Kazan will host the "Drone Expo": the key theme will be the integration of drones into a unified system.

      The Drone Expo forum-exhibition in Kazan will gather representatives from over 200 companies. Developments in the field of aviation drones will be presented by companies from Russia, Belarus, China, and other countries. The Drone Expo forum-exhibition will take place at Kazan Expo from July 8 to 10. It will showcase the latest developments in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from various countries, including Russia, China, Belarus, and others, said Alexander Feshkin, the founder of the International Exhibition-Forum "Drone Expo 2026," at a press conference at TASS the day before. "Today, the Drone Expo is significantly more than just an exhibition. We see that over the past two years, it has gradually transformed into a full-fledged industry platform where all key market participants in unmanned aerial systems meet: equipment manufacturers, software developers, integrators, customers, government representatives, investors, and international partners," he noted. The number of companies registered for the exhibition has also significantly increased. Last year there were 156, and this year there will be over 200. Almost half of them are foreign representatives. "While previously many companies demonstrated the capabilities of UAS and proved that drones could be useful, today the conversation is at a completely different level. Now customers are asking more practical questions: what is the cost savings from implementation, what effect can be achieved, how quickly does the solution pay off, what mechanisms for operation and safety exist," Feshkin emphasized. According to him, there is a steady growth in demand for drones from industries such as oil and gas, energy, construction, agriculture, logistics, and security sectors. "Unmanned aerial systems are no longer an experiment and are becoming a full-fledged production tool," he concluded.

      "The market has already transformed from simple production to providing specific services." Drones are already being used in various industries and are showing their effectiveness. This market is growing every day and acquiring more concrete outlines, said Vasily Shpak, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and co-chairman of the organizing committee of the Drone Expo forum. "Our focus is shifting from the production and supply of machines to the provision of services. Federal agencies such as Rosreestr, Rosleshoz, and the Ministry of Agriculture are actively using unmanned aerial systems today. Active work is underway to create the necessary infrastructure for the industry," he said. Today, Russia has a wide regional network of 30 scientific and production centers where technologies are tested and specialists are trained. "We can confidently say that unmanned systems are no longer a trendy fad or a toy, but a full-fledged tool for modern production processes and an investment in future competitive advantages in all areas—from public administration and industry to agriculture and infrastructure monitoring," Shpak believes. In the near future, drones will become as commonplace as smartphones and will be deeply integrated into the lives of all people, he concluded.

      The main theme is the creation of a unified drone infrastructure. The main topic of the plenary session of the forum-exhibition will be "Multimodality and Autonomy—Key Trends in the Global Transformation of Transport Systems," said Rifkat Minnikhanov, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan. "The key question is how to transition from individual drones to a unified system of unmanned mobility, in which air, ground, and water solutions function as elements of a common transport and logistics infrastructure," he explained. According to him, it is especially important for regions to understand what rules, support measures, technological competitions, roadmaps, and pilot regimes can accelerate the implementation of such solutions in the economy and urban environment. "For the Republic of Tatarstan, unmanned technologies are not just air drones. We view them as a comprehensive solution for land, water, and air. It is precisely this multifaceted approach that defines the development of the industry today," emphasized Rifkat Minnikhanov. The simultaneous holding of the Drone Expo with the AgroVolga exhibition is symbolic, as it allows for a more detailed discussion of the application of unmanned systems in agriculture. "This is a strategic decision, as agriculture is one of the most understandable and substantial markets for the application of unmanned systems," Minnikhanov reported.

      What are the next steps in the development of unmanned systems in Russia? Now that drones have become part of our lives, it is important to take the right steps for the further development of the industry, continued the President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan. "The next step is to move from a project agenda to practical implementation: creating pilot zones, implementing solutions in industries, training personnel, developing industrial cooperation, and creating conditions for scaling," he emphasized.

      Legal regulation of drones and ensuring their safe use near populated areas will also be an important step. This will be one of the topics of the forum. "Without clear rules, digital procedures, dispatching, and control mechanisms, it is impossible to ensure large-scale safe use of drones in urban environments. We invite local government bodies, regional authorities, operational headquarters, operators, and certified developers to participate. It is these participants who will have to practically implement new approaches to the regulation and application of unmanned aerial systems," said Minnikhanov. Today, it is important to link unmanned solutions with the real needs of the republic's economy: industry, agro-industrial complex, logistics, urban infrastructure, water transport, and infrastructure projects, which the participants of the Drone Expo exhibition-forum will address, he concluded.

      Photo: © Vladimir Vasilyev / "Tatar-inform"