China ramps up pilot training to boost drone operator ranks as unmanned vehicles rise in military importance
- PLA academy identifies the key skills essential for drone pilots, including task planning, flight control and maintenance
- As well as flying vehicles, the Chinese military uses unmanned boats, underwater vessels and cars
The first batch of professional drone operators recently sat their certificate exam at the Army Engineering University of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), PLA Daily reported on Tuesday.
“In recent years, the army has looked into reform and transformation, set the focus on the new combat posts of drone operators and sped up nurturing new types of military talents,” the report said.
The PLA has developed for, and equipped its troops with, many drones, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), surface boats and underwater vehicles, and even robot road cars for various purposes.
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Some are logistical swarm drones that can transport supplies to inaccessible outposts in the mountains during winter, some are large missile-capable reconnaissance and strike drones specially modified for a high-altitude environment and some are communication relay devices for infantries and artilleries.
The certified operator exam took place at the Military Equipment Academy for non-commissioned officers in Wuhan, a branch of the Army Engineering University, and consisted of nine subjects, according to PLA Daily.
In the exam the soldiers had to follow real-time commands, quickly analyse the parameters on the control panel and successfully take off, land, fly and deal with special situations.
The academy identified the key skills essential for an operator, including task planning, flight control and equipment maintenance. The pilot training course was designed with more content to meet the requirements of China’s frontline posts, combat missions and standard procedures.
The curriculum was delivered via a combination of online teaching, virtual controls and practical training.
“The training and exam … help us to adjust to the new posts as quickly as possible,” the PLA Daily report quoted Xue Yongliang, a student from the PLA 83rd Group Army, as saying.
China is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of military drones, both for the PLA and for export. Chinese-made drones, such as the CH series and Wing Loong series, are popular in Africa and the Middle East.
