Finland holds international course on using drones to drop payloads
The Finnish Air Force Headquarters this week held an international training course in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä, on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles capable of carrying and dropping payloads. According to YLE News, the four-day training was organized jointly with the European Defence Agency (EDA), and participants included representatives of seven European countries.
Such drones can transport and drop, among other things, explosives. Flights were taught by experienced reservists from the Finnish National Defence Training Association (MPK) under the guidance of permanent staff from the Air Force Academy.
Training using Finnish equipment
The course was conducted using the Finnish military unmanned aerial vehicle Patria SKY. The program included classroom instruction and practical flights. 3D-printed training grenades were used for payload drops.
Each participant carried out about 20 drops on stationary and moving targets. After the training, participants are expected to be able to account for the impact of a payload on drone control, target different targets and carry out payload drops.
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European Defence Agency program
The basic course is part of the EDA's new military unmanned aviation program. Its goals include standardizing flight training programs and establishing a network of European drone training centers.
According to the Finnish Air Force, before the training in Tikkakoski, a similar course had been held only once. The training in Tikkakoski was the first in Finland organized under the new EDA program. The Air Force also noted that only a few European countries have similar approved training programs.
A competence center in military unmanned aviation is being established at the MPK training site in Tikkakoski. According to the Air Force, this model is intended to provide an environment for training flight instructors for the MPK air defense unit and will not require a significant number of the Finnish Defence Forces' own instructor personnel.
