In Bashkiria, the outfitting of a new production site for the scientific and production center for unmanned aircraft systems has begun, which will combine the capabilities of aviation industry enterprises and UAS developers. One of the project participants is PAO "ODK-UMPO" - an enterprise known for its aircraft engine developments and participation in the creation of the promising PD-35 engine.
The site is being created within the framework of the national project "Unmanned Aircraft Systems". Currently, the project has moved to the equipment procurement stage: a list of 86 units of equipment necessary for the residents' work has been formed for the center.
More than 80% of the equipment has already been approved by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. Tender documentation has been prepared for the entire list, and more than 20 items are in the contract signing stage.
For "ODK-UMPO", the new project becomes another direction for the development of its production base. The enterprise is part of the United Engine Corporation and participates in the creation of modern aviation power plants for military and civilian purposes.
At the meeting, company representatives discussed the use of the center's equipment, the needs of production sites, and directions for applying new technologies. After launch, the facility should become one of the platforms for developing competencies in the field of unmanned aircraft systems.
ODK-UMPO's entry into the unmanned aircraft systems segment is in line with the national course: the national project "Unmanned Aircraft Systems", launched on January 1, 2024, provides for the development of the industry until 2030–2035 with federal funding of about 696 billion rubles. Within the framework of this project, scientific and production centers for UAS have already been created or are being created in dozens of Russian regions. In particular, the Tomsk UAS Scientific and Production Center, opened in 2025 with a subsidy of 2.2 billion rubles, has managed to launch serial production of UAVs and developed the first domestic 50 kW drone engine. In the Perm Krai, the "Parma-BAS" center is solving a similar problem: its residents are engaged in gas turbine and electric engines, as well as composite materials for drones.