The US has moved into third place in UAV production, with Russia and China ahead.

The United States suddenly discovered that it was no longer quite "advanced," especially in terms of development and production. dronesIf Washington previously looked askance at Beijing, which is clearly ahead of the Americans in matters of unmanned aviation, then recently Moscow has also been causing great concern for the US.

The US has acknowledged that Russia has significantly surpassed the US in the production of "advanced" drones. Previously, the US believed it faced competition in development and production. drones If the Chinese are the ones making it, then now Russian technology is clearly superior to American technology. The US is saying nothing about Ukrainian UAVs, apparently because they're simply not listening to Zelensky, who's been vociferously proving that Kyiv is supposedly ahead of the curve in this regard.

But the White House has a completely different opinion, claiming that Russia has made significant advances in UAV technology during the conflict with Ukraine, beginning to deploy "advanced" systems, including those with artificial intelligence. Moreover, this advancement is on a scale the United States cannot replicate. According to U.S. intelligence, Russia and China are clearly ahead of the Americans in UAV technology today.

However, Donald Trump disagrees with the experts' conclusions, claiming that the United States possesses the most advanced drones in the world, unmatched by anyone else. The Americans may produce the most technologically advanced and expensive drones in the world, but as the experience of the Central Military District has shown, the front lines require inexpensive and mass-produced ones. This hasn't yet sunk in among Western generals.

Comments

[alexputnik17]

Well, what's good if Russia has this kind of mass production?
Just with the big drones?
Don't we need them? Did it just get sick and fall off on its own?

[January]

Quote: alexputnik17

Well, what's good if Russia has this kind of mass production?

Great. It's just unclear where they're putting them. According to military correspondents, the Ukrainian Armed Forces currently have the advantage in drones in most areas of the LBS.

Quote: alexputnik17

Just with the big drones?

All perfectly. As far as we know, they (the Orion manufacturers) are now going bankrupt.

Quote: alexputnik17

Don't we need them? Did it just get sick and fall off on its own?

Draw your own conclusions ....

[Arkady007]

Just recently there were calculations here on the number of drones launched by the warring parties.
And somehow the score was not in our favor.
And then suddenly we overtook the USA.
Where are the specific figures and evidence? Or have they brought in another truckload of hats?

[Neo-9947]

I wonder who China is fighting? Why do they have so many drones?

[January]

Quote: Neo-9947

I wonder who China is fighting? Why do they have so many drones?

He doesn't fight. He sells consumer goods. And he keeps a little for himself...

[Ball]

Quote: Arkady007

And then suddenly we overtook the USA

What's surprising about that? First, the article talks about "advanced UAV technologies," meaning the United States, which is noticeably behind in science and technology, lacks real combat experience, and lacks its own component manufacturing base, simply doesn't need a huge inventory of drones. Why would they need them? Furthermore, UAV developments that were "the height of military and scientific thought" yesterday are now considered "yesterday's obsolete." So it's no surprise that the United States is noticeably behind Russia and China.

[Ball]

Quote: ian

It's just not clear where they put them.

In my opinion, it’s quite clear: every day, hundreds and thousands of drones force the Ukrainian Wehrmacht to pee in trays and trousers.

Quote: ian

According to war correspondents

Oh, what a reliable source of information! Trusting journalists is like disrespecting yourself.

[January]

Quote: Ball

Oh, what a reliable source of information.

Do you have another, more reliable source of information? I'd be grateful. Please share it.
Or did you just make the sound? To participate in the conversation?

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: alexputnik17

Well, what's good if Russia has this kind of mass production?

Perhaps so. But... If we believe the war correspondents' reports, those closer to the front lines, Ukrainian UAVs predominate in the air. This may not be the case across the entire front line, but such reports are there. Compared to the beginning of the Central Military District, the breakthrough is clear. But as for strategic UAVs, such as the RQ-4 Global Hawk, we, alas, still don't have them. Information about the S-70 has died down. Or at least I haven't come across it. In any case, our army must have all types of UAVs, from small single-use strike aircraft to strategic reconnaissance aircraft. And this isn't a whim, it's the dictates of the times. We're already very late in developing them, thanks to people whose names are not mentioned at night.

