In 16 secondary schools conducting military preparation troops, a fresh program of the defence department “OPW with drone” is launched, which will let young people to gain the skills of handling and piloting unmanned workers. The initiative was acknowledged by Members, but respective of them made comments. Paul Bejda, Deputy Minister of Defence, referred to them.
At the beginning of November, 2 parliamentary interpellations were received by the Minister of National Defence on the "OPW with a drone" programme. The first 1 was made by Mirosław Stachowiak-Różecka (PiS), and the second by Robert Warwas, Wioletta Maria Kulpa, Lidia Czechak and Bogumiła Olbryś (PiS).
Ms Różecka, in her interview, stressed that in the context of the changing circumstances of the modern battlefield and the conclusions of the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine, the programme "OPW with drone" This is an initiative that "should be noted with appreciation, as it fits into the request to build modern defence capabilities in both the area of the Polish Armed Forces and in the area of the usage of BSP in civilian environment".
However, it pointed out that the transparency of the criteria adopted and the mode of indicating each school to be implemented in the current piloting process erstwhile selecting the schools covered by the programme rise considerable doubts. She besides asked if it was actual that the limited number of educational establishments included in the pilot MON programme "Dron ODP" was due to the deficiency of backing allocated for this purpose.
She was besides curious in whether it is actual that the schools designated for this programme have no experience in the implementation of this subject, the teacher staff for the training of pupils or the training base, and that an increase in the number of schools implementing the "OPW with a drone" programme is planned to be done in 2 years at the earliest. Ms Różecka besides suggested that the task include immediately all facilities that already have instructors, a training base and experience in the implementation of drone technology training.
In consequence to these questions, Paweł Bejda, Deputy Minister of National Defence, pointed out that 16 secondary schools (one of each voivodship) were selected for the project, which in the last 2 school years received the highest recruitment consequence of students – ODP graduates to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and took the longest part in it. Moreover, as Bejda wrote, in the process of assigning schools to the ministerial program, it was taken into account whether the educational institution afraid had the appropriate infrastructure for conducting training and flight operations, both outside the building (e.g. pitch, drill square) and under the roof (e.g. sports hall).
It has besides taken into account whether there is simply a minimum of 1 teacher (coordinator) in school who has the competence to pilot drones – BSP (A1/A2/A3) or who has individual predispositions in this direction and would like to undertake training in this area.
The Deputy Minister besides pointed out that no increase in the number of schools participating is foreseen until the pilot programme is completed. On the another hand, the time of implementation of the task "OPW with a drone" was planned for 2 school years, and its completion is planned no later than 1 July 2027.
On the another hand, Members of Warwas, Kulpa, Czechak and Olbryś asked, among others, what are the planned costs of the programme and what backing from the MON budget has been planned or spent. They besides referred to the information contained in the MON communication published on the government website gov.pl, which shows that MON finances 80% of the acquisition costs of equipment, which after 2 years of usage will be transferred to schools. In this context, Members were curious in the conditions they would gotta fulfil in order to be able to take over unmanned vehicles and the cost of maintaining and servicing these devices after they were taken over.
In response, the deputy chief of the MON informed that the costs of moving the "OPW with a drone" task had not yet been incurred, and in 2026 the financing of the task in the form of a peculiar subsidy of around PLN 1.6 million is planned. On the another hand, details on the handling of drones will be included in grant agreements scheduled for 2026.
They are presently in progress. training for teachers from 16 schools selected for the drone ODP programme. After submitting the BSP piloting exam, they will conduct classes for students who can in the future power the ranks of military drone operators.
Schools eligible for OWP with drone:
I PUL 111 Hunting Squadron advanced School in Volomina
Rotmaster Witold Pilecki advanced School in the School and Vocational Complex in Ciechanowc
University Schools Defenders squad 1920 in Włocławek
Włodzimierz Mykietyn Secondary School Complex in Skórcz
Wojciech Korfanty advanced School in Rybnik
Department of Professional Improvement in Katowice
Non-public technician of the Polish Army in Starachowice
Sibiraków School Complex No. 2 in Nowy Sącz
General W. Anders in Chełma
Tadeusz Kościuszko Secondary School Complex in Tomaszów Mazowiecki
9th Braniewska Armored Cavalry Brigade advanced School in Braniewa
2nd Secondary School in the Agricultural School Complex in Prudnik
Technical School Complex in Pile
Bolesław Chrobry advanced School Complex in Leczyajsk
2nd Cyprian Kamil Norwid advanced School in Stargard
Technical No. 6 in the method and General Schools Complex in Gorzów Wielkopolski
7th Legnica advanced School
