Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan carries out consistent work in developing unmanned systems

On 9 July, speaking at a plenary session of the International Exhibition “Drone Expo 2026” organized at the Kazan Expo Exhibition Center, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov stated that Tatarstan carries out consistent work in developing unmanned systems.

He reminded that the Russian President has set a task of the accelerated introduction of autonomous systems in the economy and since 2023 in Tatarstan unmanned KAMAZ trucks operate commercial trips on the M-11 Neva highway and in 2018 the Yandex Company started testing unmanned taxi cars at public roads in the City of Innopolis.

The Rais of the republic told that Tatarstan has a number of testing regulatory regimes for using unmanned systems in industry and agriculture, monitoring fire safety and illegal timber harvesting. More than 50 enterprises of the republic manufacture autonomous aircraft systems, ground robotic complexes, unmanned trucks, industrial robots and components.

Having informed about work done by research and educational organizations of the republic in the development and manufacture of drones and software, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the leadership of the country for the support given to the branch.  He emphasized that the ecosystem built in Tatarstan for the development of drone complexes, include the vertical of training specialists with special classes and aircraft design circles working at 18 schools and six programmes on operating aircraft drones organized at six professional education organizations.

“Support for small-scale innovative projects in the field of unmanned systems is provided at the IT Park. An engineering laboratory operates within the business incubator, and the "SFERA" accelerator programme is being implemented,” the Rais of the republic informed and stated that last year at the initiative of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, the "Three Elements" League of Unmanned Systems was established, bringing together new high-tech sports disciplines: aerial and ground drone racing, aircraft and ship modeling, and robotics competitions. The League has already held 20 youth competitions with participation of more than 5 thousand people, he concluded.