Uzbekistan sets path for agricultural UAV rollout across 300,000 hectares under Kaizen agreement
Uzbekistan has signed a cooperation framework with Kaizen Aerospace to evaluate agricultural UAV operations across up to 300,000 hectares of cotton fields.
The memorandum was signed with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and the state scientific-design institute Oʻzdavyerloyiha. It creates a structure for introducing drone technology into large-scale farm operations. The plan goes beyond aircraft deployment. It also covers workforce training, joint research, operating methods, and technical infrastructure needed to support UAV use in the field. At the targeted scale, the initiative would rank among the more significant agricultural drone programs in Central Asia, where governments and producers are under pressure to modernize output and improve resource efficiency. Under the framework, Kaizen Aerospace will provide drone technology expertise and operational knowledge, while the Uzbek side will support local servicing capacity and agricultural inputs.
The parties said the cooperation will include a UAV training and professional development center, along with online and in-person seminars and broader knowledge exchange. They also plan to build a technical maintenance and service center to support flight operations and fleet readiness. Another key workstream is the development of methodologies for effective drone use in agriculture, including how systems are deployed, maintained, and integrated into farming workflows. That signals a broader objective than a limited pilot. Uzbekistan appears to be laying the groundwork for local operating capability rather than relying only on imported aircraft and external support. That distinction matters if the program moves from evaluation to sustained commercial use.
Kaizen Aerospace develops heavy-lift autonomous aerial systems built on its Powerus autonomous architecture. The company says that platform combines shared autonomy software, power systems, and scalable manufacturing for high-payload aircraft used in industrial, defense, and critical infrastructure missions. Applying that experience to agriculture reflects a wider industry trend. Drone makers are increasingly adapting industrial-grade UAV platforms for farm use, especially where large acreage and demanding operating conditions favor aircraft with higher payload and stronger endurance. Even so, the current document remains an early-stage accord. The memorandum contains no financial commitments and creates no legally binding obligations for either side.
That limits immediate certainty but does not reduce the strategic signal. Uzbekistan is clearly positioning UAVs as a tool to raise agricultural efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. If the evaluation phase leads to definitive agreements, the project could become an important marker for how large-scale agricultural drone infrastructure develops in Central Asia.