Russia to develop drone industry - deputy defense minister
LE BOURGET (France). June 19 (Interfax-AVN) - It is time to make practical the Russian assault drone program, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget on Tuesday.
These are medium and heavy unmanned aircraft, Borisov said, adding that Sukhoi Company had done much for the assault drone project.
Speculative allegations of Russia's inability to make quality drones must stop, Borisov said.
"It is time to stop being negative. True, we are lagging behind and we have admitted that frankly. But this is not tragic. Even the arguable contracts with Israel have helped us skip one generation [of drones] and start mass production, fill in this niche, on one hand," the deputy minister said.
On the other hand, one-time drone imports helped us build relations with world makers of drone parts. "Hence, we can make such products here and independently," Borisov said.
Drone research and development works, which started two years ago, are close to the finish line, he said. "We will make an assessment to choose the way of mass production," Borisov said.
Cooperation with Western companies, such as Diamond, is a way to efficient work, he said.
