The Ukraine conflict has been a valuable source of battlefield experience, the president has said

All the world's armies are closely examining Russia's tactics and technology used in the Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin has said. Moscow should build on its successes in the military-industrial sphere, he stressed.

Speaking at a meeting of the country's Military-Industrial Commission on Wednesday, Putin said Russia's battlefield experience is attracting unprecedented global attention. "Our special military operation - when it comes both to tactics and weapon development - is being studied by all armies of the world, top arms manufacturers, and tech firms."

Russia "must stay one step ahead," he said.

Putin also expressed his gratitude to the employees of the enterprises that serve as the backbone of Russia's military efforts, noting that the industry faces even more ambitious challenges this year than in 2024.

While Russian forces had received over 1.5 million drones and more than 4,000 armored vehicles in 2024, the army is still suffering from a shortfall in FPV (first-person view) drones, which have become one of the key assets in the Ukraine conflict, the president noted.

He also stressed that Russia should prioritize the development of unmanned boats and robots, as well as combat lasers, noting that the country has made some progress in these areas.

A 2024 US Army War College report outlined several key takeaways from the Ukraine conflict, including the importance of electronic warfare and the challenges posed by a transparent battlefield due to ubiquitous surveillance. According to media reports, China is also taking note, with a focus on deploying swarms of low-cost drones and creating AI-driven coordination systems.

Meanwhile, as the fighting in Ukraine rages on, Russia has captured large quantities of Western-supplied equipment - including tanks, armored vehicles, portable missile systems, and NATO-standard communications systems - which it is analyzing to extract technological insights and improve its own battlefield capabilities.