President Vladimir Putin oversaw the Center-2026 strategic exercises in the Ural Mountains region, featuring thousands of troops, Chinese military participation, and new drone tactics including incendiary payloads dropped on ground targets.
Strategic Drills at Chebarkul Training Ground
President Vladimir Putin observed the Center-2026 strategic command and staff exercises at the Chebarkul training ground within the Central Military District. The maneuvers ran from September 28 to October 3, focusing on employing troop groups to repel aggression on the Central Asian strategic axis and securing military security in the Caspian Sea region.
The exercises involved more than 6,000 military personnel, which included 4,600 Russian troops and 1,479 foreign service members. That foreign contingent comprised 634 military personnel from Collective Security Treaty Organization member states and the Central Rapid Reaction Force, alongside participating Chinese military formations. The training involved over 600 pieces of equipment, including 55 aircraft and helicopters, more than 500 drones of various models, and over 50 automated systems.
Military Drills Feature Drones Releasing Burning Material
Footage from the Ural Mountains maneuvers displayed low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles releasing intense burning material onto ground positions, creating an effect described as a directed fire rain. While uncrewed systems have previously dropped incendiary payloads in ongoing conflicts, their official inclusion in high-level exercises signals an institutional shift toward standardizing these methods.
The Defense Ministry reported that drone crews operating in tight swarm formations engaged attacking groups during the drills. Front-view drone teams coordinated with simultaneous flank advances and frontal artillery support to strike exposed enemy firing positions, while mobile fire groups using Ulan-2 vehicles combated opposing unmanned aircraft.
Integration with Modern Combat Experience
The expanded combat roles for drones build on lessons from the war in Ukraine, where both sides rely heavily on low-cost aerial systems for reconnaissance, long-range strikes, and close combat. By incorporating these tactical trials into major exercises watched by the nation’s leadership, military planners aim to expand production and integrate field testing into standard combat doctrine.
