Russian engineers are working on a new automated drone warfare system they claim could independently monitor and strike across vast stretches of the front line without human operators, Ukrainian defense media outlet Defense Express reported on July 28.
The system, dubbed “Diktion,” is being developed by the Russian firm AviaTechnoLab. The project envisions a decentralized network of drone nests—concealed launch and charging stations—that would autonomously manage various types of UAVs across up to 100 square kilometers of contested territory.
“The idea is to create a simple and cheap system, like a Kalashnikov rifle,” the company stated.
“It would cost about the same as a drone—40 to 50 thousand rubles [roughly $500]. A team of soldiers can deploy the nests in a matter of hours and retreat from the front line. The system will do the rest.”
According to AviaTechnoLab, the platform is designed to be drone-agnostic. Its software could integrate UAVs from different manufacturers, including FPV strike drones, reconnaissance drones, mine-clearing drones, anti-aircraft drones, and large multirotor bombers.
-142dd250027df3f464b7ab8f24313018.jpg)
Once deployed, the drone nests would relay target coordinates—gathered by reconnaissance UAVs—to a command center, where operators would issue strike commands.
However, the system’s reliance on centralized command infrastructure reveals a significant vulnerability.
Disabling or destroying the command post could potentially paralyze the entire network, or at least parts of it. While Russia claims the system could operate autonomously for months, it would still require periodic recharging and maintenance, tasks that expose it to further disruption.
Operators would still need to return to the field to service or reboot disabled nests, undermining the supposed advantage of minimizing human exposure near the front line.
Despite these challenges, Russia is marketing the Diktion system as a “world first” in battlefield automation.
Earlier, the Russian city of Perm announced plans to open drone training hubs within selected kindergartens. The initiative aims to introduce children to the basics of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation through interactive lessons and guided practice using educational drones.
Related articles