Transport of the Future, maker of the Izdeliye 80 heavy drone, is mothballing its production site in Tolyatti, Samara region, the company said. The site was built for serial production of uncrewed aircraft systems and their key components.
The company said it decided to idle the equipment because of the criminal prosecution of the group's investors, and that with no new orders for military equipment it is cutting production costs and will put its main resources into civilian drones. The idled capacity includes lines for hundreds of thousands of flight controllers and power boards a year, production of motors, arms and frames, CNC and injection-moulding machines, and assembly shops.
The company said the project has been funded mainly by its investor, and that its civilian business still needs support because restrictions on drone flights hold back a commercial market. Its chief executive, Yuri Kozarenko, was arrested in the case against Valery Kustov, chairman and main shareholder of Efko, who is suspected of large-scale fraud.
Also reported by RIA Novosti
Background
Transport of the Future
Drone maker
A Russian maker of the Izdeliye 80 heavy drone, which it calls the country's first domestic serial heavy drone.
Description from Vedomosti
Tolyatti
City
A city in Russia's Samara region where Transport of the Future has its drone production site.
Description from Vedomosti
Izdeliye 80
Heavy drone
A heavy drone made in series by Transport of the Future.
Description from Vedomosti