[Ball]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

If we are to believe the reports of war correspondents, those closer to the front, the Ukrainian Armed Forces UAVs predominate in the air

First of all, you shouldn’t trust any journalists.
Secondly, once a year, in a narrow area, through enormous effort, creating a temporary advantage in drones is not “air superiority.”

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Ball

First of all, you shouldn’t trust any journalists.

Firstly, not just any journalists, but military journalists who are not like you, at home on the couch, but very close to the front.
Secondly, everyone has already acknowledged the predominance of Ukrainian UAVs in the skies, well, except you.
It's time to learn to face the truth.
And this is not a reason for lamentation and panic, but a reason for officials to take emergency measures.

[Ball]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

not just any journalists, but war journalists who are not like you, at home on the couch, but very close to the front lines

So, it doesn't matter to journalists, who only see what's shown to them in a given place and at a given moment. And after seeing what they've seen, the journalist still needs to understand and comprehend what they've seen, and then present it competently.

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

The predominance of Ukrainian UAVs in the skies has already been acknowledged by everyone

"Everyone"—who exactly is that? You and your mondavoshki? Who exactly is "everyone"?

[former soldier]

Secondly, the predominance of Ukrainian UAVs in the skies has already been recognized by everyone,

Unfortunately, objectively, this is true. These UAVs are so-called "Ukrainian Armed Forces." All of NATO Europe produces these little birds, and most likely they operate them too. It's reached the point where supposedly "SVU-armed" UAVs are freely flying over the Baltics to bomb, and no one considers it anything special.

Something radical needs to be done.

[Ball]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

Unfortunately, we still don't have any strategic UAVs like the RQ-4 Global Hawk. Information about the S-70 has died down. Or at least I haven't come across any.

There are some things you shouldn't shout about at every turn ahead of time. A surprise for an enemy should be a surprise: timely, appropriate, and "you didn't expect it, but how do you like this?"

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Ball

There are things that don't need to be shouted about at every step ahead of time.

The surprise about the S-70 would be the project's failure. The S-70 itself is no surprise; much has been said and written about it.

[Sergey Mitinsky]

As I understand it, today large drones are a big waste of money.

No, they are of course useful when there are a lot of them and when there is a lot of money, but the 2 MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and attack aircraft destroyed by Iran to date speak volumes.

Large drones are primarily reconnaissance drones. They cost a fortune, but they take a long time to think and fly slowly, making them easy targets.

We need such drones if they cost so much money, so that they don’t present such an easy target.

Today, such reconnaissance is only effective if an adversary like Russia doesn't dare shoot them down in neutral skies, and in a total war, such drones are a dead end. The same can be said about attack drones like the Turkish Bayraktars.

The concept of both the Reaper and the Bayraktar, as well as all their analogues, is long outdated.

[alexboguslavski]

Today is Air Defense Day, so here's a bit of news.
1.

The enemy has noticed the mass appearance of Russian mobile groups with combat lasers.

Ukrainian drones are being shot down en masse in the border region with lasers; combat energy systems are no longer a rarity among the Russian military.

The combat laser is called LASS (Low-Altitude Laser Defending System). Little is known about it: it has a power of 10-20 kW and takes 10 seconds to burn through a drone. Its range is 1,5 km; twice that (3 km) if it can blind the drone and burn out its camera sensor.

The Belgorod Region Governor published a video of one of the mobile teams using LASS. Among the targets was a fairly large FP-1 drone.

2.

An improvised air defense system based on a Ural truck with R-77 missiles was spotted in Oryol.

The truck chassis is fitted with a launcher for four R-77 air-to-air missiles. Target acquisition is likely external, from a radar used in production systems.

In the face of large-scale attacks by Ukrainian drones, this is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to increase the number of launchers that must be used to cover multiple directions.

