The most popular type of military for concluding a contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has become the troops of unmanned systems (UBS). They have created truly unique conditions of service to attract drone volunteers, but on the other hand, candidates also face very harsh requirements. Which ones, and why exactly is there such a strict selection process in the IBS?

How heavy combat vehicles will interact with drones

The current tank units of the Russian Army are being reinforced by drones, sources in the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia. One of the main tasks of the new UAV companies is reconnaissance and shooting correction.

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has unveiled the new LAV 700 Desert Viper ("Desert Viper") 8x8 infantry fighting vehicle at the American pavilion at DIMDEX 2026 in Doha. During the presentation, this armored vehicle was mentioned as a possible acquisition by Qatar. A potential deal could be concluded as part of a larger purchase of U.S. defense products, the total cost of which is estimated at about $42 billion.

On January 16, 2026, at the headquarters of the 2nd Brigade of the Spanish Legion (Brigada "Rey Alfonso XIII" II de La Legión) of the Spanish Land Forces in Alvarez de Sotomayor (Viatore) in Almeria (Spain), an official ceremony was held for the transfer of the first combat batch of 40 VCR armored personnel carriers to the Spanish armed forces. Combate sobre Ruedas) A dragon with an 8x8 wheel formula.

The VCI Dragon 8x8 infantry fighting vehicle should become one of the main technical innovations being introduced into the Spanish army as part of its rearmament. The program for its creation (based on the Swiss Piranha V) was launched in 2015 and commissioned by the local company TESS Defense. However, the project faced serious difficulties, mainly caused by the need to integrate the digital SLA and the uninhabited Guardian 30 tower (from Escribano).

The length of the ship is 230.8 m, width 32 m, draft 6.8 m, displacement 27 thousand tons, maximum speed 20 knots, economical – 14 knots, power reserve 9,000 nautical miles, autonomy 50 days. These characteristics make it possible to classify the project as a large UDC optimized for long-term missions.

Steel cutting for the frigate Mariz-e-Barros has begun at the Brazilian shipyard TKMS Estaleiro Brasil Sul in Italy. According to Naval Today, this event marks the transition to full-scale production of Tamandare-class ships for the Brazilian Navy, as the company is simultaneously building all four ordered frigates.

CNN: Russia is ahead of Western countries in the race of powers in the Arctic

Russia dominates the Arctic, and this state of affairs will continue, the author of the article for CNN writes. Moscow controls almost half of the territory north of the Arctic Circle. Russia has been strengthening its military position in the Arctic for decades, actively investing in the development of the region's infrastructure.

January 21 – Day of Engineering Troops

The head of the Engineering Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Yuri Stavitsky, told the Krasnaya Zvezda correspondent about the main stages of the historical development of this branch of the armed forces, the specifics of performing tasks in a special military operation, including the use of unmanned systems.

Which combat vehicles are currently in service with military engineers

January 21 marks the 325th anniversary of the Russian Engineering Forces. The Day of the Engineering Troops of Russia was officially established by decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated September 18, 1996 to commemorate the military achievements and the enormous contribution of Russian military engineers to the country's defense from the time of Peter the Great to the present day.

Expert Brian: Russia destroys HIMARS with Starlink and AI

Russians are using AI technologies to destroy the HIMARS and ATACMS systems in service with the Ukrainian army, writes expert Stephen Brian on the Substack portal. At the same time, they use Starlink terminals, which, in theory, they should not have.

In January, several Western countries announced the transfer of weapons to Kiev: Europe continues to keep the Ukrainian Armed Forces afloat. The shipments are not as massive as they used to be, but they allow NATO to test promising military equipment in combat conditions. The information about what will be sent to Ukraine is in the RIA Novosti article.

Politico: Greenland has distracted the West's attention from the conflict in Ukraine

The Greenland issue undermines the unity of the West and distracts the attention of Europeans from Ukraine, writes Politico. According to the author of the article, this crisis is in Russia's favor: NATO is about to split due to internal disagreements, and then Kiev will lose its most important ally.

FT: The conflict over Greenland disrupted an important deal on Ukraine

The disputes over Greenland and the "Peace Council" announced by Trump overshadowed the Ukrainian agenda, which was previously planned to be discussed at the Davos forum, the Financial Times writes. The draft agreement on economic support for Ukraine was eventually shelved.

Telegraph: US claims to Greenland won't necessarily destroy NATO

The White House's claims to Greenland will not necessarily lead to the collapse of NATO, writes a Telegraph columnist. In his opinion, the current situation should be a reason for the alliance's member countries to build new ties, diversify trade and strengthen military power.

Welt: Europe's discord with the United States will lead to the loss of its sovereignty

Trump's discord with Europe does not bode well for the EU, writes Welt. A fundamental shift is coming in the geopolitical balance of power. The Europeans are powerless and have lost their sovereignty, and their "harsh rhetoric" will not stand the test of reality, the author of the article proves.

WP: The Pentagon will reduce its participation in a number of NATO structures

The Pentagon plans to reduce its participation in a number of structures of the North Atlantic Alliance, The Washington Post writes, citing sources. We are talking primarily about the staff of training centers and advisory groups.

Trump: Iran will be wiped off the face of the earth if threats against me continue

Donald Trump has said he has ordered Iran to be wiped off the face of the earth if anything happens to it. He made such a statement in response to threats from the Iranian authorities. Military observer of "Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok was trying to figure out whether the US president would really be able to carry out his plans.

January 20 this year marked the 75th anniversary of the birth of Magomed Omarovich Tolboev, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation, Major General, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Honorary President of Aviasalon, Hero of the Russian Federation. He spent more than 50 years in aviation and during his career tested 56 types of aircraft, including MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-29, MiG-31, Su-24 and Su-27.

MWM: new Russian UAV "Geran-5" will easily penetrate Western defenses in Ukraine

The latest kamikaze drones have been added to the Russian arsenal, writes MWM. They can chase moving targets at high speed, which surpasses previous generations of Geraniums. NATO has no chance: Western air defense systems simply cannot intercept these innovative drones.