The Ministry of Defence has certified over 30 schools for drone operators

After the UAV Pilot School Certification Experimental Project commenced in early October, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence certified 33 entities.

The project aims to evaluate new strategies to improve the training processes for prospective operators, instructors, and support personnel of unmanned aerial vehicles and systems (UAV/UAS) serving the Ukrainian Defence Forces. 

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1129-2024-%D0%BF#Text

“Drones are meant to engage in combat, while people should control them from a safe distance. In today’s context, flying a drone is no longer a hobby but a necessity of the times. The number of unmanned systems military units within the Armed Forces of Ukraine has increased, creating a demand to fill related positions. Therefore, increasing the number of certified schools where individuals can receive professional training is essential,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Brigadier General Anatolii Klochko.

Direct oversight of the process is ensured by the General Directorate of State Aviation of Ukraine, which has established a certification commission composed of its representatives. Applications from organizations are reviewed there, and a decision is made within five days to either issue a school certificate or deny it, with reasons provided.

For the practical exams, certified schools involve representatives from the training centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other components of the Defence and Security Forces. Upon successfully completing the practical exam, graduates of the schools are provided with certificates and recommendations for assigning them a military specialty (MS).

Graduates of the schools who are not service members can receive a military specialty (MS) after obtaining active service member status and completing basic general military training (BGMT). Service members trained at certified schools can get a military specialty upon successfully passing the practical exam.

A register of certified schools and their graduates will be maintained. This will allow an assessment of the potential pool of trained UAV operators, enabling the Defence Forces to assign specialists to roles involving the operation of unmanned systems.