The Technological Transformation of Russian Conventional Fires

Abstract

ABSTRACT Russia’s Armed Forces have long struggled in combat operations to fix and locate enemy targets and follow up with precision strikes. The new Reconnaissance-Fire System (ROS) allows combined-arms units to conduct operations in real time and greatly increases the speed and accuracy of Russian fires on the future battlefield. This process has already made significant progress, with its future development earmarked as a high priority in Moscow’s defense planning. The ROS is a network-centric capability offering vastly enhanced target acquisition and strikes across the range of Russian systems capable of targeting ground targets and especially benefits artillery systems. This article examines the evolution of the concept of the ROS and the progress towards its development but does not assess the problems and challenges its use encountered in the Russia-Ukraine War that began in February 2022.