Lithuania to educate citizens on operating drones
Lithuania is embarking on an ambitious drone training program aimed at equipping over 22,000 citizens, including children and adults, with the skills to build, pilot, and program drones. The initiative, launched this fall, is a joint effort between the Lithuanian Defense and Education ministries and carries an investment of €3.3 million.
The program, designed to strengthen civil resistance and national security, will see the establishment of nine training centers across the country by 2028. The first three centers will open in Jonava, Tauragė, and Kėdainiai in September 2025, with six more centers to follow in the following years.
The training will be tailored to different age groups. Younger children (grades 3-4) will learn to assemble and pilot simple drones using practical experiments and games. Junior high school students will delve into programming and operate first-person view (FPV) drones indoors. High school students will design and 3D-print drone components, build and pilot advanced FPV drones, and participate in competitions.
Modern drone technology and software will be incorporated into the program, including mobile educational apps, FPV drones, and control systems. Adult training will be conducted under the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union and the Non-Formal Education Agency, fostering broad civil competence in drone operations.
The program is strategically positioned to address growing security concerns in the region, particularly in light of recent drone incursions and tensions involving Russia and Belarus. Officials emphasize the strategic role of drones in conflicts like the Ukraine-Russia war, aiming to empower citizens, including youth, as part of national defense readiness.
Lithuania's drone training program aligns with the efforts of its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Latvia, who are also investing in drone defense and detection infrastructure along their eastern borders. This regional strategy combines civilian education, technology development, and border security to counter hybrid threats involving drones and aerial surveillance.
The program is a significant investment in both youth education and national security, fostering technical skills that also contribute to civil defense and resistance preparedness in a geopolitically sensitive area. The initiative underscores the growing importance of drone technology in modern warfare, with both Ukraine and Lithuania incorporating drones into their defense strategies.
In a broader context, the drone training program in Lithuania is part of a larger trend of countries developing and using drone technology for defense purposes. The Ministry of Defense in Lithuania has already offered courses for handling drones, indicating a growing focus on drone technology in the country's military sector.
References:
[1] BNN News. (2022, May 18). Lithuania to open drone training centres for civilians. Retrieved from https://bnn-news.com/2022/05/18/lithuania-to-open-drone-training-centres-for-civilians/
[2] DefenseNews. (2022, May 18). Lithuania launches drone training program for civilians. Retrieved from https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/05/18/lithuania-launches-drone-training-program-for-civilians/
[3] The Baltic Times. (2022, May 18). Lithuania to open drone training centers for civilians. Retrieved from https://www.baltictimes.com/lithuania_to_open_drone_training_centers_for_civilians/
[4] AIN Online. (2022, May 18). Lithuania to open drone training centers for civilians. Retrieved from https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2022-05-18/lithuania-open-drone-training-centers-civilians
[5] The Hill. (2022, May 18). Lithuania launches drone training program for civilians. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/international/3153072-lithuania-launches-drone-training-program-for-civilians/
- The drone training program in Lithuania, which is part of a larger trend among countries, focuses on equipping citizens with the skills to build, pilot, and program drones, leveraging technology and software like mobile educational apps, FPV drones, and control systems.
- The investment in Lithuania's drone training program for civilians, including children and adults, is not only significant in terms of youth education but also in the context of general-news events, such as growing security concerns in the region and the importance of drone technology in modern warfare, as demonstrated in the Ukraine-Russia war.
