Import Substitution Gains Altitude – How Domestic Software Is Strengthening Aviation Safety

The ATM Corporation, which is responsible for organising air traffic across Russia, has made a strategic shift toward domestic technologies. By acquiring 10,000 licences for VK WorkSpace and R7 Office, the organisation is covering its entire IT landscape – 17 regional branches and approximately 28,000 employees. The transition affects everyday operational processes across one of the country’s most safety-critical sectors.

Such a large-scale migration is more than a routine IT upgrade. It sends a clear strategic signal. At a time when critical infrastructure is increasingly exposed to external risks, reliance on domestically developed software is becoming a matter of national security rather than convenience.

A unified digital environment for a strategic sector

VK WorkSpace and R7 Office consolidate essential tools into a single super app environment. Corporate email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative work with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are all available on both desktop and mobile devices. For aviation professionals, where response time and information accuracy are paramount, this integration translates directly into higher operational efficiency.

Security and regulatory compliance were central design priorities. Both products have passed mandatory certifications and are listed in Russia’s official register of domestic software, making them eligible for use in government organisations. For an industry responsible for the safety of national airspace, this is not a formality but a fundamental operational requirement.

We are pleased that R7 Office document editors have been selected to support the day-to-day operations of such a strategically important organisation as Russia’s air traffic management corporation. Our joint solution with VK Tech has delivered a comprehensive platform that fully meets information security requirements and modern efficiency standards. We strongly believe in continuous development and never stand still, which is why we always welcome feedback – it plays a key role in helping us make our solutions better

Evgeny Shelkovnikov

Chief Executive Officer of R7 Office

From local pilots to systemic adoption

Only a few years ago, a full transition to Russian software was widely seen as a high-risk move. Industry experts often argued that domestic alternatives lagged behind Western products in stability, usability, and functionality. However, since 2022 – amid the withdrawal of Western IT vendors and a stronger state-driven import substitution policy – the landscape has shifted.

By 2025, the Murmansk Region had already announced a transition to R7 Office across its public sector, one of the first notable large-scale deployments. The decision by the national air traffic management authority now represents a far more complex and demanding case. Together, these examples show that Russian software is gradually shedding its image as an emergency replacement and evolving into a viable, full-fledged alternative.

From aviation to the wider public sector

Successful implementation within the ATM Corporation could act as a catalyst for adoption by other government bodies. If the platform proves reliable under high workloads and stringent security requirements, similar solutions could be rolled out across other strategic sectors – including energy, transport, defence, and public administration.

For Russian developers, the contract represents more than commercial success. It provides an opportunity to test products in real-world conditions at scale. Feedback from 28,000 users, integration with legacy systems, and the need for uninterrupted operation across 17 branches will all drive further improvements in functionality, scalability, and system stability.

The export potential of such solutions is likely to remain limited. They are tightly aligned with Russian legislation and national security requirements. Domestically, however, they could secure a dominant position, particularly if government procurement policies continue to favour locally developed software.

Digital sovereignty as an operational necessity

The ATM Corporation’s shift to domestic IT solutions is not simply a software swap. It forms part of a broader effort to build digital sovereignty, a concept that is gaining urgency amid global instability.

For ordinary citizens, the change may go unnoticed. Yet behind every safe take-off and landing lies a complex management system that increasingly depends on domestic digital technologies. The more reliably these systems perform, the safer and more resilient the country’s critical infrastructure becomes.

Russian software is demonstrating that it is ready to take responsibility not only for office documents, but also for the sky above.