In the nearest future an experiment on implementation of unmanned aircraft systems will start in five regions of Russia. Resolutions to this effect were signed by the Chairman of the Government Mikhail Mishustin.

Tomsk region, Kamchatka territory, Chukotka, Khanty-Mansi and Yamalo-Nenets autonomous districts will take part in the project. During the experiment these regions will have special regulation conditions - experimental legal regimes for the operation of unmanned aircraft systems. This will make it possible to carry out such flights without an excessive regulatory burden and speed up the development of the unmanned aviation segment as a whole.

Drones in Kamchatka, Chukotka, Khanty-Mansi and Yamalo-Nenets autonomous districts will be used primarily to deliver mail and cargo. This is especially important for residents of remote and hard-to-reach territories. Now delivery of goods to such areas is either seasonal, or with the help of conventional air transport, which is economically unjustified when transporting small loads. Drones will also carry out aerial photography. This will help to quickly and accurately survey important infrastructure facilities, such as pipelines and power lines.

In Tomsk region drones will be able to participate not only in cargo transportation and photography, but also perform aerial works to control pests in agriculture. This will make such work safer for humans and expand the geography of their application.

For safety reasons, the routes of drones will be outside large settlements, airfields and places of public events, and external pilots will control the flights all the way. Automatic mode can be activated only in case of signal loss. The pilots will also generate a flight plan, set route points, altitude and speed of the flight. All this information will be sent to local aviation authorities.

The experiment will last three years in the participating regions. Based on its results, a decision will be made on the further development of unmanned aviation in Russia.