Lithuania is strategizing to educate children as young as eight in drone operation to counter the potential threat of a looming Russian incursion. Authorities aim to establish nine drone training centers to instruct over 22,000 citizens on drone construction and piloting.
Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė highlighted that this initiative would enhance the nation’s defenses in response to possible further Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. The rise of drone warfare in recent years has demonstrated its effectiveness in military operations, as seen in Ukraine’s ability to resist a formidable opponent like Russia.
The plan entails training 15,500 adults and 7,000 children in drone control skills by 2028, tailored to different age groups. Younger participants will learn basic drone assembly and flying techniques, while high school students will delve into advanced design and manufacturing processes, including operating first-person view (FPV) drones commonly used in combat zones.
The program is projected to cost nearly $4 million, covering the procurement of advanced FPV drones and the launch of a mobile app to guide students through the learning process. By September, three drone training centers will be operational, with plans to establish six more facilities over the next three years.
Both Ukraine and Russia have leveraged drone technology in their conflicts, with Ukraine deploying drones for strategic strikes within Russian territory and Russia using them to target Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure during the prolonged conflict.
Lithuania’s initiative follows Russia’s establishment of a massive drone production facility, where teenagers as young as 14 are involved in assembling combat drones. Concerns over Russian aggression have escalated among Baltic nations since the conflict outbreak, prompting NATO members like Finland and Sweden to prepare for potential threats.
The Kremlin’s warnings to these nations, which joined the alliance in 2022, have raised fears of nuclear retaliation. Tensions heightened when Russia built military installations near Finland’s border, intensifying the regional security landscape.