British Army Debuts New Drone Training Course

Inzpire has delivered the first Central Flying School (CFS)-endorsed remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) operator training course for the British Army out of the Royal School of Artillery (RSA).

Delivered under the TIQUILA programme, the course provides a conversion-to-type qualification for the Stalker VXE30 uncrewed aerial system (UAS), known as the EAGLE by the British Army and used primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. TIQUILA is a Lockheed Martin UK led framework programme. To date, the programme has delivered more than 250 portable and packable UAS, with Inzpire developing courseware and delivering operator and maintainer training.

The new course marks the transition from an initial fielding phase into a structured programme embedded within the Army's principal artillery training establishment. Inzpire also provided the first CFS-endorsed RPAS instructor embedded within the British Army, Ian Williamson, who brings over 155 flying hours on the Eagle system and a background in MQ-9 Reaper operations. Williamson delivered the inaugural course, which concluded in June 2026.

Lasting three weeks, the conversion-to-type course accommodates students with varying levels of prior experience. Students complete a ground school phase on the Eagle's Ground Control Station before two weeks of live flying. The course was developed under the MoD's Defence Systems Approach to Training framework and carries CFS endorsement.

Ian Williamson, Senior RPAS Subject Matter Expert, Inzpire, said: "The course provides an excellent opportunity to engage with serving UAS operators, who must constantly evolve and learn new skills to operate in today's ever-changing battlespace."