MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. More than 70% of drone manufacturers in Russia are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a representative of the SME Corporation told TASS.
"Over the past three years, the number of manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems and their components in the small and medium-sized business (SME) segment has almost doubled - from 356 in 2022 to 619 enterprises in 2025. Meanwhile, total number of such companies in Russia is 889 entities, including large businesses. That means that, two out of three enterprises engaged in the creation of drones are small and medium enterprises. In 2023, their income amounted to about 45 billion rubles ($534 mln), and by the end of 2024 it may exceed 50 billion rubles ($594 mln)," the corporation reported.
As noted by the Chairman of the State Council Commission on Industry, Governor of the Samara Region, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, UAVs are needed not only on the front lines - their use significantly increases the efficiency of monitoring large industrial facilities, forest areas when searching for fires or searching for people, as well as in agriculture.
"Over the past three years, Russia has significantly increased its competencies in the development and production of drones, and this trend must be continued by creating the necessary regulatory framework and government support measures," he said as quoted by the SME Corporation. According to the organization, the number of people employed at enterprises producing unmanned aerial systems in the SME sector is about 7,200 people.
This is largely due to the implementation of government support measures for the SME segment, explained Alexander Isayevich, CEO of the SME Corporation.
"In 2024, almost every third UAV manufacturer used such measures to launch or expand production, including preferential leasing of production equipment," he said.