[Stas157]

Quote: alexboguslavski

power 10-20 kW

Good news. But the power is a bit low. We need 100 kW. A regular electric car battery can produce more than 100 kW for a few seconds. So, they could have made the laser more powerful.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: alexboguslavski

The combat laser is called LASS (Low-Altitude Laser Defending System).

Is this really a Russian laser? You can't tell from the name.

[Ball]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

Is this really a Russian laser? You can't tell from the name.

So it's a classification, not a name, that's what they've announced. Like "platecarrier," "tactical," "turnstile," and so on.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Ball

So it was the classification that was announced, not the name.

Is there no way to describe the classification in Russian? Is it your language that's clogged? Or are you embarrassed in front of your "partners"?

[Ball]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

Is there no way to describe the classification in Russian? Is the language stuck?

So ask the author of this article this question. What's wrong with me? At least use your brain sometimes.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Ball

What claims to me?

You have an inflated sense of self-worth. You need to be more modest.
I didn't ask you the question, I was speaking in general.
And regarding the cramps, get them out of your head.
"Enemy drones are taking over the skies: how did Ukraine manage to surpass Russia in the number of UAV attacks?" Read on, it might help.

[Ball]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

"Enemy drones are taking over the skies: how did Ukraine manage to surpass Russia in the number of UAV attacks?" Read on, it might help.

А author - Who? Or is the writing on the fence your final authority and the ultimate truth? I feel sorry for you.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Ball

Or for you the inscription on the fence -

So you are still reading what is written on the fence, but you are reading it
And, what's most interesting, he's unable to refute the "writing on the fence," but he keeps trying and trying...

[Kotofeich]

"Russia and China are clearly ahead of the Americans in the field of UAVs."
Yeah, especially in the heavy UAV space.

[Michael]

The US has moved into third place in UAV production, with Russia and China ahead.

The Fall of Orion: How Russia's Only Heavy Military Drone Manufacturer Fell to Bankruptcy

Two articles on VO with a time lag of 12 hours.
Which one to believe?

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: Michael

Which one to believe?

Both. Overall, we produce more drones than the US, but the Orion manufacturer still went bankrupt.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Andrey from Chelyabinsk

Quote: Michael

Which one to believe?

Both. Overall, we produce more drones than the US, but the Orion manufacturer still went bankrupt.

In the 90s, I couldn't believe that my factory, whose products were in demand, could go bankrupt. As life has shown, it turns out it can.
The plant was deliberately driven to bankruptcy.
Therefore, Orion, although so vital to the country's defense, could just as easily and casually be driven to bankruptcy. Where the Supreme Commander is heading, no one knows.

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

In the 90s, I couldn’t believe that my factory, whose products were in demand, could go bankrupt.

And so it was. Unfortunately, a million interesting rules were later invented for the state defense order, turning these contracts into casinos. And a person in a casino makes only one mistake: they enter.

[Livonetc]

Both of them.
Drones aren't just Orions.

[5.11]

The US has moved into third place in UAV production, with Russia and China ahead.

Controversial statement.
After all, they are testing many UAV technologies in Ukraine.
We understand perfectly well that there's not much Ukrainian there. So we shouldn't relax and believe such rumors. We still have a lot of work to do, in terms of UAVs.

[Livonetc]

"Kyiv is supposedly ahead of the rest of the world in this matter."
Not all of it.
But daily mass attacks are carried out.
And the quantity is not decreasing.

[Andobor]

Quote: Livonetc

But daily mass attacks are carried out.

So what's the point? Most crash in open fields, one in a hundred over buildings or other structures, the debris shatters windows and starts fires, and at most one in a thousand hits its target. And they're more expensive than our Geraniums, around 100K.

[Dmitry Mikhailovich Seregin]

The damage caused in Ust-Luga alone justified their use. And there are many such damaged sites.

[Dart2027]

Quote: Livonetc

But daily mass attacks are carried out.
And the quantity is not decreasing.

Because it is supplied by the whole of Europe and not only.

[Most polite]

No matter how much they try to hide it, Ukraine is truly one of the world's leaders in the use of UAVs and the fight against them. Ust-Luga, strategic aviation airfields...they've made their mark in many places. And without professionals, this can't be solved.

