August 19, 2026

Drone Army Needs Pilots


Drone Army Needs Pilots
Watching you. U.S. Air Force, Public Domain

Competition is fierce for the Gorno-Altaysk State University's newest class: drone piloting. Only about half of those who applied were enrolled in one of 75 open seats.

Part of the excitement (presumably aside from future front-line job placements in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, guaranteeing desirable hands-on experience) is for new classrooms at the university’s Military Training Center. Funding to equip the new classroom was generously supplied by the People’s Front, a coalition that unifies major Russian parties in support of current president Vladimir Putin.

With such strong interest in drone piloting, Head of the Altai Republic Andrey Turchak announced his hopes to expand the program with a second classroom.

​The university is also piloting another program [pun intended]: ”Heroes of Altai” celebrated the graduation of its first cohort in 2026. After years at war, over 30 veterans of Russia's war on Ukraine from the region received psychological support and professional training for a career change.

Before developing the Military Training Center, Gorno-Altaysk State University’s strongest programs focused on ecology and professional development for the hospitality industry. 

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