Cadets of the Academy learned to use FPV drones to perform combat missions

Cadets of the Command and Staff Faculty of the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine have begun training at a two-week course for FPV drone pilots as part of the project for the comprehensive development of the military unmanned aerial vehicles sector "Army of Drones". Lecturers of the Department of Tactics, together with instructors from the Center for Training of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operators "AIR SKILLS", are teaching future officers how to pilot FPV drones.

The cadets were divided into 4 groups, one of which will master the control of FPV drones, while the other 3 will take a course on the use of civilian multirotor UAVs in military conditions.

"Before taking the FPV drone control course, I had already learned to control a DJI-Mavic quadcopter during training held at the Academy. I am passionate about the topic of UAV control, because I believe that the development of these technologies saves the lives of Ukrainian military personnel and allows a drone costing from 12 thousand gryvnias to destroy enemy’s equipment worth millions of dollars. In the future, I dream of joining a unit that will specialize in the use of UAVs", –  a cadet of the Command and Staff Faculty Soldier Maksym Pavlichenko said.

The FPV drone control course (First Person View) includes a theoretical part, where boys and girls study the areas of use of UAVs, the basics of piloting and working under the influence of electronic warfare. Studying the theoretical part is combined with flight training and working out tasks on FPV simulators. The main software for training is the Ukrainian-made simulator "Obrii". Guardsmen perform tasks to maintain position of a drone in space, perform such air maneuvers as: "fly-around", "orbit", "snake", "figure eight". They learn to fly with a payload to destroy enemy’s ground targets. Separately, lecturers pay attention to the work of FPV drone operators under the influence of enemy’s electronic warfare equipment.

"In each unit of the Offensive Guard, there are UAV crews, which include FPV drone pilots. At first glance, piloting such a drone does not seem difficult, but in fact, in order to perform tasks successfully, you need to have the necessary knowledge and master many skills. As a lecturer, I am pleased to see motivated cadets who sincerely want to gain this knowledge. I am sure that in the future we will see the skills they have acquired in the form of destroyed burning enemy’s equipment," – Senior Lecturer and Head of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Service of the Department of Tactics Anton Voronin notes.

After completing the theory and practicing skills on simulators, the cadets of the Academy will begin practical flights on FPV drones; at the end of the course, the military will receive certificates of successful completion of the training.

"Controlling an FPV drone is many times more difficult than civilian drones, which have many automatic functions. Piloting an FPV drone requires a deeper knowledge of flight physics. We decided to conduct a course for cadets of the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine because after graduation, boys and girls go to lead units that participate in combat operations. Helping them to save their own lives and destroy enemy’s targets effectively is our contribution to victory", –  an Instructor at the "AIR SKILLS" Drone Operator Training Center Roman shares.

 It should be noted that all graduates of the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine in 2024 completed a course on the use of civilian multi-rotor UAVs in military conditions.

Department of International Relations, Information and Communication of the NANGU