"The UK government is investing in a defense-focused degree course to train both civilian students and soldiers to become drone technology specialists. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Department for Education (DfE), this new course will open for enrolment at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) in Hereford in the west of England from September this year. The degree course forms part of a broader effort to deliver on the aspirations outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, published in mid-2025, to enhance the capabilities of the British Army through AI, drones, and autonomous systems."
"By building a pipeline of homegrown talent with specialized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills, the MoD hopes to address critical workforce gaps while aiming to push the UK's expertise in next-generation military capabilities. As is often the case with much-trumpeted initiatives, the actual amount of funding made available - a £240,000 (about $322,000) investment from the British Army - hardly seems commensurate with the government's ambitions for it. The three-year course aims to train 15 civilian students and up to five soldiers each year to become drone technology specialists."
"It is claimed to incorporate lessons learned from Ukraine, where that nation's fight against the Russian invasion has already demonstrated the unnerving potential of relatively low-cost drones to eliminate cutting-edge military systems such as tanks. "In Ukraine, drones are causing more casualties than artillery - that's the reality of modern warfare. This degree gives young engineers a fast track to careers at the cutting edge, protecting Britain and powering growth in places like Hereford," commented Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns MP, who has previously served as an officer in the Royal Marines."
The UK is funding a defense-focused three-year degree at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) in Hereford, starting in September. The course will train 15 civilian students and up to five soldiers each year as drone technology specialists. The programme aligns with the Strategic Defence Review to strengthen the British Army's capabilities in AI, drones, and autonomous systems. The MoD aims to build homegrown STEM talent to fill workforce gaps and advance next-generation military expertise. The British Army is contributing £240,000, an amount small compared with stated ambitions. Course content draws on lessons from Ukraine.
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