Nizhny Novgorod students dominate Russia's 'New Heights' drone tournament

Nizhny Novgorod Schoolchildren Win Two Categories at Russia-Wide "New Heights" UAV Tournament

Finals held in Kaluga. Young competitors from Nizhny Novgorod took first place in two categories at the national "New Heights" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Tournament (12+). A team of schoolchildren from several municipalities in the region was named the best in "Drone Battle" and "Project Work."

December 16, 2025, 15:54

Young competitors from Nizhny Novgorod secured victory in two categories at the national "New Heights" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Tournament (12+). The team of schoolchildren from several municipalities in the region was named the best in "Drone Battle" and "Project Work." Additionally, the students took third place in the "UAV Racing" category.

According to the regional Ministry of Education and Science, the tournament was organized by Russia's Ministry of Education and the Institute for the Development of Vocational Education. The finals, held in Kaluga, brought together project teams from 29 regions that had passed the qualifying rounds, along with representatives from the teaching and professional communities and UAV manufacturers.

The Nizhny Novgorod team consisted of students from specialized UAV operation classes, which have been running in the region since 2024 as part of the national "Unmanned Aerial Systems" project.

"Nizhny Novgorod's participants achieved even better results than last year! This shows that the region is successfully advancing supplementary education in the UAV sector, and both students and teachers are truly passionate about this field. Today, we have 17 UAV-focused classes in our schools, and the Borsky Gubernia College hosts a practical training center. We actively engage students from these divisions in competitive activities, and many thematic tournaments are held right here in the Nizhny Novgorod region," said Mikhail Puchkov, the regional Minister of Education and Science.

The team was mentored by Vladimir Shustin, Konstantin Abramov, and Alexey Rev. The participants included Borsky Gubernia College students Vladislav Danilov and Vladimir Postnov, as well as high school students from the Borsky District, Danil Nayanov and Nikita Tuzov.

"Participating in the tournament was an invaluable experience for me. It wasn't just a fight for victory but a real test of my skills and knowledge in practice. This win is the result of long, hard work, the support of my mentors, and belief in my own abilities. I am deeply grateful to the organizers for the flawless event, the packed business program, and the chance to see the latest developments from Russian UAV manufacturers. For me, this is not just a personal achievement but an important step in my professional growth," shared Danil Nayanov.

"This was a real challenge! We prepared extensively, especially for the Drone Battle, where every second counts," said Vladislav Danilov. "Collaborating with school students and teachers as part of this project has been an invaluable experience. We've proven that modern technology can tackle very serious problems—and this is just the beginning of our journey."

The New Heights tournament is a key event under the federal Personnel for UAVs project. Within its framework, college students, schoolchildren, and educators not only gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies but also refine their piloting skills in hands-on training. This helps build a talent pool for the country's strategically vital industries.

A reminder: Providing children with access to high-quality extracurricular education is a core component of the Youth and Children national project.

Meanwhile, under the Unmanned Aerial Systems national project, efforts are underway to develop, standardize, and mass-produce UAVs and their components. Additionally, the groundwork is being laid for next-generation drone manufacturing, alongside a continuous training system for specialists in this field.

In Nizhny Novgorod Region, a specialized research and production center for testing and expertise has been established under the national project to advance the UAV sector. A network of such centers will be created across various regions. Nizhny Novgorod has also implemented an experimental legal framework for drone operations.

The new national projects are being rolled out on the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, starting in 2025.