Russia will team up with foreign firms to manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on its soil, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Thursday.
On Monday the Defense Ministry said some 50 Russian military servicemen were undergoing training in the use of Israeli-built UAVs and that a total of 12 had been bought.
"We said from day one that we will only buy so many [UAVs] - we will test them and see whether they are good for our needs," he said.
"But after that it will be joint production on Russian territory in any event."
The minister said that alongside Israel, France could become one of Russia's partners in making UAVs.
Russia has reportedly signed two UAV contracts with Israel. Under the first contract, signed in April 2009, Israel delivered two Bird Eye 400 systems (worth $4 million), eight I View MK150 tactical UAVs ($37 million) and two Searcher Mk II multi-mission UAVs ($12 million).
The second contract was for the purchase of 36 UAVs, worth a total of $100 million, to be delivered later this year.
Russia and Israel are currently negotiating the establishment of a joint $300-million venture to produce UAVs.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin said in April that Russia had spent about 5 billion rubles ($172 million) on the development of indigenous drones, which eventually failed tests.
Russian Air Force head Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said last November that Russian UAVs do not satisfy the requirements for speed, altitude and other specifications.
MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti)
