"The drones will be used for surveillance of the littoral part of the Pacific Ocean, the mainland part of the zone of responsibility of the troops and forces in the northeast, and Navy combat training ranges," Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said.
He added that in the future, unmanned aerial vehicles could also be used to escort ships and monitor ecological and ice conditions in the Arctic.
Last month, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the country’s new Orlan-10 drones would start monitoring the environmental situation in Chukotka from May 1.
Russia's revised military doctrine, signed by President Vladimir Putin in December, 2014, for the first time named the protection of national interests in the Arctic among the main priorities for its armed forces during peacetime.
Russia has been actively exploring the Arctic region, laying claim to oil and natural gas deposits within its offshore border areas, along with other Arctic nations.
