MOSCOW, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia will launch the experimental operation of unmanned aerial systems along the Northern Sea Route and within the Arctic zone to bolster digital and technological innovation, a government statement said Tuesday.
According to a resolution signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the experiments will be conducted in areas including the Yamalo-Nenets, Nenets, and Chukotka autonomous okrugs, the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Yakutia, Karelia, and Komi.
A primary focus of the digital innovation involves the deployment of ship-based unmanned aerial vehicles for ice reconnaissance, said the statement released on the government's website. These systems are designed to provide real-time data on ice conditions using radar and optoelectronic tools, which are essential for ensuring the safety of navigation along the Northern Sea Route.
In addition to reconnaissance, the experiments will involve aerial cargo delivery and various aviation tasks.
The Russian government plans to conduct at least 600 flights over three years, covering an ice reconnaissance area of approximately 6,000 sq km.
Key participants in the project include the state corporation Atomflot, Moscow Polytechnic University, the Siberian Aeronautical Research Institute, and the Moscow Aviation Institute. A simplified procedure will allow new participants in the experiment.
Mishustin noted during a meeting with deputy prime ministers on Tuesday that testing the related technologies in remote areas and difficult climates will help develop effective scenarios for their future use. He expressed the hope that the successful testing of drone operations will make them part of a comprehensive system for year-round navigation in the northern territories. ■
