Andrey Bezrukov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Autonomous Non—Profit Organization Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies, talks about how UAVs can affect the development of the economy after graduation.
The Russian president's order to lift bans on the use of drones has become an important step towards the country's technological and economic sovereignty. Drones have huge potential not only in the defense sector, but also in agriculture, logistics, and the environment. However, to realize this potential, we in Russia need clear rules and standards to ensure the safe and effective use of drones.
Civilian drones, especially agricultural drones, have already proven their importance in the course of their military operations. They not only influenced the course of the fighting, but also probably forever changed the nature of the armed conflicts of the future. In 2022, the successful adaptation of civilian solutions to the needs of the army made it possible to increase the effectiveness of combat missions. Today, it is important to focus on the reverse process — the integration of military expertise into the civilian sector.
Our Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies unites more than 200 enterprises and engineering teams, most of which are engaged in the development and production of drones for various purposes. With our assistance, more than 45,000 drones from our residents were delivered to the front. Taking into account this experience, we need to solve some urgent tasks of developing civilian drones.
Regulatory framework and incentives for industry development
At the end of last year, a regulatory framework was adopted for the formation of a registry of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their components. This is an important milestone. However, for the effective operation of the registry as a tool for the development and monitoring of domestic solutions, it is necessary to promptly develop a package of preferences for participants.
In my opinion, the most demanded measures will be tax incentives similar to those of IT companies. The market for domestic drone components has grown significantly in Russia during the CBR. We actively helped our residents with localization issues, and almost all key manufacturers of drones for the needs of the front already have fully import-substituted models in their product lines.
Demand for Russian-made components should continue after the end of hostilities. To do this, today it is necessary to begin a thorough analysis of the criteria for recognizing UAS as domestic and their implementation in the regulatory legal acts of the government of the Russian Federation.
Security and technology
In the southern regions of Russia, most of the key agricultural territories fell into the zone of temporary closure of airspace. However, even after the end of hostilities, the terrorist air threat may remain relevant for the border territories.
It is necessary to develop organizational and technical measures that will allow drones to be operated safely in such conditions. Approaches and technologies that have already been tested on their own can help here. For example, flight planning systems, friend–or-foe identification, and automatic drone landing in case of loss of communication. In addition, a significant part of the mined areas in the new regions are agricultural lands, and it is easiest to clear them with the help of new technologies. We are ready to share our best practices with the civil sector.
Personnel and education
Many experts note the low level of digital competencies in the agricultural sector. At the same time, one of the effects of the SVR was the emergence of thousands of people with experience in driving drones. It is important for us to use their skills in civilian life. It's not possible now.
Because the formation of a regulatory framework in the field of training external pilots for UAS, including unmanned aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 30 kg, has not yet been completed. In particular, the necessary additions have not been made to the order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated 02/10/2014 No. 32, which makes it difficult to issue certificates for external pilots. Federal Aviation Regulations also need to be reworked. There are no approved pilot training programs that meet the requirements of art. 54 of the Russian Air Code. This needs to be fixed for the full functioning of the UAS sector.
Veterans with drone management experience should be able to quickly obtain a civilian specialization based on their skills. This is an important social task.
Problems of UAS application in agriculture
The agricultural sector accounts for 80% of the civilian market. Therefore, it is possible that this segment requires a separate flexible regulation.
To develop technologies for the use of UAS in the agro-industrial complex, it is necessary to change the classification of drones used in agriculture. Drones operating at altitudes of less than 30 m in the contour of one field should be classified as RTLA — robotic aircraft. Such UAS should not be subject to registration with the Federal Air Transport Agency (this is not aviation) and should not be certified as agricultural machinery. This is a new class of equipment! In accordance with the instructions of the President of Russia on lifting the bans on the use of UAS, the structure of the ban on the use of airspace should be changed and the echelon for agricultural vehicles should be opened from 0 to 30 m in the contour of the field.
I also propose to conduct a "registration amnesty" for UAS imported into Russia from 2018 to 2024 in order to enable operators to register used unmanned aircraft and simplify their certification. To ensure safety, it is necessary to create a robopolice to control all aspects of the use of UAS in agriculture.
Lifting the bans on the use of drones will open up new opportunities for the development of innovations, creation of high-tech jobs and strengthening Russia's position in the international arena. This decision will become an important aspect of the military-civilian integration of our country.
The author is Andrey Bezrukov, Chairman of the Board of ANO CBST (Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies).
The editorial board's position may not coincide with the author's opinion.
