Russia Adapting New Fires Tactics To Overcome Artillery Challenges

BusinessAerospace & DefenseRussia Adapting New Fires Tactics To Overcome Artillery ChallengesByVikram Mittal,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Vikram Mittal is a contributor who covers aerospace and defense.Follow AuthorApr 24, 2026, 05:51am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Image captured from a video posted on Telegram by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 10, 2026. The image shows Russian soldiers assembling a Lancet drone to strike a Ukrainian HMMWV in the Sumy Region.Social Media CaptureRussian military doctrine has historically placed artillery at the center of its combat operations, using massed firepower to degrade enemy forces while infantry and armor support and exploit those effects. In the Russia-Ukraine War, this central role of artillery is clearly evident, with Russia expending over 10,000 artillery rounds per day. However, four years of sustained fighting, combined with Ukraine’s battlefield innovations, are challenging Russia’s ability to employ artillery effectively. As a result, the Russian military appears to be exploring alternative means to deliver fires, increasing reliance on aerial drones, ground robotic systems, and new tactics.The Challenges Faced By Russian ArtilleryRussian forces have suffered significant artillery losses over the course of the war, driven largely by Ukraine’s increasingly effective drone capabilities. Open-source reporting has visually confirmed more than 1,700 Russian artillery systems destroyed or disabled, though the true number is likely much higher, with Ukrainian estimates exceeding 34,000. These losses have forced Russia to draw heavily from aging Soviet-era stockpiles and import foreign systems to offset the shortfall.In addition to combat losses, four years of sustained fighting have taken a toll on Russia’s artillery systems. Gun barrels, which have a finite lifespan...