VORONEZH, April 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Interior Ministry will have its first unmanned helicopter by the end of this year, a deputy minister said on Tuesday.
"The ministry is to receive the first experimental model of an unmanned rotary-winged aircraft later this year," Lt.Gen. Mikhail Sukhodolsky said.
He said such aircraft can be used to provide aerial imagery of major incidents and provide assistance in special police operations, among other things.
The official said that in the past three years the Interior Ministry has substantially increased the number of special-purpose air units.
"Their number has doubled in the past three years, and now there are 15 such units," he said.
He added that the ministry currently has helicopters equipped with modern avionics, enabling them to operate round the clock.
