Drones, helicopters, electronics and AI technologies have become the main topics of the country's largest industry exhibition HeliRussia 2026
Drones, artificial intelligence and domestic electronics are gradually changing the face of Russian aviation. If a few years ago airplanes and helicopters were the main characters of industry forums, now autonomous systems, digital control platforms and new developments in the field of UAVs are attracting more and more attention. Dozens of projects were presented at HeliRussia 2026, from localized helicopters to long—range drones and cargo drones capable of operating in the most inaccessible areas of the country.
The course for full localization
The exhibition was opened by representatives of relevant departments and deputies. Andrey Potemkin, Deputy Head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, read out a greeting from Dmitry Yadrov, head of the department, who spoke about the preparation of rules for the joint use of airspace by manned and unmanned aircraft.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
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Alexey Tsydenov, the head of Buryatia, noted that unmanned technologies are becoming a full-fledged part of the industry along with traditional aviation.
According to Boris Alyoshin, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific director of the N.E. Zhukovsky Institute, one of the key tasks remains to accelerate the certification of Mi-34, Ansat and Ka-226 helicopters.
— This is a serious challenge. Now these aircraft are produced entirely from domestic parts, without foreign components. This step will prove that our factories are capable of creating complex machinery on their own," Alyoshin said.
In the pavilions of the exhibition, attention was no longer focused on concepts, but on technologies ready for practical use. Against the background of import substitution, Russian enterprises are developing their own solutions in the field of aircraft, electronics and instrumentation.
Designers for future engineers
Educational projects became one of the directions of the exhibition. A Russian developer has introduced a line of educational drone designers for colleges and universities.
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— Only a part of the models is shown on the stand. Most of the devices are created at the request of enterprises and educational institutions, including heavy FPV drones," said a representative of ATS Technologies.
According to him, students receive a ready-made set of parts, assemble the device themselves, program the flight controller and set up machine vision systems.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
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The company has localized production in Russia: The cases are manufactured in Nizhny Novgorod, and the electronics assembly is organized in Orel.
— We give students the opportunity to study aviation technologies in practice and understand the principles of the modern industry, — said the interlocutor.
What is being invented in the regions
The development of unmanned systems remains one of the country's key technological priorities, emphasized Natalia Artemyeva, Minister of Industry, Investment and Science of the Ulyanovsk Region.
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One of the most notable participants of the exhibition was the Signal plant, which has been specializing in the production of automotive components for engines for more than 20 years, but a few years ago opened its own design bureau and began to develop the aviation sector.
Today, the company produces various types of drones, from quadrocopters to vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.
One of the latest developments is the Signal—24 UAV. The device is capable of transporting up to 10 kg of cargo over a distance of up to 10 km and performing tasks autonomously at specified coordinates. According to the developers, the design was created taking into account the practical experience of operating at the forefront and is resistant to electronic warfare.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
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Another Ulyanovsk manufacturer, the Briz company, produces electronics for FPV systems, including flight controllers, video transmitters and antennas for heavy drones.
The experience of market veterans
While young companies have brought new developments to the exhibition, the largest market players have relied on solutions that have already proven their effectiveness.
ZALA's unmanned complexes annually perform more than 10 thousand tasks. They take off and fly over 5 million km, providing monitoring of the oil and gas infrastructure and power transmission lines.
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One of the central exhibits was the ZALA Z-20 long-range drone. The device is capable of staying in the air for more than seven hours and performing tasks at a distance of over 100 km. The built-in artificial intelligence system allows you to automatically detect and recognize objects on the ground.
The company also showed an upgraded Z-16 model, which can continue to complete tasks even if the satellite signal or communication channel is lost.
The Aeromax Group of Companies has introduced another notable novelty, the B-200 unmanned helicopter, which is undergoing final tests. The device was developed by IKAR Engineering Design Bureau based on the SH-750 cargo platform and is equipped with an autonomous control system.
— The machine was designed to work in the taiga, oil fields and Arctic facilities. Where cargo delivery by traditional transport takes several days, an unmanned helicopter makes it possible to solve the problem much faster," said Stepan Druganin, Marketing Director of Aeromax Group.
Unmanned helicopter B-200
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
The helicopter is capable of carrying cargo both inside the cabin and on an external sling. The operator controls the flight from the ground and intervenes only in emergency situations.
Technologies for aviation of the future
Special attention was paid at the exhibition to aviation equipment maintenance technologies. A representative of the St. Petersburg video endoscope factory told Izvestia that the systems developed by the company make it possible to inspect aircraft engines without disassembling them.
Video endoscopes are used to diagnose gas turbine engines and internal structural elements through process openings.
— Previously, to search for hidden defects, it was necessary to disassemble the assembly and carry out repeated tests. Now such diagnostics takes a few hours and allows you to significantly reduce costs," said the representative of the company.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Eduard Kornienko
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According to Vladimir Kozhan, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Construction, the industry has changed dramatically over the almost 20 years of HeliRussia's existence.
— When the exhibition opened for the first time, it was difficult to imagine the current level of development of unmanned technologies. Today, no one can say for sure what the next stage of the industry's development will be and what role artificial intelligence will play in it," said the senator.
The HeliRussia 2026 exhibition continues its work. Judging by the developments presented, the key areas of development of Russian aviation in the coming years will remain unmanned systems, localization of production and the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies.
Julia Leonova
