In a significant educational shift, Russia has introduced a new textbook on drone technology for teenagers aged 14-15. This initiative, part of a larger Kremlin project, aims to cultivate a new generation of drone specialists across the country.
The textbook, a collaborative effort between the Prosveshchenie publishing house and Russian drone manufacturer Geoscan, offers 34 hours of instruction for an exam. Mikhail Lutsky, the author and head of educational projects at Geoscan, stated that the manual would benefit teachers of various disciplines, including computer science, physics, and national defense basics.
As of September 1, 2024, Russian schools have integrated a mandatory "Labour (technology)" course, incorporating drone studies into the curriculum. This full-color illustrated textbook covers drone classification, construction, electrical components, basic flight principles, and autopilot programming.
The introduction of this textbook reflects Russia's growing emphasis on drone technology, particularly in the military context. Drones have become a crucial part of Russia's arsenal, with the country importing thousands of Shahed drones from Iran and establishing a drone factory in Kazan, central Russia.
This educational initiative is not isolated from broader propaganda efforts. The Kremlin has a history of using school textbooks to promote its agenda. Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Prosveshchenie was ordered to remove "inappropriate" references to Kyiv and Ukraine from textbooks.
"This is the first educational publication on unmanned technologies, created for the implementation of the federal project: Personnel for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. By 2030, about one million specialists in unmanned aviation will be trained in the country."
The ambitious goal of training a million drone specialists by 2030 underscores the scale of Russia's investment in this technology. It's worth noting that the global commercial drone market is expected to reach $58.4 billion by 2026, highlighting the growing importance of this field beyond military applications.
While Russia focuses on military applications, drones have diverse uses worldwide. They are employed in environmental conservation, search and rescue operations, and even in the development of flying taxis. The smallest drone in the world is now the size of a grain of rice, showcasing the rapid advancements in this technology.
As Russia pushes forward with its drone education program, it's crucial to consider the broader implications of such initiatives on global technological and military landscapes.