The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania opened the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Competence Centre.

The Ministry of Defense of Lithuania announced this on Tuesday, September 3.

At this center, Lithuanian residents who want to acquire the necessary skills and expand their competencies for defense needs will be able to learn the intricacies of UAV operation.

“In this drone competence center, people will be able to learn how to fly drones and gain both theoretical and practical knowledge. And after completing the courses, the participants will receive certificates of completion, and we hope that this knowledge will be useful to them and their homeland in the future,” Minister of National Defense Laurynas Kasčiūnas shared.

The military academy will organize both stationary courses in Vilnius and field courses in other cities of the country.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense reported that it will be an open course at the A1-A3 level, with certificates of completion for those who pass it. The courses usually take place on weekends (two days per course), with the note that seasonality and weather can affect them.

After the training for September and October was announced, all the places were quickly filled. By the end of this year, 480 citizens of the Republic of Lithuania will be able to take the courses.

Next year, at least 1000 Lithuanians are expected to complete the course.

“The courses will be held in different cities. When people see a mobile container with the words ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Competence Centre’ on it, they will know that the course is taking place and that UAV specialists have arrived in their city,” the Lithuanian Defense Ministry noted.

The courses aim to increase the number of trained civilians who are authorized to operate drones.

According to the Lithuanian Transport Competence Agency, about 4,200 pilots authorized to operate drones are already registered in the register.

Lithuania also purchases drones from local manufacturers for its own military and the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The country’s Defense Resources Agency has already signed contracts with five Lithuanian companies worth €8 million.