Russia to launch pilot project on low-altitude economy
Russia is preparing to launch a pilot project to develop a low-altitude economy. A competition will identify participating regions ready to launch logistics services using unmanned aerial systems by the end of 2027. This was announced by Anna Ioffe, Advisor to the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, at the 4th International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation”.
“The transition from isolated trials to regular, safe, and economically feasible civilian services is crucial for the transport industry. Unmanned aerial systems can improve both the speed and predictability of delivery. Currently, the Russian Ministry of Transport, together with federal agencies, in particular the Ministry of Economic Development, the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, GLONASS JSC, and the industry community, are preparing a pilot project to develop a low-altitude economy,” Anna Ioffe said.
The advisor to the Minister of Transport emphasised that each regional project will be built around a confirmed need, cargo turnover, a responsible customer, an operator, a trained operator, and the necessary regional infrastructure.
“The result should be a model that will be expanded to other regions of Russia,” Anna Ioffe emphasised.
Rustam Minnikhanov, the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, explained that 11 experimental legal regimes for unmanned aerial systems are operating in 28 regions of Russia. Over the years, 140,000 flights have been conducted, and various mechanisms for delivering cargo to hard-to-reach places, developing agricultural land, and so on have been tested. This year, for example, the Republic plans to develop 100,000 hectares of agricultural land. “Tatarstan is systematically working to create an ecosystem for the development of autonomous systems. Drones are already being used in a number of industrial sectors, for example, PJSC Tatneft has developed more than 30 promising scenarios,” Rustam Minnikhanov said, adding that, besides this, 37 drones are being used to monitor forest fire safety.
More than 50 enterprises in the Republic are involved in the production of autonomous systems and components for them. Thanks to its well-developed scientific school, according to Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan can organise full-cycle drone production, including software and artificial intelligence.
The Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan noted that China has accumulated extensive experience in the development and implementation of unmanned aerial systems and the formation of a low-altitude economy. Russia, meanwhile, has significant potential that should be unlocked through close cooperation with its Chinese counterparts.
“Considering best international practices, it is necessary to organise interdepartmental work in the Republic to develop a low-altitude economy, formulate strategic goals and objectives, and consolidate this work under a single centre of competence and responsibility,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.
Deputy Head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Andrey Potemkin reported that Tatarstan is among the regions that have created a unified ground infrastructure for UAVs and a multi-positional surveillance system for them.
According to him, in 2025, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will have completed 20.7% more flights than the previous year, or 178,900. As of 1 August this year, approximately 157,700 such UAVs, with 182 operators, were registered in the country.
Wu Hongning, Secretary General of the International Federation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, stated that in the 2026 government work report, the low-altitude economy was identified as a new core industry. By 2035, its size could exceed 3.5 trillion yuan. Wu Hongning reported that the industry’s volume in 2024 was 670.3 billion yuan and that it was expected to reach 1.5 billion yuan in 2025.
In China, according to him, more than 39,000 enterprises are part of the drone production chain. UAV production volume last year amounted to 296.1 billion yuan, an increase of 41.9% year-on-year. Foreign investment in the industry totaled approximately $3.4 billion. China imported and exported 5.3 million UAVs, according to Wu Hongning. Drones have flown 45.3 million hours in China.
Chen Xi, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Urban Internationalization Research at Zhejiang International Studies University, expressed the opinion that low-altitude systems are not intended for widespread use and will not replace traditional logistics links, such as rail and road transport, as this would not be economically feasible.
“We are trying to solve complex issues, such as those in Indonesia — connections between multiple islands and deliveries across large territories, such as in Siberia or Central Asia, where sandstorms are common,” the scientist said.
Moreover, according to the professor, regular service using low-altitude aircraft between Asian agglomerations may not be possible until 2035. By that time, batteries with the necessary capacity for unmanned aerial vehicles will have been developed, the reliability of autonomous piloting over long distances will have been ensured, and so on.
*****
The International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation” will be held in Kazan on 16-19 August.
The business programme includes such areas as interstate dialogue, creative economy, medicine, industry, education, business and entrepreneurship, business associations, finance and investment, culture, media, law, transport, agriculture, tourism, and construction.
The SPROUTS Business Forum confirmed its high status by receiving the EFEA Awards and becoming a laureate and finalist of the prestigious International Russian Event Awards.
ANO “Directorate of International Programmes” acts as an operator for the preparation and holding of the SPROUTS Forum.
