Russian Scientists Develop Cyber-Immune Delivery Drone

Engineers in St. Petersburg have built a prototype drone that can autonomously resist hacking attempts, paving the way for safer cargo delivery in urban skies.

Researchers at St. Petersburg State University have unveiled Russia’s first prototype of a cyber-immune unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The breakthrough was presented at the Technoprom-2025 forum in Novosibirsk and marks a significant step toward protecting drones from digital attacks.

According to Konstantin Amelin, head of the university’s Artificial Intelligence Center, the concept of “cyber immunity” works much like the human immune system, providing constant, adaptive protection against external threats. The system ensures the drone cannot be hijacked, hacked, or forced off its safe flight corridor.

“We are on the front line of this field and among the first in the country to have a working prototype. We are now moving into the testing phase,” Amelin said.

The primary application for the technology is secure cargo delivery. Equipped with cyber-immunity, the UAV can guarantee that valuable shipments reach their destination intact and on time, without straying from authorized air routes—an essential feature for the future of large-scale drone delivery in urban environments.

Beyond logistics, the project is expected to shape new national cybersecurity standards for unmanned aviation.

Researchers emphasize that integrating such technologies not only strengthens Russia’s technological sovereignty but also accelerates the digital transformation of the country’s transport and logistics sectors.