Russia plans to launch more than 100 satellites into orbit to support drone operations, according to Dmitry Bakanov, director general of Roscosmos. The new satellite network, part of a broader national space initiative, comprises 102 spacecraft plus one additional platform aimed at controlling unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Bakanov presented the project on Tuesday, June 3, at the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia conference in Nizhny Novgorod. He said the full plan, which will also include 886 satellites for broadband internet service under the Rassvet program and 114 for Earth observation, will be reviewed by the Strategic Development and National Projects on June 10.
How are drones shaping the war in Ukraine?
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Russia currently ranks third in the number of military satellites in orbit, with a total of 110, following the United States and China.
Drones have become central to Ukraine’s military strategy, helping the outgunned country inflict substantial damage on Russian forces. According to the Royal United Services Institute, Ukrainian drones were responsible for 60% to 70% of the damage to Russian equipment in early 2025.
Ukraine has deployed a wide array of unmanned systems, including first-person-view drones, long-range strike aircraft, naval drones, and surveillance platforms. These low-cost weapons have successfully targeted tanks, airfields and naval assets far from the front lines.
Recent attacks reached as deep as Siberia and damaged Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, Ukrainian officials said. Kyiv also uses drone attacks on fuel depots and military manufacturing sites to weaken Russia’s supply chains.
The growing drone threat has forced Russian troops to abandon static positions, widening the war’s “gray zone” and slowing front-line advances, according to the assessment.
How is Russia responding to Ukraine’s drone advances?
Russia has bolstered its electronic warfare tools and expanded its drone fleet. The satellite network aims to boost coordination and extend the range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as Russian forces face growing pressure from Ukraine’s surging drone production.
Russian commanders have decentralized logistics hubs, moved command posts further from the front, and ramped up the use of electronic jamming to counter Ukraine’s drone advantage, the same report said. These adaptations are part of a broader effort to survive under constant aerial surveillance and strike threats.
Russian forces have also adapted their battlefield tactics. Instead of large armored columns, they now deploy smaller, faster units using motorcycles and scooters to avoid drone strikes. The Kremlin produced 1.4 million drones in 2024, a tenfold increase over 2023 levels.
What’s next for drone warfare?
Ukraine plans to manufacture 2.5 million drones in 2025, up from 1 million the previous year. The country’s Defense Ministry has invested more than $2.5 billion in local drone suppliers and continues to innovate with new autonomous and AI-assisted systems.
Both sides are pursuing increasingly automated systems to reduce reliance on human operators, whose signal connections can be jammed or geolocated, and enable drones to navigate and strike with limited oversight. These developments reflect a technological arms race that now includes fiber-optic and AI-guided systems.
Bakanov also announced plans for Russia’s future orbital station and reusable launch vehicles, suggesting long-term ambitions that go beyond the current conflict. Still, the near-term focus remains clear: establishing orbital dominance to counter a battlefield increasingly shaped by drones.
