Knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for UAS operators

Abstract

The use of combat and commercial drones is on the rise. In addition to the use of military drones for military purposes and commercial drones for civilian purposes, the recent conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine also indicated the possibility of using commercial drones for military purposes. The profession of drone operator is becoming increasingly popular among young people interested in STEM education. Different tasks and activities require somewhat different drone operator skills, but the basics are the same. The aim of this paper is to analyze the knowledge, skills and abilities for UAS operators, both military and civilian. Based on the analysis of the literature and the results of the focus group discussion, the job descriptions were created with the job specifications for military and civilian UAS operators, along with recommendations for the future development of UAS operators in the Republic of Serbia.