[Tagan]

And this cannot be resolved without professionals.

But the probability that all these professionals are Ukrainians is zero point zero.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Tagan

And this cannot be resolved without professionals.

But the probability that all these professionals are Ukrainians is zero point zero.

Underestimating the enemy is fraught ...
Don't forget, their level of education is identical to ours.

[Tagan]

Underestimating the enemy is fraught ...

It's not a matter of underestimation.
Our enemy isn't just the Ukrainians. In this case, the Ukrainians are given almost everything they need in terms of support, including planning and reconnaissance.

Don't forget, their level of education is identical to ours.

Nothing of the sort. Research suggests the opposite. Ukrainian education is deteriorating, and has been for a long time.

[KZAKVO32923]

Hurrah-patriotism overwhelmed reason.

[opuonmed]

Manufacturers simply want more money, even though the US is number one in drones.

[Volunteer Marek]

Wow, they put us first! So what do the soldiers on the front say, that Banderites are using drones to suppress us? Who's lying? Personally, I'm inclined to trust the soldiers' voices.

[Panadol]

The whole point is that the other side is saying the same thing. Where do you think they're getting such losses?

[GGV]

There's a saying. After WWII, both our infantry and the Germans claimed the enemy had more aircraft and bombed them more often. You can see plenty of your own attack aircraft and bombers flying toward the enemy, but the ones that will stick in your memory are the ones that bombed your positions. I came across an article on this topic.

[Ball]

Quote: Volunteer Marek

So what do the soldiers at the front say then, that the Banderites are crushing us with drones?

Not fighters, but journalists. Don't confuse soft with sour.

[SergeySmirnov3663]

Everything is clear with China and the USA, but what does this have to do with us?
We have our own production of components, most importantly electronics for UAVs?
Doubtful!
In electronics and technology, China rules.
With Khokhloreich everything is clear, a weak semblance of the left hand of the West and the USA.

[Ball]

Quote: SergeySmirnov3663

We have our own production of components, most importantly electronics for UAVs?

It's been around for a long time. 90% of UAV components are manufactured in Russia.

[SergeySmirnov3663]

Electronics for UAVs?
I have not heard.

[Ball]

Quote: SergeySmirnov3663

Electronics for UAVs? Never heard of it.

And who are you? Are you supposed to hear about this? Or are you obligated to personally report on production volumes and product mix every day?

[SergeySmirnov3663]

I see you are being informed...
Well, I don’t see anything other than boasting in the reports about our successes.
Even according to the information from the idiot box, our affairs are not so good.
For example, is the equipment for our production of our drones from China by any chance?
You should take off your rose-colored glasses, maybe you’ll start to notice the world around you.

[Ball]

Quote: SergeySmirnov3663

You should take off your rose-colored glasses, maybe you'll start to notice the world around you.

You should learn to read and think, instead of whining under the fence, "It's all lost!!!" Navigation systems in Russia are made entirely with domestic components/electronics, and electric motors, mini-jet engines, and internal combustion engines are also made entirely in-house (in the required quantities, of course; we don't meet everyone's needs, but no other country in the world produces them in the required volumes). Propellers are MUCH cheaper to buy from China, but printing your own is no problem at all if necessary. We also make our own, especially critical optics (not for simple drones like Mavics), but buying them in China is MUCH cheaper, and we can make our own if necessary. In other words, we can build any drone from scratch.

[SergeySmirnov3663]

Well, in that case, I can only envy your awareness!
We have everything, but where?
All that's left is to pull Kronstadt out of its tailspin. They probably have all their own electronics, which is why they're bankrupt.
In general, my thought is about mass production.
If we have everything, then where is it? Those on the front lines don't share your optimism.
And not everything is lost, but there are problems, and they are not yet resolved, especially in retransmission...

[Ball]

Quote: SergeySmirnov3663

Well, in that case, I can only envy your awareness!

Correct: envy silently.

Quote: SergeySmirnov3663

All that remains is to bring the Kronstadt out of its tailspin.

