MOSCOW. June 27 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the need to start using remote systems able to detect threats, including drone threats, in the Navy as soon as possible.
"In order to enhance the combat viability of naval forces, it is necessary to strengthen them and give special attention to the soonest introduction of remote systems able to detect threats, including those coming from drones, bearing in mind not only airspace control by air defense systems, but also measures to upgrade systems for monitoring the situation above the water surface and under the water surface and for counteracting enemy maritime robotic systems," Putin said at a meeting on ship building on Wednesday.
"It is necessary to protect our fleet from potential attacks at a long distance from naval bases and districts where our ships operate," he said.
Putin also reiterated the need to develop the Navy's reconnaissance aviation and bolster electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare forces and systems.
"We also should assess the state and requirements of the marine aviation of coastal missile and artillery forces. Furthermore, let's discuss today the task of equipping ships with additional weapons, including hand-held and automatic machine guns and squads of unmanned aerial vehicles," Putin said.
Russian enterprises have already begun offering such systems based on actual combat experience, he said.
"And these are not only large corporations, but also small private developers and producers," he said.