Military personnel will be taught how to control, program, and repair air, land, and marine robotic systems.
The Russian Navy has begun training universal operators of unmanned systems. Military personnel from all fleets are already arriving at the training centers, Izvestia found out. The course is designed for about a month. During this time, the military must master the control of various types of drones, as well as gain skills in programming and repairing them. According to experts, unmanned systems are increasingly being used to protect naval bases, intelligence, supply and combat missions.
How drone operators are trained
The training centers of the Russian Navy have begun to train operators of various types of unmanned systems. The program covers aerial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground-based robotic complexes (NRTC) and unmanned boats (BEC). Military personnel from all fleets are already arriving for training, sources familiar with the situation told Izvestia.
The full training course takes about a month. After its completion, the military personnel return to their units and ships, where they will be able to apply their acquired skills to combat missions. The program provides not only mastering the control of unmanned vehicles, but also training in their programming, maintenance and repair, the interlocutors of the publication explained.
Crew-less boat "Breeze"
Image source: Photo: TASS/Artush Mkrtchyan
The use of drones in the navy has its own characteristics. During the parking of ships, the devices are used to monitor the water area, detect saboteurs, as well as identify and destroy enemy UAVs and unmanned boats. In addition, drones help to control the situation in the areas where coastal military units are located, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia.
"The Navy is not just about ships and airplanes," he explained. — There is also an impressive component of the coastal forces: the Marines, who are fighting on the fronts of their own, coastal missile and artillery units, units guarding naval bases and arsenals. They just can't do without drones now.
According to the expert, robotic systems are already used in the Navy for the protection and defense of facilities, reconnaissance, supply, evacuation of the wounded and conducting strike operations.
Why does the Navy need drones?
Today, drones are changing the face of the Russian Armed Forces, and they are widely used in all branches of the armed forces. Their use for combat and auxiliary tasks is becoming a daily practice. For this reason, ideally, every fighter should have the skills to control drones of any type, said military expert Dmitry Kornev.
— For such courses, it is important to get acquainted with the principles of remote control of devices, to acquire driving and control skills through electronic surveillance systems, — he said. — This is a separate special skill, since in such work it is necessary to take into account both the data flows that are available to the operator and the visual range. At the same time, it is necessary to get used to the digital image, which, of course, differs from the real one.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov
Image source: iz.ru
In addition to controlling the devices, operators must be able to fix the simplest malfunctions and carry out maintenance. At the same time, unmanned systems of different types differ significantly in design and operating principles. Therefore, it takes time and teachers of relevant specialties to master them, the expert added.
The new training programs indicate that the Russian Navy is going to seriously develop the use of unmanned boats and underwater drones, Dmitry Boltenkov believes.
"Currently, during exercises to defend naval bases, anti-submarine sabotage units are actively using drones of various types," the expert explained.
The Marine Corps units currently fighting in their combat zone use not only UAVs, but also ground-based autonomous robotic vehicles. This equipment is engaged in transporting important cargo and ammunition to advanced positions, as well as evacuating the wounded at the most dangerous points of the line of contact, the expert noted.
Our Armed Forces have extensive experience in using such equipment, and this advantage of our soldiers and officers over soldiers of any army and navy in the world must be consolidated, experts say.
— The effectiveness of combat systems ultimately depends on people who find the right tactics for their use and prepare the devices for combat use. The training of such specialists is the main task of the Navy's training centers," said Dmitry Boltenkov.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Ankov
Image source: iz.ru
The experience of using unmanned systems during a special military operation in Ukraine has shown how important they play in modern warfare. Military experts from different countries are studying the possibilities of this technique, how to use it and counter it. Special attention is paid to the tactics of using aerial drones, unmanned boats and ground-based robotic systems.
Naval officers are already being taught how to operate drones
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the inclusion of a course on the use of drones in the curricula of naval universities. Within its framework, future naval officers are thoroughly exploring the possibilities of robotic systems. At the first stage, they study the design and characteristics of different types of drones, as well as the specifics of their use.
At the second stage of training, they master the combat use of attack UAVs to combat enemy drones and unmanned boats, as well as to counter saboteurs.
The classes are conducted by teachers who have experience in operating drones in a combat zone.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov
Image Source: iz.ru
In addition, last year, marine regiments of unmanned systems were created in all fleets. The new military units have assembled robotic systems operating in different environments: aerial UAVs, ground-based drones, unmanned boats and underwater uninhabited vehicles.
The units perform reconnaissance and strike missions. They also guard ships, destroy enemy drones and unmanned boats.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Roman Kretsul
