Russia To Receive Corsair Surveillance UAVs In 2016

United Instrument Corporation (UIC) will begin delivery of small-class Corsair surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Russian Armed Forces in late 2016, said Alexander Yakunin, CEO of UIC.

"We are currently implementing a big project on the creation of a prospective small-class Corsair UAV and organization of its serial production. The production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2017 and reach its planned capacity before the end of 2017. However, we expect to begin Corsair supplies as early as the end of 2016," Yakunin was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

According to Yakunin, creating a new drone, designed mainly for surveillance of a range of up to 50 kilometers (31 miles), is a unique project for the Russian defense industry.

"For Russia, this is a brand new industry: no projects at the intersection of the aircraft industry and radio electronics of such a scale were implemented before. Thus UIC will supply the Defense Ministry with everything it needs regarding the UAVs of this class," Yakunin added.

Earlier in 2014, the Russian Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu said it would spend about $9.2 billion on drones by 2020.