Overview of proposed legal and regulatory steps for unmanned vehicles
The Federation Council’s Committee on Economic Policy proposed to place the responsibility for traffic incidents involving unmanned vehicles under law by the government of the Russian Federation. The recommendation was shared with the public by TASS, accompanied by a link to the formal document. This move signals a shift toward clearly defined accountability for autonomous and remotely piloted transport in Russia, addressing what many see as a growing challenge as unmanned systems become more common on roads and in airspace. The core aim is to establish a robust legal framework that defines liability, sets expectations for safety, and aligns enforcement with modern mobility trends.
In light of this, the Cabinet of Ministers is urged to lay down the legal basis for the use of unmanned vehicles within the country. The objective is to ensure the secure operation of these systems by implementing comprehensive registration and licensing procedures. Such steps would create verifiable records of unmanned vehicle ownership, usage permissions, and compliance with safety standards, while facilitating oversight, maintenance of standards, and accountability for operators. The overarching goal is to foster a climate where innovative unmanned technologies can develop within a clear regulatory environment that protects the public and supports responsible innovation.
Earlier, in the technopark of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute, known as TsAGI, a pioneering test occurred: the unveiling of the first unmanned tiltrotor equipped with smart wings. This experimental platform was designed to explore how vertical takeoff and landing capabilities can be integrated with fixed-wing aerodynamics, offering a potential pathway to versatile aerial logistics and surveillance operations. According to TsAGI, the tiltrotor demonstrated the capacity to carry payloads up to 50 kilograms, illustrating practical value for small-scale transport tasks and field missions where traditional aircraft are impractical. The test program also focused on advancing autonomous flight, examining both the automatic control system and the autonomous takeoff and landing procedures that enable the unmanned aircraft to operate without human intervention under controlled conditions.
Additionally, there were plans for Rosoboronexport to introduce the Russian reconnaissance aircraft Orlan-30 at the Aero India 2023 exhibition held in India. The Orlan-30 represents an important element of Russia’s unmanned aerial capabilities, highlighting ongoing efforts to showcase and collaborate on unmanned systems within international defense and security markets. These demonstrations and exhibitions help inform global audiences about evolving Russian unmanned aviation technologies, the regulatory environment guiding their use, and the potential for industrial partnerships that can advance both civilian and defense-oriented applications.