Lithuania to Educate Citizens on Operating Drones
Lithuania Launches Nationwide Drone Training Program
Lithuania is set to embark on an ambitious drone training initiative, aiming to teach over 22,000 people - including 7,000 schoolchildren and 15,500 adults - how to build, operate, and engineer drones as part of a civil resistance and national security strategy[1][2][3]. The program, a joint effort by the Ministries of Defense and Education, will launch nine drone training centers by 2028, with the first three opening in September 2025 in Jonava, Tauragė, and Kėdainiai[1][2][3].
The objectives of the program include strengthening national security by improving drone skills among civilians in response to regional threats, particularly from Russia and Belarus[1][3]. The initiative also aims to expand civil resistance capabilities by training the public, including children, in drone control and engineering[1][2]. Furthermore, the program seeks to prepare young generations to engage with drone technology early, benefiting both future engineers and civically active citizens[3].
The investment in this initiative is approximately €3.3 million ($3.8 million), funded and managed by the Defense and Education ministries[1]. The centers will be equipped with FPV (first-person view) drones, control systems, software, and a mobile educational app[1][2]. Different age groups will receive tailored training: primary school children will assemble and pilot simple drones through hands-on experiments and games, junior high students will learn drone programming, build components, and pilot FPV drones indoors, while high school students will design and 3D print drone parts, operate advanced FPV drones, and participate in regional and national competitions[1][2].
Training for adults will be conducted with partners such as the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union and the Lithuanian Non-Formal Education Agency[2]. This program reflects Lithuania’s emphasis on civil preparedness amid current geopolitical tensions, as drones have become key tools in military and civil defense, highlighted by their prominent use in the Ukraine conflict. The initiative also aligns Lithuania with neighboring Baltic states that are enhancing drone-related skills and defenses[3].
In summary, Lithuania’s drone program is a strategic educational investment of €3.3 million, starting in 2025, targeting broad segments of society with advanced, age-appropriate drone training spread across nine centers by 2028 to bolster national resilience and technological skills[1][2][3].
[1] Lithuania's Drone Training Program Targets 22,000 People. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.baltictimes.com/lithuania-s-drone-training-program-targets-22-000-people/
[2] Lithuania Launches Drone Training Program for Adults and Schoolchildren. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.defense-blog.com/2021/09/15/lithuania-launches-drone-training-program-for-adults-and-schoolchildren/
[3] Lithuania to Launch Drone Training Program for Civilian Population. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.armyrecognition.com/lithuania_to_launch_drone_training_program_for_civilian_population_news_19415.html
