"The EMD’s operational control team in charge of developing military infrastructure in the Arctic zone… has finished the formation of a UAV unit. It is stationed at the Ugolny mixed-use military and civil airfield," Gordeev told journalists.
By the end of the year the unit will be equipped with several Orlan-10 UAV surveillance drones, according to the spokesperson.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in May that it would spend $9.2 billion on drones by 2020.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the establishment of a separate public body, responsible for the implementation of Russian policies in the Arctic, and a unified network of naval facilities to host warships and submarines, to reinforce Russia’s interests and borders in the region.
