Moscow university buys Canadian drone detection system, likely circumventing sanctions

According to independent outlet Agentstvo, the Russian Technological University MIREA has purchased a drone detection system called SkyEye, which is produced by the company Skycope Technologies Inc. from Canada. The system reportedly cost 4.5 million rubles (around $50,500). Agentstvo made the discovery using public procurement data.

According to its manufacturer, SkyEye can recognize more than 330 models of drones at a distance of up to 21 miles in open terrain and up to six miles in the city (121 square miles).

The system’s is enough to cover more than a third of Moscow’s area within the Moscow Ring Road (about 340 square miles), according to Agentstvo.

The publication notes that the university may use the system for research purposes, as it is developing anti-drone devices. Earlier, the university purchased three anti-drone guns for 400 thousand rubles (around $4,500). The “Drone 1200” guns are produced in China and have a range of about three quarters of a mile.

Roman Rashimas, a lawyer in the sanctions practice of the British company Zorge Partners Limited, said that the delivery of SkyEye violates restrictions imposed by the Canadian authorities.

The Russian Technological University announced a tender for the purchase of the system in early May and selected a winner in less than two weeks. The delivery was organized by entrepreneur Maxim Susloparov. On June 7, the radar detector was delivered to the university. The state contract was accompanied by a declaration of the Eurasian Economic Union for the import of SkyEye systems, which was received in January 2023 by the Moscow-based company Techcom.

Techcom CEO and owner Maxim Galkin declined to comment. Maxim Susloparov, MIREA, and Skycope Technologies Inc. did not respond to Agentstvo’s requests.