Nizhny Novgorod's BAS Cup 2025 Sparks Youth Passion for Drone Innovation

The Nizhny Novgorod Regional Ministry of Education and Science has wrapped up another successful BAS Cup competition. Held over four stages during the academic year, the event brought together students from 14 municipalities to showcase their skills in unmanned aerial systems. The competition aimed to encourage young people to explore technical creativity and drone technology.

The regional BAS Cup attracted participants from specialised BAS classes and other schools with similar clubs. One of the key stages took place on December 18, 2025, at Vadskaya Secondary School. Students competed in designing, programming, and racing drones across multiple categories.

The most popular category was 'Drone Programming with Practical Application', drawing 55 participants. Ivan Rodinov, a student from Gymnasium No. 2 in Nizhny Novgorod, secured first place in this category thanks to his strong programming skills and dedication. Meanwhile, the 'FPV Racing' event featured high-speed drone races, with Theodor Kunilov from the M. Nastin Military-Patriotic Education Center emerging as the winner. This initiative aligns with the national project *Youth and Children*, which seeks to expand access to high-quality extracurricular education. Nizhny Novgorod Oblast has also reinforced its commitment to the sector by opening a specialised research and production centre. The facility focuses on testing and developing expertise in unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The BAS Cup has once again highlighted the region's growing interest in drone technology and technical innovation. By bringing together students from different municipalities, the competition fosters practical skills and creativity in unmanned aviation. The event's success reflects broader efforts to strengthen youth engagement in advanced technical fields.