ArmDrone hosts Western Asia regional FPV qualifier in Yerevan

Yerevan became the center of Western Asia’s FPV pipeline as ArmDrone Community opened its regional qualifier, a three-day race that ran from May 15 through May 17 and put advancement on the line for pilots from Armenia and neighboring countries. The event was built around a high-speed course and, just as important, around access: pilots of all experience levels were welcome, including first-time racers, while spectators were directed to designated safe viewing areas.

That mix of open entry and formal competition is what gives the stop real weight. MultiGP’s 2026 Regional Series was designed to grow drone racing from local groups and communities and to crown a champion in every region, and the Yerevan qualifier sat inside that larger structure. For Western Asia pilots, it was more than a weekend meet. It was a recognized route from community racing into a championship pathway tied to one of the sport’s biggest global ladders.

The scale behind that ladder is hard to ignore. MultiGP says it has more than 30,000 registered pilots and 500 active chapters worldwide, which makes every regional qualifier a meaningful filter point rather than a standalone exhibition. The Western Asia series page directs chapters in the region to contact Hayk Karapetyan of ArmDrone Community, putting the Armenian organizer at the center of the region’s competitive coordination.

ArmDrone’s role in that system is what makes Yerevan matter. The community says it was founded in 2022 as the first Armenian UAV and FPV group, with a mission built around youth education, mentorship, and a self-sustaining drone ecosystem in Armenia. Karapetyan said in a 2025 interview that the group began because there were very few people interested in FPV drones in the country, a reminder of how quickly the scene has had to build its own structure.

That work has already gone beyond a single race weekend. ArmDrone has run free FPV training for youth, staged a 2025 Mini Whoop Drone Racing international championship, and helped funnel top students from Ucom-supported training into its competitive team, where they went on to represent Armenia in international FPV championships. The Western Asia qualifier in Yerevan showed how that pipeline now runs in both directions: from beginners taking their first laps to serious racers chasing regional recognition, and from Armenia out into the wider MultiGP map.