An experiment on the delivery of goods by drones in the Russian Federation showed that it is 152 times more expensive than delivery on a regular manned flight and 43 times more expensive than a charter

2024: An experiment on the delivery of cargo by drones in the Russian Federation showed that it is 152 times more expensive than delivery on a regular manned flight and 43 times more expensive than a charter

Preliminary results of the experiment on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver goods to hard-to-reach areas of Russia, presented in mid-October 2024, showed a significant excess of cost compared to traditional transportation methods. According to the Russian Post, cargo delivery by drones costs 152 times more than a regular manned flight, and 43 times more expensive than a charter flight.

The head of the transport management directorate of the Russian Post, Georgy Bautin, said that transporting 1 kg of cargo by drone on the Tazovsky - Antipayuta route in the Arctic costs ₽13,6 thousand. For comparison, the delivery of the same cargo on a regular manned flight costs ₽90, and charter - ₽315.

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Bloomberg.com

The experiment is being carried out within the framework of a decree approved by the government in 2022 on an experimental legal regime in the field of digital innovation. It covers the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Kamchatka Krai, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The term of the experiment is three years.

During the tests, three models of helicopter-type drones are used: SH-350 and SH-450 from Aeromax, as well as VT 440 from Radar MMS. Their carrying capacity varies from 50 to 100 kg.

Despite the high cost, Russian Post notes the potential for using drones in logistics, especially in the last-mile delivery market. The company estimates that up to 10% of shipments can be replaced with drone delivery at a ₽270 tariff.

Industry experts point to a number of problems preventing the widespread adoption of unmanned technologies in logistics. Among them are the high cost of drones, insufficient reliability and conflicts with traditional airlines over airspace.^[1]

2021

Russian Post began delivering parcels on drones flying 100 km

In November 2021, Russian Post began delivering parcels on drones flying 100 km. We are talking about the use of a helicopter-type drone "Aeromax" SH-350, which can deliver 100 kilograms of parcels and cover distances of 150 km. It develops speeds up to 90 km/h, flight time - up to five hours.

This drone, according to the press service of the Russian Post, delivered a mass-dimensional model of the cargo to the village of Aksarka in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and returned back to the city of Salekhard, covering a distance of 53 km in one direction and 53 km in the other.

Russian Post began delivering parcels on drones flying 100 km

Sergey Sergushev, Deputy General Director for Logistics of Russian Post, told RBC that such drones are needed for delivery to remote and hard-to-reach areas. By the end of 2024, the company plans to launch them along ten routes of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Kamchatka Territory, Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrugs.

Yamal became the first region in the country to conclude a trilateral agreement with Russian Post and the Aeromax unmanned vehicle company.

The government of the Autonomous Okrug is ready to provide all the necessary assistance to the Russian Post to create an experimental route network in the subject, as well as ground infrastructure for the operation of such unmanned systems. We are interested in improving the quality of logistics service, "said Arkady Bessonov, Deputy Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The Russian Post believes that the use of unmanned aerial vehicles will increase the average logistics speed on the regional route network by up to two times, will increase cargo traffic by more than ten times in the future, and at the same time reduce the cost of logistics services by up to 50%. According to the company's forecasts, it will be possible to reduce logistics costs by 15-20%.

Aeromax General Director Sergei Akhmetshin noted that the agreement implies the creation of a system for the delivery of mail cargoes by unmanned aerial vehicles.^[2]

Agreement on the development of unmanned delivery of goods

Aeromax, Russian Post and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Government will jointly develop unmanned delivery in the region. This was announced by the Russian Post on July 21, 2021.

The corresponding agreement was signed by Deputy Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Arkady Bessonov, Deputy General Director of Russian Post JSC for logistics Igor Chebunin and General Director of Aeromax LLC Sergey Akhmetshin. The parties will jointly develop postal and logistics services in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and work on the launch of an unmanned airfield for the delivery of goods of the Russian Post.

By the end of 2021, the companies plan to conduct the first experimental flights of drones for mail delivery in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. For testing, Aeromax will use an unmanned aircraft system (ALS) based on an unmanned aircraft of the helicopter type BVS-VT. The device will be able to deliver goods weighing up to 100 kg.

Within the framework of the project, Aeromax will create an unmanned aviation system, the characteristics of which meet the needs of partners as much as possible when solving cargo transportation problems. On the basis of the existing developments and thanks to close cooperation with the Russian Post, we will be able to improve the transport infrastructure of the region and establish constant communication with remote and inaccessible areas of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, - said Sergey Akhmetshin, General Director of Aeromax LLC.

In Russia, a huge number of settlements are located in remote and inaccessible areas, which complicates logistics. In the Arctic zone, regular aviation often cannot take additional mail on board, and ground transport cannot reach most settlements. For residents of such places, unmanned aviation is an opportunity, along with other consumers, to quickly and conveniently receive parcels from online stores. We hope for successful testing and further cooperation with our partners, - said Igor Chebunin, Deputy General Director for Logistics of Russian Post JSC.

I would like to note that in Yamal for several years there has been experience in the use of unmanned aircraft. Yamal rescuers are armed with long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. The main direction of their work is search and rescue operations, monitoring of the flood situation, detection of wildfires. Drones are also used for other important purposes, with their help terrain surveys are carried out, violations of legislation in the field of nature protection are revealed, searches for missing people are being carried out. In addition, for more effective use, it is planned to introduce neural network systems that allow you to automatically find and identify objects in real time. The implementation of the project "Unmanned airfield delivery of cargo" will improve the quality of logistics service and reduce the cost of delivering mail and cargo in hard-to-reach settlements of Yamal, and, as a result, improve the quality of life of the population, "said Deputy Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Arkady Bessonov.

Russian Post plans to launch unmanned delivery on 48 routes in four regions - Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Kamchatka Territory, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. According to the company's estimates, the project will increase the average logistics speed on the regional route network by 1.85 times, in the future it will increase cargo traffic by 11 times and at the same time reduce the cost of logistics services by 1.81 times. The project will use the regulatory mechanism provided for by the Federal Law "On Experimental Legal Regimes in the Field of Digital Innovation in the Russian Federation."

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