Russia to Produce 200,000 Space-Based Drone Communication Stations

Russia is planning to manufacture up to 200,000 broadband space communication stations for unmanned aerial vehicles in 2026, according to Dmitry Bakanov, director general of Roscosmos.

The announcement highlights Moscow’s push to expand autonomous and drone-based technologies supported by satellite infrastructure.

Speaking during a presentation attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bakanov said the new stations are designed to provide wide-area satellite connectivity for drones operating beyond the reach of terrestrial communication networks. The system is intended to enable long-range control and data transmission, particularly in remote or hard-to-access regions.

During the same briefing, Bakanov also showcased the Zorky Earth observation satellite, which is used for remote sensing and cartographic applications. Three Zorky satellites were launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome on December 27 last year, and official materials indicate that Russia plans to deploy a total of 99 such satellites by 2031 as part of a broader space-based monitoring and mapping program.

Bakanov previously told reporters that President Putin would be briefed on Russia’s emerging broadband satellite communications system, which is being developed to support drone operations independently of ground-based networks.

On Friday, Putin visited the Aminevskoye power depot of the Moscow Metro, where he toured an exhibition dedicated to unmanned civilian transport. He later chaired a meeting focused on the development of autonomous systems and drone technologies across Russia.

Addressing the meeting, Putin said Russia possesses the scientific, human and industrial capacity to become a global leader in the development, production and large-scale deployment of autonomous systems. He added that unmanned aviation offers new opportunities for Russia’s regions, stressing the need for rapid yet responsible implementation.

The Russian president has previously described the next decade to 15 years as a period of profound technological transformation, marked by accelerated advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.

The planned production of space-based drone communication stations underscores Moscow’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of these emerging technologies.