Russia’s first regional NPC for civil drones to open in Samara Region

The first in Russia regional research and production center (RPC) for civil unmanned aerial systems (UAS) was created in the Samara region, reported on the website of the regional government.

The necessary documents were signed at the site of the project-educational intensive “Archipelago 2023” in Novosibirsk. The NPC is expected to start its work at the end of this month.

The NPC, as noted, will coordinate not only the activities of the BAS cluster, but also the conduct of scientific research, the development and adaptation of technologies, the serial production of drones and components, etc.

As Yury Kozarenko, general director of the developer of BAS “Transport of the Future Samara”, explained, the Samara cluster was created on the initiative of the governor Dmitry Azarov and involves almost complete localization of all production processes in the region. We are talking in particular about the development and production of domestic components, flight tests, the development of concepts for commercial use, as well as service and maintenance of drones.

“Currently, within the framework of the cluster in Samara, the construction of our plant continues. Four facilities have already been built on the site: workshops for assembling two types of drones, as well as a workshop for the production of UAS structural elements,” he said.

Azarov added that the construction of a production site for the production of drones will be completed in December. The plant will produce drones for agriculture, cargo drones (up to 200 kg), lighter vehicles weighing up to 30 kg, components, etc.

On June 28, the government, on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, approved a strategy for the development of unmanned aircraft until 2030 and for the future until 2035. The main goal of the document is the emergence over the next 6.5 years of a new branch of the economy related to the production and use of civilian drones.

In mid-July, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that the national project for the development of BAS be approved by September 1, pointing out the importance of creating industries and markets of the future. On July 10, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that the national project on drones would start working in the near future. According to him, civilian drones can become a growth driver for many sectors of the economy and the service sector. To do this, it is necessary to develop the production of their components, components and assemblies, the prime minister added.