Over the past five years, Russia has exported drones amounting to up to 600 million rubles or $8.1 million (as of the end of 2022), as shown in the official documents cited by TASS.
This export is part of the strategy for the development of the civil unmanned aviation sector until 2030, as well as the perspective until 2035. The strategy was approved by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on June 28.
According to the documents, Sudan was the main importer of drones from Russia from 2018 to 2022, accounting for 62% of the exports. Venezuela ranked second with 12%, while Uzbekistan occupied the third spot with 9%.
In the baseline scenario, the drone market is expected to expand by 14% annually during the review period, with a peak growth anticipated between 2025 and 2027. The government has estimated the potential volume of the Russian drone market to be approximately 1mn units by 2035.
Depending on the scenario, 80-85% (800-850 thousand) of these drones will be of domestic production. By 2030, the government plans to develop a certification system for drones and their identification, and by 2035, an information and infrastructure protection system for air transport.
Since 2015, individuals in Uzbekistan have been prohibited from importing drones, except in special cases. The Customs Committee has repeatedly reported detaining passengers attempting to bring drones into the country. In 2020, a petition calling for a review of the ban was published, but the initiative did not progress.
The state program for 2023 envisages a reduction in penalties for the import of drones and their components without permission. The plan is to replace criminal liability with administrative measures for the first violation.
Legal entities can import and use drones for their purposes with special permission. Currently, the agricultural sector primarily utilises this right, with members of the molasses producers association being granted such privileges.
In May 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture received the right to use drones and satellite data to monitor irrigation systems and water resources. Since November, the Cabinet of Ministers has also allowed the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (now the Ministry of Culture and Tourism) and the Charvak Tourism Zone Directorate to use drones.
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