The Unmanned Systems Forces (Russian: Voyska bespilotnykh sistem, BSV) are a new service branch whose headquarters was formally established on 1 March 2025. It is the institutional consequence of the drone war in Ukraine: where drones long operated as a tool within existing arms, they now get their own command, development and training line.
Defence Minister Belousov assessed that unmanned systems now account for up to 80% of fire missions in the theatre. That figure is the doctrinal justification: drones have become a foundational pillar, not a supplement.
| Feature | Value (indicative, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Russian name | Войска беспилотных систем (BSV) |
| Headquarters established | 1 March 2025 |
| Nature | Independent service branch, centrally commanded, inter-service |
| End state 2027 (plan) | ± 210,000 personnel · 977 units |
| Role | ISR, loitering munitions, one-way attack, and counter-drone |
The BSV is not formally part of the VKS, but belongs here because it is interwoven with air operations: the BSV provides strike detachments at VKS airfields, and drones compete with the manned air force for the same tasks. Figures are open-source plan values and change quickly.