Prospects for Russian-Chinese cooperation in the system of logistics support for the regions of the Russian Far North

Aim. The presented study investigates the ways of organizing logistics support for the population and economic entities in the regions of the Far North of the Russian Federation to propose a new technology for solving these problems using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Tasks. The authors analyze approaches to solving logistics problems in remote and hard-to-reach regions; identify the specific aspects of organizing logistics support for the population and economic entities of the Russian Far North; examine Chinese experience of solving logistics problems using unmanned aerial vehicles and determine the ways of implementing it in Russian conditions.

Methods. This study uses the methods of structural, functional, organizational, technical, and economic analysis, expert assessment, comparative and logistic approaches.

Results. The development of the Russian economy is increasingly based on the opportunities provided by the territories of the Far North. The system of operational logistics support for hard-to-reach areas is a crucial tool for the sustainable development of the country as it efficiently operates in these territories even under economic sanctions. Today, cooperation between neighboring states in solving current and future logistics problems is particularly important. Long-term cooperation between China and Russia has laid the groundwork for mutually beneficial cooperation in the creation of a transport system using unmanned aerial vehicles. This study describes an innovative approach to solving this problem, revealing a new technology for overcoming logistical problems using unmanned aerial vehicles in the regions of the Russian Far North.

Conclusions. China has begun to develop the world’s first operational logistics system for hard-to-reach areas in the form of a three-stage transport network combining transport aircrafts +heavy UAVs + light helicopter-type UAVs. Government bodies consider this system as a tool for solving socio-economic problems in hard-to-reach areas of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). A Chinese aircraft that is a licensed copy of the Soviet An-2 serves as the technological basis for a heavy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is recommended to intensify cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China based on the use of Chinese technological developments and stocks of An-2 aircraft stored in Russia.

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