More Drones in Russian Schools

The independent publication DOXA analyzed procurement data and found that schools and supplementary education institutions across 39 regions spent at least R540 million (nearly $5 million) on drone control courses in 2024. Schools primarily acquired equipment for piloting and constructing drones, including FPV drones commonly used in the Russian War in Ukraine, as well as 3D printers, virtual reality glasses, computers, and various simulators. 

In St. Petersburg, the Center for Physical Education and Health specified simulator requirements, including tasks for targeting and destroying NATO weaponry, such as French CAESAR 6x6 howitzers and German Leopard 1A5 tanks. Similarly, a school in the Kronstadt district required a simulator featuring combat scenarios to locate and destroy hidden equipment.

Information about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been integrated into the core curriculum for some subjects. In the "Fundamentals of Security and Defense of the Motherland" course for grades 10 and 11, students learn about the combat applications of UAVs, reconnaissance, and strategies for countering enemy drones.

Drone-related modules have also been added to labor education classes. Geoscan, a company linked to President Vladimir Putin's daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, published the UAV textbook used for these lessons.

Many schools have established drone clubs where students learn to design, operate, and compete with drones. The Burevestnikovskaya School, for instance, formed two groups for students starting at 10 years old and plans to expand its drone training to include all age groups, starting with first-graders.

The introduction of drone courses aligns with a national project, “Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” launched after Putin’s statement in April 2023. The Russian Ministry of Education allocated R8.4 billion ($82 million) from the federal budget in 2024 to fund drone education in 30 regions.

Currently, 553 educational institutions offer programs in UAV operation. By 2030, the government aims to increase that number to 42,800, addressing a shortage of specialists in UAV development, production, and operation.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade estimates that by 2030, Russia will require about one million UAV specialists, with applied roles expected to account for 600,000 of them — 60% of the total demand.

Federal programs have also focused on retraining school teachers, with more than 1,000 educators completing specialized training. Even teachers without prior drone experience are being sent to these courses to meet the growing demand.