Russia is preparing to launch a pilot project to develop a low-altitude economy. A competition will identify participating regions ready to launch logistics services using unmanned aerial systems by the end of 2027. This was announced by Anna Ioffe, Advisor to the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, at the 4th International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation”.
“The transition from isolated trials to regular, safe, and economically feasible civilian services is crucial for the transport industry. Unmanned aerial systems can improve both the speed and predictability of delivery. Currently, the Russian Ministry of Transport, together with federal agencies, in particular the Ministry of Economic Development, the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, GLONASS JSC, and the industry community, are preparing a pilot project to develop a low-altitude economy,” Anna Ioffe said.
The advisor to the Minister of Transport emphasised that each regional project will be built around a confirmed need, cargo turnover, a responsible customer, an operator, a trained operator, and the necessary regional infrastructure.
“The result should be a model that will be expanded to other regions of Russia,” Anna Ioffe emphasised.
Rustam Minnikhanov, the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, explained that 11 experimental legal regimes for unmanned aerial systems are operating in 28 regions of Russia. Over the years, 140,000 flights have been conducted, and various mechanisms for delivering cargo to hard-to-reach places, developing agricultural land, and so on have been tested. This year, for example, the Republic plans to develop 100,000 hectares of agricultural land. “Tatarstan is systematically working to create an ecosystem for the development of autonomous systems. Drones are already being used in a number of industrial sectors, for example, PJSC Tatneft has developed more than 30 promising scenarios,” Rustam Minnikhanov said, adding that, besides this, 37 drones are being used to monitor forest fire safety.
More than 50 enterprises in the Republic are involved in the production of autonomous systems and components for them. Thanks to its well-developed scientific school, according to Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan can organise full-cycle drone production, including software and artificial intelligence.
The Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan noted that China has accumulated extensive experience in the development and implementation of unmanned aerial systems and the formation of a low-altitude economy. Russia, meanwhile, has significant potential that should be unlocked through close cooperation with its Chinese counterparts.
“Considering best international practices, it is necessary to organise interdepartmental work in the Republic to develop a low-altitude economy, formulate strategic goals and objectives, and consolidate this work under a single centre of competence and responsibility,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.
Deputy Head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Andrey Potemkin reported that Tatarstan is among the regions that have created a unified ground infrastructure for UAVs and a multi-positional surveillance system for them.
According to him, in 2025, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will have completed 20.7% more flights than the previous year, or 178,900. As of 1 August this year, approximately 157,700 such UAVs, with 182 operators, were registered in the country.
Wu Hongning, Secretary General of the International Federation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, stated that in the 2026 government work report, the low-altitude economy was identified as a new core industry. By 2035, its size could exceed 3.5 trillion yuan. Wu Hongning reported that the industry’s volume in 2024 was 670.3 billion yuan and that it was expected to reach 1.5 billion yuan in 2025.
In China, according to him, more than 39,000 enterprises are part of the drone production chain. UAV production volume last year amounted to 296.1 billion yuan, an increase of 41.9% year-on-year. Foreign investment in the industry totaled approximately $3.4 billion. China imported and exported 5.3 million UAVs, according to Wu Hongning. Drones have flown 45.3 million hours in China.
Chen Xi, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Urban Internationalization Research at Zhejiang International Studies University, expressed the opinion that low-altitude systems are not intended for widespread use and will not replace traditional logistics links, such as rail and road transport, as this would not be economically feasible.
“We are trying to solve complex issues, such as those in Indonesia — connections between multiple islands and deliveries across large territories, such as in Siberia or Central Asia, where sandstorms are common,” the scientist said.
Moreover, according to the professor, regular service using low-altitude aircraft between Asian agglomerations may not be possible until 2035. By that time, batteries with the necessary capacity for unmanned aerial vehicles will have been developed, the reliability of autonomous piloting over long distances will have been ensured, and so on.
*****
The International Forum “SPROUTS: Russia and China – Mutually Beneficial Cooperation” will be held in Kazan on 16-19 August.
The business programme includes such areas as interstate dialogue, creative economy, medicine, industry, education, business and entrepreneurship, business associations, finance and investment, culture, media, law, transport, agriculture, tourism, and construction.
The SPROUTS Business Forum confirmed its high status by receiving the EFEA Awards and becoming a laureate and finalist of the prestigious International Russian Event Awards.
ANO “Directorate of International Programmes” acts as an operator for the preparation and holding of the SPROUTS Forum.