AI-Powered Drones Are to Help Protect Russia’s Forests From Wildfires
Drones developed by the company Laboratoriya Buduschego (Future Lab) have been deployed to safeguard the country’s natural resources.
In December 2025, Russia’s Primorsky region ministry of natural resources purchased two domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles. The drones are set to become a key tool for monitoring and fighting forest fires, providing communications support and all-weather video surveillance.
The new UAVs are equipped with thermal imaging cameras that can see through dense smoke and fog. This makes it possible to identify fire boundaries in real time. Using thermal imagers on drones gives emergency teams a reliable picture of how a wildfire is spreading under any conditions, which is critical for allocating ground resources accurately.
A Communications Field in the Sky
Another distinctive feature is the drones’ built-in signal repeaters. They create a stable “communications field” directly above an emergency zone, helping coordinate the work of all response teams. Reliable communications are essential for crew safety. The drones help ensure that every firefighter stays connected, allowing teams to react quickly as conditions change.
The aircraft were developed by Laboratoriya Buduschego, a company based in Yekaterinburg. Using domestically developed technology strengthens Russia’s technological independence while delivering practical tools for protecting natural resources.
The project shows how digital transformation in transport and aviation can address broader environmental and humanitarian challenges. Advanced technologies not only help preserve forests, but also save lives. Deploying systems like these is setting new benchmarks for safety and environmental protection.
