ShareSeven-Year-Old Pilots
Starting in 2026, Russia will launch a nationwide drone piloting championship for children and youth, following a directive from President Vladimir Putin. The competition, titled Pilots of the Future, will be organized by the pro-Kremlin youth movement Movement of the First and the Russian Drone Racing Federation.
📌 Minimum age lowered to 7 — The current minimum age of 10 will be reduced to 7 years old. The Ministry of Sports and the Drone Racing Federation are tasked with amending regulations to allow younger schoolchildren not only to compete in drone races but also to earn official sports rankings in the field.
📌 State-funded competition — The championship will be funded directly from the federal budget, with the government now required to allocate funds for its organization every year.
📌 More than just races — Pilots of the Future will also include educational components. Technical workshops and learning activities will be integrated into the tournament’s schedule.
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, drones have become one of Russia’s primary weapons. Drone piloting is already part of the official school curriculum under the “Technology” subject, and a textbook for 8th–9th graders on UAVs was recently added to the federal list. Now, training will begin as early as age 7.
