Russia to Expand Drone Centers for Robotics Development

Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is repurposing drone R&D centers to accelerate domestic robotics projects, broadening support for land, sea, and educational technologies.

Scientific and production centers originally created to support drone development in Russia will now also serve as incubators for robotics. The announcement came from Alexey Serdyuk, a representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, during the 'Russian Electronics – 2025' conference, as reported by Vedomosti.

The initiative aims to maximize the use of existing infrastructure. Centers built for aerial robotics will expand their focus to include ground-based and marine robots, as well as robotics education projects. This shift is part of a broader push to diversify Russia's technological capabilities.

By the end of the decade, Russia plans to have 48 such centers across the country, supported by 65 billion rubles in funding. As of now, 23 centers are already operational, providing access to advanced equipment across most regions.

Experts have welcomed the decision, noting that adapting the centers for new applications will require relatively low investments—between 1 and 10 million rubles per site. Analysts believe this move will strengthen Russia’s technological sovereignty and boost industrial robotics development.