The large-scale international forum “Unmanned Systems: Technologies of the Future”

The large-scale international forum “Unmanned Systems: Technologies of the Future” has concluded in Moscow, attracting a record number of participants—over 260,000 visitors. The event, which served as a key platform for showcasing achievements in autonomous technologies, confirmed Russia’s status as one of the world leaders in this rapidly developing industry.

Held over four days at the “Technopolis Moscow” exhibition complex, the forum brought together representatives from over 1,200 companies, research institutes, and startups from 85 countries. The exhibition featured the latest developments in aerial, ground, water, and underwater unmanned systems: from industrial drones for monitoring main pipelines and agricultural drones to fully autonomous cargo platforms and passenger air taxis.

The central event was a plenary discussion featuring Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, heads of leading corporations, and international experts. “The figure of 260,000 guests is a vivid testament to the enormous interest in the topic. Unmanned systems have ceased to be exotic and have become a real tool for transforming entire industries: logistics, construction, agriculture, and security. Our task is to create a legal framework and infrastructure that will allow these technologies to work for the benefit of the economy and citizens,” stated Manturov.

A special live demonstration area generated particular excitement. Spectators witnessed demonstration runs of autonomous vehicles on complex urban routes, mass launches of delivery drones, and competitions of underwater robots. As part of the business program, over 350 cooperation agreements and preliminary contracts worth more than 50 billion rubles were signed.

Analysts note that the forum not only broke attendance records but also clearly highlighted the main trend: the shift from individual prototypes to integrated systems and ecosystems. In particular, the first Russian software platforms for managing entire “swarms” of drones within a single digital space of a city or enterprise were presented.

The organizers have already announced that the next event will take place in the autumn of 2024 and, given the growing interest, will be expanded. The success of this forum indicates that the topic of unmanned technologies has moved beyond a narrow professional community and has become truly mainstream, shaping the image of the country’s technological future.