President Putin has directed the approval of a national plan to advance unmanned aerial systems by September 1. The government is urged to implement broad measures that weave drones into the combined airspace of the Russian Federation.
Why is there such intense focus on this sector now
The drive is driven by a clear aim to secure technological leadership for the country. A robust civilian drone industry is a key piece of that strategy. Today, even homegrown drones rely heavily on imported parts, with microelectronics and electric motors posing the biggest challenges. The localization level sits around half to sixty percent.
Secondly, the civil UAV sector needs a steady stream of orders from domestic buyers to grow and mature. Time is critical. The Russian market for civil UAVs is still young but has already become sizable. By 2022 it was valued at about 50 billion rubles, and projections suggest it could reach one trillion rubles in the near term. Government support would be essential to achieve such scale and transform this potential into durable economic impact.
Digital modernization and the integration of advanced IT solutions are shaping production processes across Russian enterprises. Yet a key question remains: who will purchase UAVs produced by hundreds of Russian manufacturers under varying capacities. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is home to many producers, and geopolitical tensions limit foreign markets while domestic demand remains modest. About 70 percent of devices are bought by state entities or for government programs. Active government stimulation is needed before civil UAVs become deeply embedded in everyday business operations.
Third, even as enterprises explore UAV use, current demand already surpasses the capacity of domestic suppliers. The market is estimated at around 32 thousand units annually, excluding ultralight models, with roughly 20 thousand units imported so far. The range of civil UAV applications is expanding, making proactive sector development essential to safeguard long term competitiveness for the Russian economy over the next five to ten years.
The economic potential of UAV use within Russian industry is promising and broadening with each new deployment.
Where are drones being used today
Russian agriculture stands out as one of the most active adopters of civil UAVs. Experts estimate that farming drones could represent a significant portion of future civilian drone sales. The business case is strong: UAVs can lift yields by 10 to 30 percent depending on crop type and can cut the cost of crop protection inputs by more than ten percent, with integration costs often minimal for farming operations.
Electric utilities also rely on civilian drones to monitor and inspect energy infrastructure. Reports indicate that drone use can speed inspections fivefold and reduce accident risk manyfold. Similar gains are expected across other sectors that require ongoing monitoring. In environmental oversight, drones have produced four times as many detected violations while preserving staffing levels at facilities.
In surveying and cadastral work, drones simplify routine tasks and can reduce business costs by about a fifth. They also help identify registration gaps in land records. Western satellite operators have shown reluctance to share information with Russian firms, while the domestic satellite constellation offers limited capabilities by comparison.
Civil UAVs provide a powerful tool for gathering up-to-date land condition data given their scale and affordability. Large Russian enterprises involved in logistics are testing drone use to reach remote regions where terrain and infrastructure create significant delivery challenges. Drones enable access to previously hard to reach areas and make operations financially viable where manned flights would not be practical.
Developments include cargo drones capable of long distances with high speed. A model announced by Aeromax can fly up to 900 kilometers at 210 kilometers per hour. Over time, lossless air medical services could see UAVs adapted for air ambulance missions. Civil UAVs are expected to play a role in megacities as pilots test drone ports and locker systems. Parcels weighing up to ten kilograms could be delivered automatically, addressing the long standing last mile challenge in urban logistics.
The author presents a personal view here that may not reflect editors’ positions.