Ukrainian Soldiers Tell British Army It Takes at Least 60 Hours to Train a Competent Drone Pilot

Ukrainian troops have shared hard-earned battlefield experience with the British Army, revealing that it takes a minimum of 60 hours of training to develop a competent military drone pilot.

According to Lt. Col. Ben Irwin-Clark, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards, Ukrainian soldiers advised that effective drone training should be split evenly between simulation and real-world flying. He said pilots need about 30 hours on a simulator and another 30 hours operating drones in the field to reach basic operational competence.

“At around 60 hours, they are pretty competent at being able to fly different types of drones,” Irwin-Clark explained. “From there, improvement comes through repetition, exposure to more systems, and continuous practice. It’s an upward curve in terms of how good they can get.”

The guidance was shared during joint training activities under Operation Interflex, a UK-led programme involving 13 partner countries aimed at training Ukrainian soldiers in Western and NATO-style combat methods. While the British unit was helping prepare Ukrainian troops for the war against Russia’s invasion, it also gained valuable insights from Ukraine’s advanced experience in drone warfare.

Ukrainian forces, now regarded as global leaders in battlefield drone operations, are influencing how Western militaries rethink training, tactics, and technology for modern warfare. Their advice has already shaped drone training approaches beyond the UK, with similar simulator-based methods reportedly adopted by other Western forces, including the US Army.

The exchange highlights how Ukraine’s frontline experience is reshaping military doctrine and preparing allied forces for future conflicts where drone warfare plays a central role.