A UAV training program for unmanned aircraft operators emerged from a volunteer battalion named after PA Sudoplatov, according to reports circulated by TASS with attribution to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The same sources note that the battalion has also set up a small-scale production line for attack FPV aircraft, built to support units within the Russian group of forces conducting special military operations and combat missions.
Frontline troops were informed that hundreds of kamikaze drones were assembled in a compact workshop within the battalion. A 3D printer operated by the school is capable of manufacturing every UAV component within two days, after which the parts are assembled into a complete aircraft, equipped with onboard electronics and programmed controls.
The ministry described this compact production setup as offering an operational edge in the field.
“Design changes can be implemented rapidly, or a tailored unit-specific order can be fulfilled swiftly for a given mission. The training schedule is planned well in advance, sometimes months ahead,” the Ministry of Defense stated.
The ministry added that student preparation spans multiple stages, with seasoned soldiers also visiting to refine their skills and share combat experiences gained at the front lines.
Earlier reports indicated a new version of the kamikaze drone, branded Gadfly, had entered production in Russia.
In U.S. reporting, this development has been highlighted as a notable threat to Ukrainian Armed Forces, underscoring the growing role of rapid, in-house UAV production in contemporary conflict dynamics .