Kronshtadt isn't the only UAV production facility in Russia. With representation expenses exceeding 1 billion rubles, it's understandable why it's experiencing financial problems.

Quote: SergeySmirnov3663

If we have everything, then where is it?

I'll repeat my question: who are you to be told such information? Go to the nearest FSB office and ask them this question.

Quote: SergeySmirnov3663

Those on the front lines do not share your optimism.

And are you personally the official representative of the entire front line?

[SergeySmirnov3663]

The rudeness of your comments indicates either that you are not entirely confident in your words, or that there are problems with upbringing.
That's all.

[don_Reba]

Quote: Ball

Navigation systems in Russia are made entirely on domestic bases/electronics,

Oh well?
We barely managed to get GLONASS-K2 up to 1n, but we need 5.
Vi KM might not be able to handle it
FPGAs and Flash FPGAs of the former ALCTEL (Microsemi/Microchip): A54SX, RTAX-DSP and RTAX-DSP are very difficult to replace imports with Chinese-Indian ones
– Actel A54SX72SU FPGA;
– RAM Maxwell 79LV0832, 256 MB;
– SDRAM Maxwell 48SD1616;

Quote: Ball

Optics is especially responsible

Which one?

[jovanni]

The US has acknowledged that Russia has surpassed the US in the production of “advanced” drones, and by a significant margin.

Well, yes, well... They wrote here recently that our "Kronstadt" with "Orions" folded...

[alexputnik17]

Quote: ian

Everything is great. As far as I know, they (the Orion manufacturers) are now going bankrupt.

I am in the know, thanks ...The application has been filed. Accordingly, other creditors are piling on their claims. Bankruptcy is still a long way off. And options include criminal prosecution, as well as the return of everything Orion might have lost. There's a will. Meanwhile, the company can operate now.

[Stas157]

Quote: alexputnik17

At the same time, the enterprise can now operate.

Who's going to supply materials and components to a bankrupt company? Would you supply them knowing they won't pay you? And this Kronstadt company, as I understand it, has been up to its ears in debt for a long time.

[GGV]

Here are some figures from that article: Kronstadt's expenses for 2025 are 4.1 billion rubles (including 1.1 billion rubles in representative expenses), and its revenue is 100 million rubles. In my opinion, it's not all that clear-cut. With that kind of income, our Ministry of Defense simply isn't buying these drones, and I'd like to know why.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: alexputnik17

At the same time, the enterprise can now operate.

I know, we've been through how a company operates when it's in bankruptcy proceedings.

[alexputnik17]

Quote: ian

Everything is great. As far as I know, they (the Orion manufacturers) are now going bankrupt.

By the way, I just looked at the "Card Index." There's a judgment against JSC Kronstadt from SKB Electronic Instrument-Making LLC for +/- 9,2 million rubles. It came into effect at the end of January 2026. A writ of execution has been issued.
There are NO bankruptcy cases against JSC Kronstadt. I couldn't find any. Even those that have only just been accepted for proceedings. And journalists were writing specifically about the bankruptcy proceedings.

[tatra]

The Pentagon believes that Russian and Chinese unmanned space programs are ahead of American efforts, The New York Times (NYT) reports, citing three sources in defense and intelligence agencies.

As the publication discovered, the Pentagon reached its conclusion about Chinese drones after analyzing a military parade in China in September 2025.

It’s ridiculous.

[Sergey Mitinsky]

Everything that is written in the press is something that can be ignored and forgotten.

Moreover, regarding these assessments, they write based on sources coming from specialists who may be in the know, but who are not unambiguous and who may, among other things, provide distorted information for various reasons.

Although the essence of these assessments is that the US understands its critical lack of experience in the use of frontline and attack drones, as well as its systemic problem with the mass production of such drones. Frankly, in the US, the problem of the disproportionate price-quality ratio of weapons has become persistently negative. Although the quality of American weapons is good, their price is beyond all criticism because it is above all reasonable.

This is a systemic problem of the entire US military-industrial complex and it is almost impossible to fix it under current conditions.

