The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) is a branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine which specializes in drone warfare and the use of military robots on land, sea and air.[1][2] The USF was created in the midst of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and was formally established on June 11, 2024.[3]
Unmanned Systems Forces | |
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Сили безпілотних систем (Syly bezpilotnykh system) | |
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Active | 6 February 2024–present |
Country | ![]() |
Role | Drone warfare |
Part of | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
Headquarters | Kyiv |
Equipment | Unmanned combat vehicles |
Commanders | |
Commander of the USF | Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky |
As of June 2024, around 3,000 soldiers were reported to be in the USF.[4][need quotation to verify] There are reports of soldiers from the Ukrainian General Staff's Main Directorate of Unmanned Systems being reassigned to the USF.[5]
In 2024, the USF claimed to have better quality drones, despite Russia having six times the quantity.[6]
Ukraine is the first country to add its own third branch to its Army, Navy and Air Force for drones and other unmanned systems.[7]
History
editOn February 6, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a decree instructing the Government of Ukraine and the General Staff to consider and work out the creation of the appropriate type of troops, after which the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine will consider the issue.[8]
On February 10, 2024, it was announced that Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky had become deputy of the recently appointed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and would be responsible for implementation of unmanned systems.[9] Since the start of the fullscale Russian invasion, Sukharevsky was a commander of 59th Motorized Brigade.
Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi – his focus is on unmanned systems and the development of utilization of drones by our soldiers, and Colonel Andriy Lebedenko – his focus is on innovation, specifically the technology component of the army and combat systems – have been appointed deputies of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Clear practice with new technologies is needed. There are more than enough theories; everything must work in practice for the sake of Ukrainian goals and the maximum preservation of the lives of our soldiers.
On May 7, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the draft decree of the President of Ukraine, developed by the Ministry of Defense together with the General Staff, on creating a separate type of troop within the Armed Forces: the Unmanned Systems Forces.[10]
On June 10, 2024, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced that Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky was appointed commander of the UAV Forces.[11] On June 11, the force was formally established.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "I signed a decree initiating the establishment of a separate branch of forces – the Unmanned Systems Forces – address by the President of Ukraine" (in Ukrainian). Official website of the President of Ukraine. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
- ^ "Ukraine Announces Formalization of New Unmanned Systems Forces Branch of Military". Inside Unmanned Systems. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
- ^ a b Alexander Khrebet (11 June 2024). "'We set a precedent.' Ukraine officially presents Unmanned Systems Forces". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "У Києві презентували новітній рід військ ЗСУ — Сили безпілотних систем" (in Ukrainian). 11 June 2024.
- ^ "Головне управління безпілотних систем" (in Ukrainian). 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Vadym Sukharevsky, the man in charge of Ukraine's drones". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ^ https://www.eldebate.com/internacional/20240208/nuevas-fuerzas-sistemas-no-tripulados-ucrania-estan-llamadas-cambiar-guerra-rusia_172941.html
- ^ УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №51/2024 Про нарощування спроможностей сил оборони
- ^ Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Combat commanders, brigades' real-life experience must be implemented for the Armed Forces' success". president.gov.ua. Official website of the President of Ukraine. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Tetyana Oliynyk (7 June 2024). "Ukrainian government backs draft presidential decree creating Unmanned Systems Forces within Armed Forces". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Opanasenko, Oleksandra (10 June 2024). "Vadym Sukharevsky was appointed commander of the UAV Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine". Babel.ua. General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
External links
edit- Сайт Президента України
- Сайт Міністерства оборони України
- У Мінцифри розкрили подробиці створення Командування безпілотних систем у ЗСУ// Армія-Інформ, 7 лютого 2024
- Створення Сил безпілотних систем відкриє нові можливості у застосуванні дронів - Міноборони// Укрінформ, 7 лютого 2024 року
- У складі ЗСУ з'являться Сили безпілотних систем – указ Зеленського// Радіо Свобода, 6 лютого 2024 року
- Зеленський ініціював створення Сил безпілотних систем у ЗСУ// DW, 6 лютого 2024 року
- Столтенберг привітав створення Сил безпілотних систем у ЗСУ// Європейська правда, 7 лютого 2024 року