Kalashnikov goes into the UAV business

Kalashnikov goes into the UAV business

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ZALA

Russian arms manufacturer Kalashnikov decided to establish a joint venture dedicated to producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The weapons giant has decided to purchase a controlling stake (51 percent) in ZALA Aero, another Russian company, which specializes in making unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

ZALA Aero was founded in 2005. The company develops unmanned aircraft and helicopters of various sizes and purposes. The company’s main clients are the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as well as private clients from the fuel and energy industry such as Russian gas giant Gazprom.

The drones will be used to help with border control, reconnaissance, search and rescue as well as special missions. The two companies are also planning the development and production of UAVs dedicated to the purposes of monitoring emergency situations and dangerous objects, as well as geodetic research (Earth mapping and measuring) in harsh climate conditions.

According to Russia Beyond The Headlines, with the UAV market being one of the biggest expanding markets in the defense industry, the Kalashnikov Concern believes it is time to enter production. The acquisition of the Russian ZALA Aero Company will help provide the Kalashnikov group with expertise.
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AUS&R2015_728x90According to a study entitled “The Market for unmanned aerial vehicles in 2014-2020”, the global market for UAVs amounted to more than $6.7 billion in 2014, and will exceed $10 billion by 2020. The study was carried out by Markets & Markets.

Kalashnikov plans to target expansion with a large-scale rebranding exercise. According to the study, while 69 percent of the market’s volume is currently controlled by U.S.-made drones, growth is anticipated in East and South-East Asia, where a number of countries – primarily China and India – are actively pursuing military and commercial development in the field.

Back in the days of the Soviet Union, drones were successfully produced for various purposes. However, since the 1990s, Russia has lagged behind the leading manufacturers of UAVs.

Now, Russia is actively making up for lost time, with recent years seeing the creation of a range of competitive models, including the Orlan-10, the ZALA-421-16, and the Eleron-10 vehicles. According to Rostec, the state technology corporation, with the effective organization of work in the next decade, Russia will be able to occupy 3 to 5 percent of the world UAV market.