The changed geopolitical situation and the use of drones in Ukraine have created a significant and urgent need within the Danish Defence for knowledge and skills related to drones and unmanned systems. The war in Ukraine has shown that rapid development and testing must take place directly on the battlefield to stay ahead of the adversary. This means that soldiers are challenged by the complexity and immaturity of the technology, which can lead to incorrect operation as well as faults and deficiencies in drone equipment.
Experience from Ukraine also shows that these challenges can be addressed through education and training of soldiers in basic engineering skills and technical understanding. Such engineering competencies strengthen the ability to use technological equipment correctly and optimally, prepare soldiers to resolve technical issues, and enable them to carry out software upgrades or hardware replacements directly on the battlefield.
The Drone Engineering Course for Soldiers contributes to this education and training. SDU Drone Center educates drone engineers at the master’s level every day and based on existing courses and the center’s many years of research, SDU will train the conscripted drone operators in fundamental engineering skills related to the structure of drone systems. The conscripts will be educated in areas such as aerodynamics, drone electronics, radio communication and radio based interference, navigation, camera technology, remote control, and autonomy. During the course, the conscripts will also build and fly their own drone. These skills will form the foundation for the soldiers’ work with drones in an operational defence context.
The course will be held for the first time in early May 2026 at SDU and will run for two weeks.