Danish conscripts in uniform begin drone engineering course at university

For the first time, 36 Danish conscripts have started a specialised drone training programme at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), where they will learn to build and repair drones from scratch, DR reports.

The soldiers, dressed in full military uniform, arrived at the university in Odense last Monday, drawing curious looks as they marched through the halls. “It was a bit strange walking down the corridor with everyone staring at us,” said conscript Thomas Lystrup.

The unconventional collaboration between SDU and the Danish Defence replaces weeks of barracks training in Haderslev with university lectures. The conscripts—part of Denmark’s first drone unit—will spend two weeks assembling drones using soldering irons, wiring, and circuit boards.

Drone researcher Kjeld Jensen, who normally teaches engineering students, said the partnership allows civilian expertise to support military needs. “We usually work on drones for tracking biodiversity or civil applications, but it’s important we use our skills to help train these conscripts,” he explained.

The shift comes as modern warfare, particularly the conflict in Ukraine, has demonstrated drones’ critical role on the battlefield. Jensen noted that soldiers must now understand the technology beyond basic operation. “New systems often fail in combat. If troops grasp how drones fundamentally work, they can perform minor repairs under pressure,” he said.

For conscript Gustav Munch, the transition from field exercises to classroom study has been abrupt. “We went from rolling in mud and forest drills to sitting still for two weeks,” he said. “But we’ve already gained a technical foundation we can apply practically.”

Jensen described the mix of military and academic cultures as surprisingly smooth, though he did ask the conscripts to avoid marching in formation through the halls. “They’ve exceeded expectations—they’re fully engaged and better at the exercises than I hoped,” he said.

By the programme’s end, each conscript will have built a functional drone.