Putin urges drone cargo standards for Russia's regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for developing standards for civilian cargo transportation using drones at the Eastern Economic Forum, stating that low-altitude skies are becoming a transport artery comparable to railways and waterways. Putin emphasized that standards for autonomous drone cargo transport must be established now. Russia has launched experimental legal regimes for drone testing in several regions, including the Far East, between 2024 and 2026, where vast and remote territories make drones promising. The national project "Unmanned Aerial Systems" plans landing site networks, domestic drone production, and workforce training. However, the lack of unified standards for commercial transport hinders scaling, as safety requirements, routing, insurer liability, and aircraft certification remain undefined.