- Russia outlined new coordinated tank tactics that pair standoff fire with forward maneuvers supported by drones, according to statements from the Defense Ministry and Rostec.
- Oryx OSINT data shows Russia has lost 4,308 tanks since the invasion began, including T-90M, T-80, T-72 and older T-55 models.
Russia has revealed a new set of battlefield tactics for its tank units, describing coordinated maneuvers that pair armored vehicles with unmanned aerial systems in ongoing combat operations, according to statements released by the Russian Ministry of Defense and the state corporation Rostec.
The Ministry said frontline units now employ a two-tank method in which one vehicle fires from standoff positions while the second executes a rapid forward maneuver toward the line of contact. The actions of both tanks are coordinated through drones used for target spotting, correction and battlefield awareness. The Ministry presented the approach as an adaptation developed to reduce exposure to Ukrainian precision strikes and first-person-view (FPV) drones.
According to the Ministry, the updated doctrine aims to maintain the tempo of assault operations while mitigating losses. Crews are instructed to perform rapid position changes, integrate real-time drone reconnaissance and apply mobility as a primary form of protection. Engineering modifications and stricter discipline in maneuver cycles are also part of the revised instructions.
As noted by Rostec, the Russian defense conglomerate responsible for the country’s armored vehicle programs, tanks “have not lost their role on the battlefield as the main strike force of breakthrough.” The corporation said this assessment is based on “numerous combat episodes” documented during current operations.
In its statement, Rostec said: “Tanks, contrary to the widespread opinion today, have not lost their role on the battlefield as the main strike force of breakthrough. This is confirmed by numerous combat episodes in the special military operation zone. At the same time, the machines have undergone substantial changes in protection, and the tactics of their use have changed. Nevertheless, the tank remains one of the most resilient combat vehicles on the battlefield, capable of delivering effective direct fire under the impact of various means of destruction, including FPV drones.”
Rostec added that future tanks are expected to preserve traditional characteristics such as tracked chassis, heavy armor and a medium- or large-caliber gun mounted in a rotating turret. The corporation said new requirements for improved protection, firepower and situational awareness are shaping its designs.
The company also noted that the relevance of armored formations will depend on their level of integration with other combat systems rather than on individual platform characteristics alone. Rostec said: “For future armored ‘fists,’ the key factor will be not the characteristics of a single machine, but the new level of its integration with other forces and assets — automated control systems, various classes of unmanned aerial vehicles, ground robots, artillery, electronic warfare and air defense systems, engineering units and anti-tank weapons.”
According to the corporation, such integrated groupings are expected to suppress many anti-tank threats before armored vehicles enter active assault phases, increasing the likelihood of reaching assigned objectives.
Rostec said it has already incorporated battlefield experience into several current production models. The T-90M “Proryv,” the upgraded T-80BVM and the modernized T-72B3M were highlighted as transitional platforms that bridge existing capabilities with future armored vehicle concepts. The corporation described their protection packages and onboard systems as having been “promptly upgraded” in response to operational requirements.
The disclosure of updated Russian tank tactics and the emphasis on drone-linked operations underscore Russia’s efforts to adapt its armored doctrine to modern battlefield pressures.
Independent assessments show the scale of the challenge facing Russia’s armored forces. According to verified loss records maintained by the Oryx OSINT group, Russia has lost 4,308 tanks of all types since the start of the full-scale invasion — a tally that includes advanced T-90M models as well as Soviet-era platforms such as the T-55. The losses underscore the pressure placed on Russian armored units and the demand for doctrinal and technical adaptation.