As part of a collaboration between the University of Southern Denmark and the Danish Defence, a team of drone conscripts visited HCA Airport this week where they built, tested and flew their own drones.
Drones and unmanned systems are playing an increasingly important role in modern defence.
The war in Ukraine has clearly shown how drone technology has changed the operational reality on the battlefield in just a few years. This applies to surveillance, reconnaissance, situational awareness and specific operational deployments.
Therefore, there is a growing need to train drone pilots, operators and technical specialists who understand both the technology and the practical conditions in which drones are used.
As part of this development, a team of drone recruits from the Danish Defence visited HCA Airport earlier this week as part of a collaboration between the University of Southern Denmark and the Danish Defence.
The conscripts' base during the visit was SDU's Drone Centre, located at HCA Airport alongside the UAS Denmark Test Centre. Here the conscripts built, tested and flew drones as part of their training.
They made good use of the airport's specialised drone facilities and the surrounding airspace, which is used daily for testing, research and development of drones and unmanned systems.
Technical training
The visit is part of a new collaboration between SDU and the Danish Defence, where drone conscripts receive technical training in drone technology, system understanding and practical flights.
“Drones are developing at a pace where practical testing and operational understanding are crucial. This applies to companies, researchers and authorities - and increasingly also the Danish Defence. At UAS Denmark Test Centre and HCA Airport, we are proud to offer an environment where new drone solutions can be developed, tested and understood under realistic conditions,” says Michael Larsen, Head of UAS Denmark Test Centre.
HCA Airport as a drone hub
This week's activities are closely linked to the wider role that HCA Airport plays in the Danish drone ecosystem today.
The airport is not only an international airport, but also home to the UAS Denmark Test Center, SDU Drone Center and a growing business park with companies within drone technology, sensors, communication and defence-related solutions.
As Denmark's national drone test centre, UAS Denmark Test Center offers access to test facilities, airspace and operational expertise for drone developers, companies, researchers and public organisations. In recent years, the collaboration with the Danish Armed Forces and other defence-related actors has also been strengthened, including within dual-use technology, testing, knowledge sharing and development of new drone and counter-drone capabilities.
The Danish Defence has also established its Drone Centre in Odense, which creates further opportunities for collaboration between defence, research and business.
This week's visit from the drone guards is therefore another example of how the environment around HCA Airport is being used as a platform for practical learning, testing and collaboration.