Drone training

A unit of the French Air and Space Force Academy located in Salon-de-Provence, the UAV Crew Initiation and Training Center has three main objectives:

• To train light UAV remote pilots and heavy UAV crew members (remote aircraft pilots and sensor operators) of all UAVs operated by the Air and Space Force. In view of the development of the systems implemented, and based on the operational and educational experience acquired by the Air and the Space Force, the CIFED (UAV Crew Training Centre) trains the entities of the armed forces, directoratesand services of the MINARM, as well as international organizations;
• To promote innovation and maintain a technological advantage for the direct benefit of combatants in operation, whether it be new capabilities on mini-UAVs or the improvement of anti-drone warfare (LAD, counter drone department);
• Thinking about and improving tomorrow's battles, to understand the urban and combat environment. The CIFED collects and analyzes the feedbackfrom mini-UAVs and LAD. It also monitors the situation in order to produce regulatory and doctrinal recommendations for the supervision and control of new capabilities.

In 2021, the UAV Crew Training Center will be the leading aeronautical training center of the Air and Space Force in terms of the number of qualified trainees.

The CIFED implements, renews, and creates training partnerships on light drones with inter-service and inter-ministerial organizations, both French and foreign, including: the General Directorate of the National Police, Customs, the Air Force, the Inter-service Directorate of Infrastructure Networks and Information Systems, the General Directorate of Armaments, the Internal Security Forces of Monaco,...

Prospects for training on heavy UAV simulators and with new partners on light UAVs will be part of the CIFED's training plan in the coming months.