THE LEGAL NATURE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW: CLASSIFICATION APPROACHES AND ISSUES OF SOVEREIGNTY

The article examines the legal aspects of classifying and regulating unmanned aerial vehicles within the framework of international air law. The evolution of international legal approaches to determining the legal status of unmanned aerial vehicles is analyzed - from the provisions of the 1944 Chicago Convention to modern standards and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Special attention is paid to the problems of classifying unmanned aerial vehicles, including terminological discrepancies and various taxonomic approaches based on weight, purpose, and technical characteristics. Issues of state sovereignty over the airspace in the context of transboundary operations of unmanned aerial vehicles, including determining the vertical limits of such sovereignty, are being investigated. The legal distinction between state and private unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as the criteria for their classification in different national jurisdictions, is examined. Based on a comparative analysis of the regulatory models of various states, trends in harmonization and fragmentation in the international regulation of drone aviation have been identified. It was concluded that it is necessary to develop specialized international legal instruments capable of taking into account the unique features of unmanned aerial vehicles and ensuring a balance between technological innovations and the legitimate interests of states in the field of aviation security.