Unmanned Aerial Systems in the Russian Arctic: Governance, Infrastructure, and Practical Limits

This working paper examines the development and practical application of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the Russian Arctic during the period from 2025 to January 2026. The analysis focuses on governance and regulatory frameworks, investment and infrastructure development, and concrete operational use cases, including navigation safety along the Northern Sea Route, environmental monitoring, logistics, resource projects, and emergency response. Particular attention is paid to systemic and operational constraints, such as maritime technological bottlenecks, data fragmentation, and the mismatch between the pace of technological development and the availability of supporting infrastructure. The paper is intended as an analytical reference for researchers and policy analysts working on Arctic governance, unmanned systems, and northern infrastructure development.