Russia Develops “Smart” Drone to Support Farmers
The state tech corporation Rostec has unveiled a new AI-powered agricultural drone capable of sowing, fertilizing, and analyzing fields to boost efficiency and cut costs.
Rostec’s holding company Rosel has created a next-generation drone for agriculture equipped with artificial intelligence. The UAV is designed to handle sowing, fertilizer application, and crop monitoring — helping farmers reduce expenses and increase productivity. Developers say the system strengthens the competitiveness of Russia’s agricultural sector on the global market.
According to Rosel, the project is part of a lineup of domestic unmanned systems being introduced across multiple industries. A key feature of the drone is machine vision, which allows it to automatically collect real-time data on crop conditions, soil moisture, and problem areas. Farmers can then use this information to better plan operations and forecast yields.
The drone also comes with serious technical specifications: a takeoff weight of 90 kilograms, a payload capacity of 30 kilograms, and a maximum speed of 40 km/h. It can stay airborne for at least 30 minutes while carrying large volumes of liquid or granular substances.
Rosel notes that tests have already shown strong results. The technology not only reduces costs for fertilizers and crop treatments but also improves the precision of resource distribution.
