Kazakhstan is set to establish a new plant for the production of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Turkestan region, according to the regional administration’s press service. 

The facility will focus on both cargo and passenger drones as well as helicopters for civilian and special-use purposes.

The announcement followed a meeting between the governor of Turkestan region, Nuralkhan Kusherov, and a representative of the investing foreign company. The project will receive approximately $290mn in foreign direct investment and is expected to generate up to 150 new jobs in the region.

The investor plans to manufacture aircraft models that can be used across diverse sectors including logistics, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure monitoring. The factory will produce both conventional and specialized aerial vehicles, contributing to the growth of Kazakhstan’s aviation and high-tech industries.

A key focus of the project is low-altitude aviation—aircraft operating below 3,000 meters. This includes drone-based urban transport, emergency response systems, and agricultural and industrial applications.

Officials believe the initiative will play a significant role in expanding Kazakhstan’s technological capabilities and enhancing its role in the fast-evolving low-altitude aviation sector.