PRESS: Russia wants to set up mass production of civil drones

MOSCOW, Mar 3 (PRIME) -- The Russian government is creating an order for mass production of civil drones by 2030 with demand seen at 100,000 units, Izvestia daily reported on Friday quoting a source familiar with preparation of the order.

“The government is preparing the parameters of a state order for civil unmanned aircraft until 2030. The parameters should be formed by April 1 … The authorities preliminarily estimate demand at 100,000 units of unmanned aircraft systems,” the source told the daily.

A State Transport Leasing Company representative told Izvestia that demand for civil drones in the next three years stands at 8,000 of all types and classes, with the cost amounting to 50 billion rubles. The government is yet to define sources of financing and amount of state investment in production, but plans to provide support by stimulating demand for drone services and supporting producers and operators of drones, the representative said.

The Industry and Trade Ministry told the daily in a statement that preliminary demand for heavy drones exceeds 1,000 units.

“In order to secure financing of the program, we plan to use the funds of customers – state corporations and private companies, as well as the funds of the federal and regional authorities,” Deputy Minister Vasily Osmakov said as quoted by Izvestia.

Aeromax, Agrimax.Aero, Transport Budushchego (Transport of the Future), and Russian Helicopters confirmed their plans to participate in the state order, the daily reported.

(75.4729 rubles – U.S. $1)

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