Inside the Killhouse Academy, where Ukrainian fighters learn to fly drones

In a remote location in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, a military drone instructor who uses the call sign “dc” showed the CBS Training course that students must learn to fly drones before defending themselves in Russia.

Trainers must be able to master the performance of small but powerful human-viewing drones (FPV), which have become a signature weapon in the ongoing war waged by Russia’s February 2022 full-scale.

“In a war, all you have to do is travel as far as you can and fly, with a sign so bad that your eyes will bleed,” Amehlo said quietly as he flew around the lessons at Sinllhouse Academy.

Both civilians and the military learn at the Academy to fly FPV drones, and use them as lethal weapons, through computer simulations and virtual flight and target practice using real drones.

Practice and patience are essential, says the DC, who is one of the men in charge of the next generation of defenders.

“You have to be calm, you can’t see the target and, for example, run towards it like a bull. You have to be able to think and see and find the hardest part of the job.”

Despite their small size, drones represent a huge improvement in today’s warfare. If it is equipped with an explosive charge, it can be quickly pulled from the remote parts by remote operators of the pilot with a live feed from a camera placed on the blanket.

“To save lives, to save money and time, you have to be unplanned. Because if you use force, it will only get you so far,” the DC said.

The widespread use of cheap, inexpensive drones in the four-year war in Ukraine has been closely watched by the US military. On June 6, President Trunga signed the “UnleaSeshing American Drone Donance” Executive Order, seeking to promote the domestic production of cheap, lethal drones.

The Pentagon recently announced its intention to purchase 200,000 drones with lethal capabilities by 2027, as part of what it calls the Drone Domplance Program.

For both the Ukrainian and Russian forces on the battlefield, drones are already very real, accounting for about 80% of Ukrainian military casualties, according to some estimates. They have changed the wars, and given Ukraine a way to try to level the playing field with Russia, which has more troops to throw on the front lines.

“If you want to survive, you’re going to find the best solution,” DC told CBS News.

He said he is not sure how many Russian soldiers have killed on the battlefield, but the focus should now be on training others to compete with Russian drone operators. He compared it to an arms race.

“The only survivors are those who adapt. Adaptability is important,” she said. “It’s always a race for us and them, to get the upper hand over the enemy.”