Russia completes domestic UAV tests

Russia completes domestic UAV tests

14:38 20/09/2010

© RIA Novosti. Alexei Danichev

Russian domestically built unmanned aerial vehicles have completed a series of tests, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

The tests were carried out in Nizhny Novgorod Region in central Russia and were observed by a special military commission led by Col. Gen. Alexander Postnikov, chief commander of the Ground Forces.

Domestic UAV manufacturers were found to have made "significant progress" in improving their models, many of which can now enter service.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin said in April that Russia had spent about 5 billion rubles ($172 million) on the development of indigenous drones, which eventually failed tests.

Russian Air Force head Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said in November 2009 that Russian UAVs do not satisfy the requirements for speed, altitude and other specifications.

Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said Russia plans to team up with foreign firms, in particular Israel and France, to jointly manufacture UAVs on its soil.

On September 10 the Defense Ministry said some 50 Russian military servicemen were undergoing training in the use of Israeli-built UAVs and that a total of twelve had been bought.

Russia has reportedly signed two UAV contracts with Israel. Under the first contract, signed in April 2009, Israel delivered two Bird Eye 400 systems (worth $4 million), eight I View MK150 tactical UAVs ($37 million) and two Searcher Mk II multi-mission UAVs ($12 million).

The second contract was for the purchase of 36 UAVs, worth a total of $100 million, to be delivered later this year.

Russia and Israel are currently negotiating the establishment of a joint $300-million venture to produce UAVs.

MOSCOW, September 20 (RIA Novosti)

RIA NOVOSTI