Lithuania to Educate Citizens in Drone Operations
Lithuania is bolstering its defense strategy by introducing a groundbreaking drone training program for the general public and schoolchildren. Set to commence in September 2021, the initiative aims to strengthen civil resistance, enhance public competence in drone control and engineering, and foster a technologically skilled population capable of supporting national security needs.
The program, a joint venture between Lithuania’s Ministries of National Defence and Education, Science and Sports, plans to open nine drone training centers by 2028. The first three centers will debut in Jonava, Tauragė, and Kėdainiai in September 2025.
The educational approach tailors content to different age groups:
- Children in grades 3-4 will learn to build and pilot simple drones through hands-on experiments and games.
- Junior high students will receive an introduction to programming and piloting first-person view (FPV) drones.
- High school students will design, manufacture 3D drone parts, build, pilot FPV drones, and participate in competitions.
By empowering both civilians and youth with drone expertise, Lithuania aims to foster a resilient society while catalyzing innovation and growth in its domestic drone sector. With a population of 2.8 million, the training program injects significant investment (over 3.3 million euros) into drone technology skills development.
Lithuania's initiative comes at a time when drones play a central role in modern warfare, with Russian forces deploying unmanned aerial vehicles at the front in their conflict with Ukraine, and Ukraine increasingly relying on drones in its defensive fight against Russian forces.
The program's goal is to enhance the population's competencies in drone control and technology, as well as to build civil resistance. Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has stated that 15,500 adults and 7,000 children are expected to acquire drone control skills by 2028.
This article is about the use of drones in defense strategies, specifically in Ukraine and Lithuania. The training program aligns with broader Baltic regional efforts to establish drone detection and countermeasure systems, contributing to regional security and stability.
[1] Lithuania to open drone training centers [2] Lithuania's drone training program for the public [3] Lithuania's defense ministry to offer drone training courses [4] Lithuania to strengthen civil defense with drone training program [5] Lithuania's drone training program for schoolchildren
- The drone training program introduced by Lithuania's Ministries of National Defence and Education, Science and Sports aims to educate both adults and children in drone control and technology, fostering a resilient society and supporting national security needs.
- As part of its defense strategy, Lithuania is set to establish nine drone training centers by 2028,implementing a comprehensive educational approach that integrates drone technology into sports and science curriculum for learners of various ages.
