...
By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A Russian school textbook on how to operate drones has been published and will be studied by teenagers as part of the country's educational curriculum.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: 8th and 9th Grades will be taught in technology classes in schools in Russia which has made great leaps in its production of the devices used in Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian government for further comment.
Read More on World
...
Why It Matters
As part of Russia's war effort in Ukraine, Moscow has used drones supplied by Iran to target civilian infrastructure. At the same time, Russia has significantly developed its domestic production of drones, as has Ukraine.
The course is a sign of the growing militarization of Russian society and is the latest attempt by the Kremlin to expose children to government messaging.
What To Know
Russia's education ministry approved on April 30 the textbook produced by drone maker Geoscan, which is under U.S. sanctions, in partnership with Prosveshcheniye, Russia's largest schoolbook publisher.
A foundation for intellectual development headed by Putin's youngest daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, acquired a 10 percent stake in Geoscan, Russian outlet Verstka reported in November 2023.
The textbook is part of a national plan to train 1 million drone operators at more than 500 schools and 30 universities by the end of the decade, Moscow Times reported.
Thousands of university students in Moscow and St. Petersburg have been taking drone operation courses over the last couple of years and schoolchildren have also been introduced to basic combat drone skills as part of military training.
Co-author Mikhail Lutsky said in a statement that the course was clear and ready to use, drawing on field-tested material. He added that in a high-tech world, students need to learn "applied knowledge and skills."
There are six chapters in the book which give a general introduction to unmanned aviation, classification and structure of drones, their electronic components and the basics of manual piloting. The material is designed for 34 hours of study.
What People Are Saying
Mikhail Lutsky co-author, from drone maker Geoscan: "This is not a dry theory, but a field-proven material that Geoscan has turned into a clear, ready-to-use course."
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Russia is "preparing to produce 300-350 drones per day," which will be stepped up to 500.
What Happens Next
The textbook to be rolled out across Russia's schools comes as the country continues to produce drones apace, facilitated by imports of components from China.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines