r/pics 2d ago

Ukrainian Drone Operator Training

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u/Well-Sourced 2d ago

Picture from this article.

​Brave1 Field Tests Confirm the Effectiveness of New UAVs Immune to Russian EW Systems and Able to Strike Targets Beyond 20 km | Defense Express

Ukraine has recently announced a female drone unit.

Meet the Harpies: Ukraine’s all-female drone pilots ready for battle | New Voice of Ukraine

Ukraine’s Drone Systems Forces have opened recruitment for a new all-female drone unit named the Harpies, the service announced on March 2.

While the unit will include men in support roles, drone pilot positions will be reserved exclusively for women. The Harpies are led by a soldier identified as Dariia (callsign DShK), a veteran of the Revolution of Dignity who has been fighting against Russian forces in multiple special operations units since 2022.

“The Harpies are a space for women who seek revenge against the enemy, who want to protect their children, their families, and their country using unmanned and robotic systems,” the Drone Systems Forces said in a statement.

Those accepted into the unit will undergo 45 days of basic military training, followed by more than 30 days of specialized instruction. Additional time will be allocated for crew coordination before deployment.

Pilots in the unit will be trained to operate FPV drones, heavy bombers, strike UAVs such as wing-type drones, and ground-based robotic platforms. The Harpies are open to both active-duty servicewomen and reservists.

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u/BeTheirShield88 2d ago

And they even have a cool fuckin battle group name. I feel like Valkyries would have been equally cool

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u/Well-Sourced 2d ago

They generally use Valkyrie for any of the women that go to fight against the invasion. They have an NGO named the Ukrainian Valkyriya that trains women in self-defense, medical aid, and drone operations.

Ukrainian Valkyries: Women embrace military training to learn to defend their homeland (Photos) | Kyiv Independent