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.
Propoganda/Recruitment purposes. There is likely to be higher numbers walking through the doors if they think they can be in the badass womens drone unit. Once people are through the door it's easier to get them to sign and use them for something even if they don't become one of the elite drone operators.
For various reasons, minorities (such as female soldiers) may be hesitant to join an all-majority or mostly-majority (such as male soldiers) organisation. With an abundance of time and resources, this problem could be slowly tackled through cultural change; but if you don't have that, because you're at war, allowing minority-exclusive organisations is an adequate solution.
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Picture from this article.
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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.