Russia centralizes drone procurement for USF

Russia is moving to centralize drone procurement for its newly established Unmanned Systems Forces (USF). The Russian State Duma adopted a law on April 14 granting President Vladimir Putin the authority to oversee this consolidation, which analysts suggest will have mixed consequences for the military's drone capabilities. The move aims to streamline and control the acquisition of unmanned systems, a critical component of Russia's ongoing war effort. This legal change formalizes the state's direct role in managing what has been a diverse and often chaotic procurement landscape involving both state and private actors.