The Ministry of Transport of Russia is exploring the possibility of simplifying the procedures for declassifying aerial photography materials taken by drones. Today, companies are required to obtain an FSB license to work with data that may contain state secrets. After filming, the materials are transferred to the Ministry of Defense for verification, which takes about a month. This process often makes the results outdated for tasks requiring efficiency, such as monitoring fires, oil spills, or the condition of agricultural land.
Current rules are based on instructions developed back in the USSR (STGM-90 and PARO-90). They require drone operators to obtain permission from the FSB and then wait for verification by the Ministry of Defense. According to "Ъ", the Ministry of Transport, together with Rosreestr and the Ministry of Defense, is developing a new procedure that could reduce bureaucratic barriers. Aeronext notes that a draft resolution simplifying the procedures was prepared in 2023, but its implementation has been postponed, possibly until 2026–2027.
Who, after a month, is interested in oil spills, landslides in quarries, forest fires, pest-affected fields, a leaning communication tower, or a broken power line discovered during aerial photography?
According to Nikolai Ryashin from Rusdronoport, 70% of market participants use the data immediately without waiting for verification, which is a violation. Experts offer solutions ranging from the introduction of zones where approval is not required to allowing filming for landowners without checks when used for personal purposes.
The market for civilian drones in Russia reached 35.9 billion rubles in 2024, according to Aeronext. Simplifying procedures can accelerate the development of the industry, increase data efficiency, and reduce company costs.
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