On Monday, April 1, a pilot project was launched in Russia to create a system for continuous training of specialists in the development and production of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), as well as in the operation of drones with a take-off weight of no more than 30 kg. The rules for implementing the initiative were approved by a decree of the Russian government dated March 21, 2024.
Within the framework of the project, in particular, training programs in the field of unmanned systems will be drawn up and tools will be developed to monitor the level of qualifications of specialists in this field.
The project will last until the end of 2029. It is attended by the University of the National Technology Initiative 2035, the Agency for the Development of Professional Excellence “WorldSkills Russia”, the Association of Employers and Enterprises of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Industry “AERONEKST”, the Russian University of Transport and the Foundation for the Development of the Center for the Development and Commercialization of New Technologies.
In turn, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects will provide methodological support and analyze the results of the project. They will also develop proposals to amend the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of training specialists for the unmanned industry.
Russian government building
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© Vladimir Baranov
As Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko previously reported, the unmanned aerial systems industry in Russia may receive about 65 thousand specialists by 2030.
Marketplace for drones
The educational project is being implemented as part of the implementation of the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, given by him in December 2022. Then the head of state instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to create a commission to solve problems in the development, production, certification and operation of UAS, as well as means of protection against their illegal use. First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov was appointed chairman of the commission.
In addition, the Russian leader ordered the approval of a plan for the state civil order for domestically produced unmanned aerial systems for the period until 2030.
In furtherance of these instructions, on December 26, 2023, the national project “Unmanned Aviation Systems” was approved. The volume of its financing until 2030 from the federal budget will amount to 696 billion rubles.
As noted in the secretariat of Andrei Belousov in January of this year, as a result of the work of the new national project, by the end of the decade Russia should produce 32.5 thousand civilian UAVs per year.
“This is almost three times higher than current production volume. At the same time, it is planned that the share of Russian UAS will be 70% of the market in these types of UAS,” TASS quoted the secretariat as saying.
Andrey Belousov
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© Alexander Astafiev
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, already in 2024, a production volume of 11.7 thousand devices with a take-off weight of 1 kg and above is expected.
The State Transport Leasing Company (STLC) will consolidate the demand for UAS from domestic manufacturers. According to Andrey Belousov, she will work with manufacturers, formulate lines of finished products and collaborate with operators to ensure stable demand for the industry.
State Transport Leasing Company, together with the National Technology Initiative Foundation, has already created its own drone operator in 2022 - Unmanned Aviation Systems LLC. The operator received its air operator certificate in May last year. In the same year, the company began its first commercial work on monitoring the fire hazard situation in Yakutia in the interests of Yakutlesresurs.
In addition, GTLK plans to launch Russia’s first drone marketplace. His project was presented at the Transport of Russia exhibition in 2023.
On the marketplace it will be possible to order both various types of drones and services using them. This could be aerial photography, assessing the condition of power lines, thermal imaging, creating a 3D model of territories and other tasks.
It is expected that along with the purchase of a drone on the marketplace, it will be possible to immediately complete all related documents: register the drone, obtain insurance, and register the property.
Aeromax SH-450 drone at an exhibition in Moscow
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© Artyom Geodakyan
“The key factor is personnel”
As Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin noted in September 2023 at a strategic session on UAS development, the introduction of civilian UAVs can improve the operational efficiency of enterprises in several industries at once. Thus, in agriculture, the introduction of drones has already doubled labor productivity when treating plants with protective agents. In the energy sector, the risk of emergency situations has been reduced eightfold by inspecting power lines using UAS. Moreover, according to Mishustin, the speed of such inspections has increased fivefold.
“In the fuel sector, the cost of air patrolling of gas pipelines has decreased threefold, and the duration of work has been reduced by 70%. Similar examples can be given for a number of other industries: construction, cartography, cadastre maintenance, geological exploration, environmental control and many others,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
Analysts say increased use of UAVs in the civilian sector will further these trends. At the same time, experts note that the training of specialists will be critical for the implementation of such large-scale plans.
“The key factor is personnel. There will be no dynamics of industry development, no technological leaps if there are no trained specialists. Therefore, it is very important now to concentrate on training personnel in this industry. Moreover, it is necessary to train specialists using modern training methodology and the most modern equipment,” said Maxim Kondratyev, head of the International Unmanned Aviation Training Center, in an interview with RT.
A similar opinion is shared by the editor-in-chief of the Unmanned Aviation publication Denis Fedutinov.
“The development of the industry of unmanned and robotic systems in the country implies the need for an influx of a significant number of competent specialists,” the expert said in a commentary to RT.
Spraying herbicides using a heavy agricultural drone Agras T30 in Dagestan
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© Denis Abramov
Fedutinov noted that Russian educational institutions are already training the necessary specialists in the field of development and production of UAVs.
“Russian educational institutions train personnel in specialties that, if not directly related to unmanned vehicles, then relate to certain areas in demand in this industry: aircraft and helicopter manufacturing, instrument engineering, radio electronics, optoelectronics. The pilot project, which started on April 1, will obviously make it possible to make quantitative adjustments to this process by specialty. As for the operation of UAVs, we are at the stage of forming an appropriate ecosystem for the use of such devices with a new regulatory framework. Therefore, the formation of new educational programs will be required here,” the specialist said.
According to Maxim Kondratyev, plans to increase the production of UAVs included in the national project “Unmanned Aviation Systems” were drawn up based on the results of an analysis of the market for these services.
“The numbers weren’t pulled out of thin air—the markets were analyzed with the participation of specialized specialists. Trends were observed and needs were assessed. These are real numbers. We must strive to achieve these quantitative indicators,” the expert said.
In turn, Denis Fedutinov added that in order to develop the Russian UAV industry, the government also needs to pay attention to the production of components for such devices.
“The state needs to focus its efforts on several main areas. This is support for the creation of subsystems necessary for the development of unmanned vehicles: microelectronic components, engines, propellers, power systems, optical-electronic and radar surveillance systems and other components. In conditions where the use of imported solutions is limited, this is a necessary measure,” the analyst emphasized.
In addition to this, the state could provide preferential working conditions for UAV developers and manufacturers, says Denis Fedutinov.
“This applies to taxation, lending, renting space. Mechanisms for granting preferences should be as transparent as possible to prevent possible abuse. It is also necessary to facilitate the process of certification of UAVs and their registration, and develop clear procedures for their legal use. All this will contribute to the successful development of the industry,” the expert concluded.