In a joint statement of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Education, they stated that the project is to develop society's skills in the field of drone service and engineering and “expand preparations for civil defense”. They also drew attention to the need for such actions in the face of the growing popularity of drones both in everyday life and on the battlefield.
Lithuania, a NATO member state with approx. 2.8 million inhabitants, is located on the eastern wing of the alliance and is adjacent to the Russian royal and allied Moscow Belarus. Due to the location, it draws close attention to potential threats to its safety. The first three training centers will be opened in September, and the remaining six – by 2028.
According to the Minister of Defense of Lithuania Dovile Sakaliene, by this year the program is to train 15.5 thousand. adults and 7,000 children. The courses will be adapted to the age of participants – students of classes III and IV will learn to build and pilot simple drones, and high school students will design and produce components, as well as advanced models. The total value of the investment is estimated at over 3.3 million euros (14 million PLN).
