Russia Unveils ‘Digital Sky’ Strategy to Merge Air, Space, and IT Networks

The national concept lays out a vision for integrating satellites, drones, AI, and cybersecurity into a unified aerospace infrastructure.

Russia is developing a sweeping new strategy to unify its airspace, space infrastructure, and digital systems under a single framework known as “Digital Sky.” The concept was presented by national experts at the “Strong Ideas for a New Time” forum, and aims to modernize everything from autonomous flight to satellite-based communications.

The strategy proposes a fully integrated network connecting drones, satellites, and terrestrial communications. Artificial intelligence would be responsible for managing traffic, security, and operational decisions across this high-tech aerospace ecosystem.

A key element of the plan is building what cybersecurity specialists call a “cyber immune zone,” where digital protection is not an add-on but embedded into the architecture itself. The approach developed by Kaspersky Lab has already been endorsed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Forum participants acknowledged the speed advantage of neural networks over human operators. Still, they emphasized the importance of improving AI predictability to eliminate risks — an area that will receive dedicated focus going forward.