The formation of a full–fledged unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry is a complex complex task consisting of solving a number of large-scale problems; in Russia, most issues have to start from scratch, [...] First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov said at a strategic session with Russian UAS manufacturers.
The first and central task is the consolidation of manufacturers and the creation of a system of cooperation and technological support for the production of UAS. The second is the removal of regulatory restrictions that today hinder the formation of markets for the use of UAS and services provided by drones (ensuring the work of agriculture, cargo transportation, aerial photography and filming, monitoring the condition of linear construction projects, etc.). "We have these areas extremely undeveloped, because there are no rules by which they can function economic entities," Belousov said.
The third problem is the creation of a modern comfortable certification system, the removal of regulatory restrictions related to the functioning of ground infrastructure, and a number of other issues related to flight safety, UAS operation. The fourth is the issue of personnel training.
Belousov said that the national project for the development of BAS has already been formed, and the state of work will be reported to the president in the near future.
Recall that the concept of integrating drones into a single Russian airspace was approved in October 2021. Integration was envisaged in three stages, the dates of which were then moved; including the date of completion of integration postponed from 2030 to 2035.
At the strategic session, it was noted that the national project for the development of this sphere should help solve the described problems and ensure the serial production and use of drones in our country – it must be approved by September 1, 2023.
According to the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Vasily Shpak, the work of a number of experts was organized to form this document.
Thus, according to the Deputy Minister, the profile working groups on the development of the national project included a total of more than 250 people from 70 organizations. Today, a draft passport of the national project has been created, within the framework of which four federal projects are being formed.
Two of them – "Stimulating demand for domestic UAS" and "Development, standardization and serial production of UAS and components" – are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. "Infrastructure development, security and the formation of a specialized UAS certification system" will be taken over by the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry of Education and Science will be responsible for "Personnel for unmanned aircraft systems".
The participants of the meeting made proposals on the formation of a network of research and production centers in the field of UAS, the creation of a specialized certification system, the use of UAS in agriculture, as well as the possibility of testing drones at special sites in large cities. Andrey Belousov stressed that the industry's proposals will be worked out during the preparation of the national project.
He added that it will be necessary to make a separate program for drone components – similar to the one that exists for automotive components.
The national project for the development of the drone industry should be systematized according to several key points. These include guaranteed demand from the state and state-owned companies, a cooperation scheme, unification of standards, technological maps (and the related line of R&D), as well as state support measures.
Andrey Belousov instructed to work out separately the possibility of launching additional tools proposed by the participants of the strategic session.
