The Heart of Drones Is Set to Become Russian

Servos for an Import-Free Future

The Yekaterinburg-based company NewLink has won a competitive grant from the National Technology Initiative (NTI) Foundation worth 300 million rubles (approximately $3.6 million) to set up large-scale production of Russian-made servos – critical components for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), industrial robotics, automated machine tools, and lifting equipment. Scheduled for completion in 2025, the project is designed not only to replace imported components, but also to create a foundation for the sustainable growth of Russia’s high-tech manufacturing sector.

A Foundation for New Technologies

Servos are complex electromechanical devices responsible for precise positioning and motion control. Until recently, Russia relied heavily on foreign suppliers for these components. NewLink’s project will localize the annual production of tens of thousands of servos, significantly strengthening Russia’s position in unmanned systems and related industrial technologies. Once fully implemented, the project will create 232 high-skilled jobs, a notable contribution for the Sverdlovsk region, one of the country’s key industrial hubs.

Within the region, drones are already widely used in forestry, agriculture, and firefighting operations. Regional authorities are now planning to build specialized landing sites for UAVs, underscoring the project’s strategic importance at the local level. Establishing a full production chain – from development to manufacturing and servicing – will deliver not only technical independence, but also deeper expertise among Russian engineers in mechatronics and automation.

In the Sverdlovsk region, as across Russia, the development of unmanned aerial systems continues. It is important for us to gradually build all the necessary infrastructure so that we can independently manufacture components and establish a maintenance system for unmanned aerial vehicles. This work is being carried out, among other things, within the national project ‘Unmanned Aerial Systems

Denis Pasler

Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region

Russia Bets on Civilian Drones

At the federal level, NewLink’s initiative aligns closely with national priorities on technological sovereignty. Expanding domestic production of UAV components is a core element of Russia’s import substitution strategy. The growth of the drone industry also stimulates adjacent sectors, including electronics, mechanical engineering, sensor manufacturing, and electric motor production. In 2024–2025 alone, the government allocated 7.11 billion rubles (about $85 million) to support civilian UAV development, signaling the seriousness of these ambitions.

Built for Extreme Conditions and Global Competition

Russian science and industry have already accumulated substantial technological expertise in servo development. In 2021, for example, the Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (KRET), part of the Rostec state corporation, developed the SP-50-60 servo, which outperformed foreign counterparts in precision, energy efficiency, and operating temperature range, from –60 to +55 °C.

In 2024, researchers and engineers at Vyatka State University introduced new electric motors based on neodymium, a rare-earth metal that allows for more compact designs while increasing power output.

These developments demonstrate that Russia possesses the scientific and industrial capacity to produce globally competitive components.

A High-Tech Future Is Taking Shape

The prospects of the Ural-based project extend well beyond the defense sector. According to a GuideMarket study, more than 180,000 unmanned aerial systems are expected to be sold in Russia by 2030, while the share of locally produced components is projected to rise from 22 percent to 46 percent as early as 2028.

Between 2028 and 2030, production lines are expected to scale up, component portfolios to expand, and integration into more complex mechatronic systems to accelerate. This creates opportunities to enter international markets. Given that such technologies are in demand across logistics, agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and other civilian applications, the export potential of Russian-made servos could be significant, provided they meet international standards and certification requirements.

Grant funding for NewLink’s project represents more than an investment in factory equipment. It is a strategic move toward building an autonomous high-tech ecosystem. The initiative strengthens technological sovereignty, supports the development of engineering education and industrial infrastructure, and lays the groundwork for future breakthroughs in robotics and intelligent automated systems.