After years of hiatus, Uzbekistan is preparing to return to the aviation industry. Habib Abdullayev, Director of the Navoi Free Economic Zone, announced to Sputnik Uzbekistan that the country will begin the production of light civil and unmanned aerial vehicles in October 2025.
The announcement followed the signing of a cooperation memorandum between the Navoi Free Economic Zone Directorate and the Russia-based Pervoe LLC Experimental Design Bureau during the INNOPROM exhibition held in Tashkent. The memorandum covers the joint production of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles based on the SP-30 project.
Target: Annual Capacity of 100 Aircraft
The project aims to produce the first SP-30 aircraft by October 2025 and reach an annual production capacity of 100 aircraft by the third year. The total investment over the three-year period is expected to amount to $30 million.
Navoi FEZ Director Abdullayev stated, “The production will meet domestic market demands in Uzbekistan and also has export potential to the Middle East, Central and South Asian countries.”
SP-30: A Modern and Economical Light Aircraft
The SP-30 is one of the most widely produced light aircraft in Russia, featuring a fully metal body, seating for two, and suitability for training, reconnaissance, or general aviation activities. Alongside unmanned variants, the project offers a flexible infrastructure that can be utilised in civil pilot training, surveillance, and logistics operations.
