Link to Video RecordingPasscode:RSIvideo2023
Details:
RSI will host Sam Bendett and Mike Kofman from the CNA Russia Studies Program (RSP) to discuss their recently published RSI sponsored work "Russia’s Use of Uncrewed Systems in Ukraine.” CNA has been tracking Russia’s use of military robotic, autonomous and uncrewed systems since the start of Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In March 2023, RSP released its “Russia’s Use of Uncrewed Systems in Ukraine” report, which analyses Russia’s use of aerial, ground and maritime uncrewed systems in the conflict. The RSP team will discuss Russian military tactics and doctrine in using such systems, will highlight some of the evolving practices and concepts in fielding such technology, and discuss how Moscow intends to capitalize on such technology going forward.
Biographies
Sam BendettAdvisor, CNA Russia Studies Program
Samuel Bendett’s research focuses on Russian defense and technology developments; uncrewed, robotic and autonomous military systems; artificial intelligence; and Russian military capabilities. Bendett’s analyses, views and commentary on Russia’s military robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence capabilities have appeared in numerous global publications and news outlets.
Prior to joining CNA, Bendett worked at the National Defense University on emerging and disruptive technologies to aid the Department of Defense (DOD) in responding to domestic and international crisis situations. His previous experience includes working for the U.S. Congress, the private sector and nonprofit organizations on foreign policy, international conflict resolution, and defense and security issues.
Bendett is also an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, an honorary “mad scientist” with the Mad Scientist Initiative of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and a Russian military autonomy and artificial intelligence subject matter expert for the DOD’s Defense Systems Information Analysis Center.
Bendett received a Master of Arts in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University as well as a Bachelor of Arts in politics and English from Brandeis University. He has native fluency in Russian.
Mike KofmanResearch Program Director, CNA Russia Studies Program
Michael Kofman is the director of the Russia Studies Program at CNA and an adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security. He specializes in the Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities and strategy. His work is interdisciplinary, integrating defense strategy, military analysis and history. He is also a contributing editor at War on the Rocks, which regularly publishes his articles on the Russia-Ukraine War, Russian strategy, the Russian military, and related subjects in the field of security studies.
Previously, Kofman served as a program manager and subject matter expert at the National Defense University. He was also a fellow at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center and the Modern War Institute, West Point. He frequently advises senior military and government officials on issues in Russia and Eurasia.
Kofman holds a Master of Arts in international security from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.