Inside Ukraine’s Covert FPV Drone Academy: How Pilots Are Trained for the New Front Line

Inside a Covert Drone Pilot Training Facility

Hidden in a disused warehouse at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, a military instructor who uses the call sign "DC" led CBS News through a makeshift practice course at the Killhouse Academy. Students—both civilians and military personnel—train there to pilot first-person-view (FPV) drones that have become a crucial and often deadly tool since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Training: Simulation, Flight Practice and Precision

Trainees learn through a mix of computer simulations and hands-on sessions that include live flight and target practice with real drones. The program emphasizes steady hands, patience, and disciplined target acquisition. "You have to be calm; you cannot see a target and rush to it like a bull," DC said. "You must be thinking, watching, and detecting your target — that’s the hardest part of the job."

"On the battlefield, you often fly long distances with poor signal — it can make your eyes bleed,"

DC said while guiding a practice drone through the course.

Small Machines, Big Consequences

Though compact, FPV drones can carry an explosive charge and be guided precisely to distant targets by operators using a live camera feed. Their low cost and expendability have reshaped tactics on both sides of the conflict, allowing Ukraine to inflict damage while reducing risk to personnel. "To save lives, to save money and time, you have to become unmanned," DC said. "If you use manpower, it will only get you so far."

Global Implications

The widespread use of inexpensive, lethal drones in the nearly four-year conflict has drawn close attention from the U.S. military. On June 6, President Trump signed the "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" executive order to accelerate domestic production of low-cost armed drones. The Pentagon has also announced plans to purchase up to 200,000 drones with lethal capabilities by 2027 under its Drone Dominance program.

Estimates suggest drones account for a large share of battlefield casualties in Ukraine — some sources put that figure as high as about 80% — though figures vary and are difficult to verify independently. Regardless, the rapid integration of FPV systems signals a broader shift toward unmanned, networked warfare.

Adaptation and the Arms Race

DC described the technology and tactics as part of an ongoing arms race. He said he does not keep a count of how many enemy combatants he has killed, instead focusing on training the next generation of operators. "Only those who adapt will survive. Adaptability is key," he said. "It's a constant race for us and for them, to find an upper hand over the enemy."

Why it matters: The Killhouse Academy illustrates how small, inexpensive technology can shift battlefield dynamics, influence defense procurement and force militaries worldwide to rethink tactics, training and production.