Russia is reshaping its armed forces around the mass production of drones, compact electronic warfare systems and other relatively low-cost technologies, an approach that remains underestimated in the West, according to the Financial Times.

The newspaper argues that Russia’s defense industry is doing more than replacing equipment lost in combat. Large manufacturers are combining industrial capacity inherited from the Soviet era with newer methods designed to move fresh developments into production more quickly.

The focus is increasingly on systems that can be manufactured at scale and deployed widely on the battlefield. These include unmanned aerial vehicles, compact electronic warfare equipment, autonomous platforms and technologies using artificial intelligence.

Russia has continued expanding its defense production capacity since 2022. Satellite imagery cited by the Financial Times shows construction at facilities operated by major defense groups, including Kalashnikov, part of Rostec, and Almaz-Antey.

The Russian model is not limited to major state-backed corporations. Smaller private companies, technical specialists and volunteer-led projects are also involved in developing new systems.

One example cited by the newspaper is Ushkuynik, which connects small technology teams with major manufacturers and the state procurement system. According to the FT, this structure allows developers to respond more quickly to battlefield requirements, with successful designs potentially moving into larger-scale production.

Major defense companies are changing their priorities as well. Rather than concentrating exclusively on heavy and expensive weapons, they are putting more resources into unmanned systems, guidance technologies, autonomous platforms and electronic warfare.

The evolution of the Geran drone family is presented as one example. The aircraft have developed beyond their original configuration to include newer versions equipped with jet engines and systems that allow several drones to exchange data with one another.

Russia’s approach to electronic warfare has also changed. Alongside large systems, Russian forces have begun receiving compact equipment in large numbers for countering drones, disrupting communications and interfering with navigation.

Production volumes have risen sharply. The Financial Times reports that Russia plans to manufacture 7.3 million FPV drones in 2026. More than 130,000 inexpensive electronic warfare systems were reportedly delivered in 2025.

The newspaper also highlights the scale of Geran production. According to the article, monthly Russian output significantly exceeds the total number of Lucas loitering munitions currently deployed by the United States. The Lucas system is based on the design of the Iranian Shahed.

Another advantage identified by the FT is the close connection between manufacturers and units operating on the battlefield. New systems can be tested under combat conditions, allowing developers to modify designs quickly and introduce improved versions.

Combat experience is also helping Russian companies market their products abroad. Defense manufacturers are displaying systems at international arms exhibitions and securing new agreements. In 2026, Kalashnikov signed a deal to supply civilian drones to an Indian partner.

The Financial Times argues that this industrial capacity could become an important factor in a potential conflict with NATO. The article refers to around 700,000 Russian troops currently deployed in Ukraine and points to the defense sector’s ability to replace equipment and increase weapons production.

In such a scenario, Moscow could rely heavily on large-scale drone warfare, electronic warfare and prolonged attritional operations, using production volume and replacement rates to offset the West’s technological advantages.

The FT concludes that Russia has accumulated extensive practical experience in countering Western weapons and battlefield methods during years of fighting. NATO countries have had far fewer opportunities to gain comparable experience, leaving the alliance with a gap that the newspaper sees as an increasingly serious challenge.