Abstract. The global market of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has grown rapidly in the last two decades. This growth will continue in the next decade: in particular, sales of reconnaissance and combat UAVs will increase. Research and development on UAVs will focus on such domains, as new materials, electronics, power systems, engine building, artificial intelligence, autonomy enhancing, and countering electronic warfare. Russia currently lags behind the United States, China, Israel, and some other countries in R&D, serial production, and procurement of certain types of UAVs.