A unique platform for training the engineers of the future has opened at the National University of Kyiv Aviation Institute (KAI). In partnership with the Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer NPP "Atlon Avia", the UAV Modeling Laboratory — AVIA Lab — has launched. This event marks a new stage in the integration of the defense industry and higher education.
A space for innovation
The new laboratory is not just a classroom with blueprints. AVIA Lab occupies a vast space comprising five specialized rooms. It features a composite room for working with modern materials, a mechanical zone, a lecture hall, as well as separate classrooms for model assembly and working with schoolchildren. This zoning allows for a full cycle of work: from theoretical classes to practical assembly.
Technologies of real production
Students have gained access to serious industrial equipment usually used in production. The laboratory's arsenal already includes:
- Laser engraving machine;
- CNC milling machine (Computer Numerical Control);
- Vacuum thermoforming machine.
Initially, the equipment is used for educational tasks, but in the near future, full-scale assembly of drone models will begin on its basis.
Business investment in education
The Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lesnoi, noted the strategic importance of this project. According to him, the key point is the willingness of businesses operating in the aviation and defense technology sectors to invest in university infrastructure.
"If we are talking specifically about laboratories for career guidance in aviation topics, for attracting youth to engineering activities — this is the first such laboratory," the minister emphasized.
Results of the first year of work
The laboratory began operating in test mode back in October 2025. During this period, AVIA Lab has already united two educational streams, in which more than 120 students participated. The head of the laboratory, Serhiy Dulenko, considers the main achievement of this stage to be the formation of the core team. This is a group of students and lyceum students who regularly attend classes and, by their example, involve other participants in the work.
The legacy of aircraft designers
Support from industry authorities played an important role in the establishment of the laboratory. A valuable moment for the participants was the speech by Professor of Mathematics at NU "KAI", Anna Olegovna Antonova, daughter of the legendary aircraft designer Oleg Antonov. She emphasized that the main thing in UAV modeling is the result. "Even if it is just a paper plane to start with, the laboratory is a wonderful place for creation," the professor noted.
Future plans
The next stage of AVIA Lab's development is linked to a transition to full-scale scientific research in the field of aviation and aircraft construction. The project demonstrates how practical training on modern equipment can accelerate the training of personnel for high-tech industries.
