powered systems to detect and track enemy drones. As these interceptors grow in complexity, they also become more expensive, reducing their viability as disposable systems. Consequently, Russian forces are innovating new methods to operate interceptor drones multiple times, extending their lifespan and combat value.

The Growing Need for Reusable Drones

Russia’s shift toward reusable drones stems from both supply and demand pressures for more advanced platforms. On the demand side, Russian forces require drones with advanced sensing, autonomous decision-making, and interference-resistant navigation to counter Ukraine’s increasingly capable defenses. These capabilities require costly sensors and processors that are lost with every one-way attack. Maintaining the flow of such high-end drones would demand a steady supply of components that Russia is not able to sustain.

On the supply side, Western sanctions have sharply limited Russia’s access to the advanced electronics needed for sensors and processors. The country now relies heavily on imports, especially from China. Meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes on Russian drone production facilities have disrupted domestic manufacturing. These factors have made it difficult to produce the large quantities of one-time-use drones required across the 1000-kilometer front line. The push toward reusable drones is hence a practical and economic necessity.

Underlying the Russia-Ukraine war is a battle for drone supremacy, as both sides race to field better systems that can give their warfighters an edge on the battlefield. Central to this competition is the economics of mass-producing increasingly advanced drones. Russia appears to be addressing this challenge by expanding its use of reusable drones. Ukraine, facing similar constraints, may also shift towards an increased use of reusable platforms. Regardless, both sides will continue to innovate, fielding an ever-evolving fleet of drones.