Russia hosts civil aviation and drone expo (VIDEO)

A major civil aviation and drone technology exhibition opened at the Crocus Expo Center near Moscow on Wednesday. The organizers say more than 200 companies from Russia, Belarus, Iran, and China are taking part.

The two-day National Aviation Infrastructure Show (NAIS) features state-of-the-art technologies for airports and airlines. Leading Russian defense contractors, including Kalashnikov, Almaz-Antey, ZALA Aero Group, and Supercam Unmanned Systems Group, are showcasing their products.

Around 15 Chinese contractors specializing in airport services are taking part, NAIS head of business development Nikita Smirnov told RT.

Smirnov said the Russian government’s plan to build or modernize 75 airports across the country presents lucrative business opportunities.

Supercam is showcasing its flagship S350 drone, designed for aerial photography, surveillance, and reconnaissance flights, as well as analyzing gas and radiation levels.

The company has been testing equipment that allows operators to pilot UAVs from great distances, “effectively from halfway across the country,” with minimal signal delay, Supercam spokeswoman Ekaterina Zgirovskaya told RT.