The Global Drone Academy, a UAV training center, is celebrating its 3rd anniversary. We spoke with its director and co-founder, Anton Veklenk, to learn how a volunteer initiative turned into a professional school for drone operators, and why this project has become an important element of Ukraine’s defense industry infrastructure.
The Global Drone Academy, a UAV training center, is celebrating its 3rd anniversary. We spoke with its director and co-founder, Anton Veklenk, to learn how a volunteer initiative turned into a professional school for drone operators, and why this project has become an important element of Ukraine’s defense industry infrastructure.
Read this interview to the end. There’s a gift there — a significant discount on UAV operator training.
— It all started in 2022, when the war with the Russian Federation was just gaining momentum, and it became obvious that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were becoming an important element in the defense of our country. Initially, it was a volunteer initiative that we launched to teach people who had no experience with drones to use them effectively in war conditions.
The idea was to make training accessible and operational, as the need for qualified operators was extremely high.
— It was a real challenge! However, over these three years we managed not only to adapt the training to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but also to gain recognition at the state level. We became the first non-state training center for UAV operators to receive certification from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Also, during this time we have trained more than 6,300 operators, including 5,000 military personnel.
Our courses have not only become an important element of defense, but have also made a significant contribution to the development of the drone industry in Ukraine.
— Firstly, we have become active participants in national initiatives such as the «Drone Army». Secondly, we have trained over 1,000 military personnel for free in 2024. This is a lot of work, and we are proud that our courses have helped a significant number of military personnel gain new skills that they then apply at the front. In addition, we have become residents of Diya.City, which has allowed us to actively develop innovations in the field of drones and cooperate with leading manufacturers, both Ukrainian and foreign.
— We cooperate with many drone manufacturers, both Ukrainian and international. This allows us to provide training on current drone models used in war. Importantly, we also test new drone models in real conditions, which allows us to adjust training programs and make them as effective as possible.
Such cooperation gives us the opportunity to stay up to date with all the latest news and trends, which is critically important in such rapidly changing conditions.
— Our main mission is not only to train UAV operators, but also to create a community that brings our victory closer. We give our students not only knowledge and skills, but also the opportunity to become part of a large team working towards a common goal. We want our graduates to have not only technical skills, but also to understand how drones can help in strategic planning and tactical actions on the battlefield.
— We plan to expand the training program by adding new courses, including on the use of the latest technologies in the defense sector, such as geographic information systems and spatial data, artificial intelligence, and countering hostile UAVs. We are also actively working to expand international cooperation, as the experience gained in Ukraine may be interesting for other countries facing similar challenges.
— Until April 30, 2025, we are offering a 30% discount on all in-person courses. To do this, simply enter the promo code «GDA2025» when registering on our website. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to take the course and become part of our team!
