Kronstadt to Get a Testing Ground for Drones

According to Alexander Sitov, the new SEZ site in Kronstadt is being considered not only for production purposes but also as a testing ground for UAVs. The official noted: «Currently, we are finalizing it in terms of budget, resource supply, urban planning documents, and potential residents. In addition, we are considering this site as a testing ground for unmanned aerial systems, beyond its production purpose.»

To implement the project, property and legal issues need to be resolved, and the necessary funding must be allocated in the budget. After that, St. Petersburg authorities will send an application to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development to include the territory in the SEZ, and then negotiations with potential residents and planning works will begin.

Simultaneously, the issue of transferring the Bychye Pole airfield for lease to JSC Technopark St. Petersburg for the needs of the Scientific and Production Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems is being worked out. Alexander Sitov explained: «This will make it possible to form a specialized testing ground intended for conducting flight, functional, and operational tests of unmanned aerial systems, as well as for demonstration flights, experimental operation, competitions in the field of UAVs, and testing of robotic complexes.»

Earlier, in a conversation with Fontanka, Sitov pointed out that the Bychye Pole airfield is already being used for testing drones, and also talked about plans to expand and reboot the St. Petersburg Special Economic Zone.