Russia expands Navy with new Arctic drone regiment and advanced ship‑borne air‑defence systems

Russia announced the formation of its first naval drone regiment within the Northern Fleet. The regiment, unveiled on Russian Navy Day, is intended to operate unmanned aerial systems in the Arctic, supporting the country’s claim to the Northern Sea Route and enhancing maritime security in icy waters.

In parallel, the Russian navy detailed the deployment of two ship‑borne air‑defence suites—Poliment‑Redut and the naval version of the Pantsir‑ME system. Admiral Alexander Moiseev described Poliment‑Redut as a vertically launched missile system capable of tracking and engaging numerous aerial and surface targets at ranges up to 130 km, while Pantsir‑ME adds a radar‑guided cannon‑missile combo able to counter massed drone attacks. Both systems have reportedly intercepted drones and various Western‑supplied missiles in recent combat tests.