Moscow Looking to Manufacture Drones in Countries Which Have no Import Restrictions

Russia is reportedly seeking to expand its drone production capabilities to countries in Africa and Latin America to bypass sanctions imposed by Western nations on critical electronic components.

This initiative, led by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) in coordination with Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin, aims to establish manufacturing sites in nations with no restrictions on importing dual-use electronics.

According to Rosaviatsia, shifting production to "friendly" countries in these regions could help Russia maintain access to essential components used in drone manufacturing. Several countries in Africa and Latin America, which maintain favorable relations with Russia, do not enforce the same import bans as the United States and European Union. Russia hopes to collaborate with BRICS nations to build new production facilities.

Currently, the initiative focuses on civilian drones, similar to existing projects in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where Russia already assembles unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, concerns persist that any newly established drone production facilities outside of Russia may face potential sanctions from Western governments.

The move comes as the U.S. and its allies continue to impose restrictions on Chinese companies and financial institutions involved with Russia. These actions have already complicated cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, and similar obstacles may arise for any future drone production ventures.