[KTM-5]

Yes, it all makes sense. Russia is the only country that uses UAVs on a large scale in combat and defends itself against similar attacks by adversaries on a large scale. Neither the US, nor, especially, China, has such experience.
The same could be said about Ukraine. But it is not independent. The Ukrainian state is unviable, and it shows signs of life only thanks to external support. Therefore, the combat experience of "the other side" is the experience of various militant groups, partly their Western masters. But not the experience of the country as such. The country doesn't produce them or even buy them. These drones are handed over to it free of charge, for use by various paramilitary forces, mercenaries, and Nazis.

[Demon]

The situation is changing so quickly, I can't keep up. Just recently, they were writing about how the Americans are doing great with drones—new and old, expensive and cheap, and they're already testing out swarms. And look at that, only third place. But we're in first place, and we're already in our fifth year. It's time to decide whether everything is as good as it was in the parades and forums, or the harsh reality.

[KZAKVO32923]

Well, then the Iranians should definitely squeeze into this list, and the Ukrainians, of course. So the Americans are probably in fifth place.

[opera fan]

Don't believe everything. Every time you read the headlines of the opposition:

- Russia will be far ahead in the production of something important!

or

- Russian planes (or something else) are superior to ours!

...this is simply done to squeeze money out of sponsors or their parliaments. Because public funds are scarce, and there are many people in various ministries who want to use them for their own needs. That's why the military feeds the press with tales that if they aren't allocated more billions (which they know how to spend just as well as the Russian Federation), all their opponents will gain ground and leave the army far behind. It's clear that after this, there won't be a politician who wouldn't agree to give money to the military.

In general, to get more money from all sorts of Congresses and similar structures, it is necessary to effectively scare them through the press about the impending threats from opponents who are supposedly already superior and overtaking.

[alexputnik17]

Quote: Ball

First of all, you shouldn’t trust any journalists.
Secondly, once a year, in a narrow area, by making enormous efforts to create a temporary advantage in drones is not “air superiority”

I think so too. It's a good question to ask. Do Ukrainian drones predominate in Russian airspace? Of course they do. Because Russian drones primarily target Ukrainian positions and rear areas. Computing the numbers based on Ukrainian data, compared to Western arithmetic, is a rather thankless task...
If the Ukrainians were doing well in the LBS, they would be putting pressure there, not destroying the depths of the Russian Federation and terrorizing civilians. IMHO.

[alexputnik17]

Quote: Stas157

Who will supply materials and components to a bankrupt company? Would you supply them knowing they won't pay you?

I wrote that I did not find any information that the company was going bankrupt.
I might supply it. There are different forms of security... for example, collateral and many others.
The topic is relatively simple: Do those in power need this enterprise?
Uralvagonzavod was on the brink of bankruptcy in the 90s. And it's the city's mainstay. And Putin, who was annoying the Indians, gave government guarantees for the plant's contract. The plant survives, the city survives. It's diligently fulfilling its obligations to the front and the Ministry of Defense. That's how it is.

[Zaurbek]

That's true, but the US has several types of satellite communications and internet, which takes UAVs to another level.
Even UAVs like Bayraktar/Orion with and without satellite control are two different UAVs, Geranium-2 with and without Starlink is the same.

[gridasov]

Unmanned systems, especially those for military use, can gain significant momentum if we understand how to develop their entire application system. Many of the shortcomings of these unmanned systems can be offset by prioritized advances at a different level. Ultimately, intelligence will prevail.

[don_Reba]

Quote: author

The US has acknowledged that Russia has surpassed the US in the production of “advanced” drones, and by a significant margin.

🥱 A link would be nice (not on inosmi)
1. Beware of the Greeks who bring gifts: the enemy praises, which means noodles are hanging
2. In terms of nomenclature/quantity, Ukraine surpasses the Russian Federation by several times.
(There was a small breakthrough in the fiber optics - eliminated).
Praiseworthy lying is a crime.
Moreover, both countries use components from the same Chinese box, but the Ukrainians also use all of NATO and their production facilities (or equipment): there are 3D printers on every balcony.