Kazakhstan unveils locally made drones for public safety and surveillance

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan has unveiled prototypes of domestically developed drones designed to enhance public safety, part of the country’s push to expand high-tech industries and cut dependence on costly imports.

The initiative is led by Karaganda-based research and production association Perspektiva, which presented three models: the Vista-7, a long-range UAV; the compact Chimera-5, designed for indoor and hard-to-reach areas; and the Apex-7, a multipurpose drone for street patrols, crowd monitoring, and fire detection. 

According to The Times of Central Asia, the project reflects growing investment in localized innovation to serve both government agencies and private enterprises.

Project manager Maxim Kim said the drones combine imported electronic components with locally manufactured frames that are inexpensive and quick to replace. 

“Even if the body is damaged, it can be printed in 20 minutes and the existing electronics can continue to be used,” he explained. 

Imported UAVs currently cost upwards of 12 million Kazakhstani tenge ($22,000) and often cannot be repaired if frames are damaged, making local production a more cost-effective option.

Developers argue the drones could also serve as an alternative to fixed surveillance cameras on highways and could be deployed to monitor critical infrastructure such as oil pipelines. 

Perspektiva previously created the Argus-Pedestrian automated system, which records violations at pedestrian crossings in Karaganda. Officials say no pedestrian accidents have been reported in areas where the system was introduced, and expansion to other cities is under consideration.

Regulatory changes are also under discussion. Lawmakers have proposed a mandatory remote identification system for drones weighing over 250 grams, a measure intended to strengthen accountability and ensure transparent UAV operations nationwide.