Athlon Avia and KAI open joint laboratory to train aerospace engineers

The National Aviation University “Kyiv Aviation Institute” (KAI), in partnership with Ukrainian drone manufacturer Athlon Avia, has launched the AVIA Lab aeromodelling laboratory. The new 350 m² training and practical facility is designed to train university and school students in aerospace engineering.

The laboratory features five specialised zones: a composites room, a mechanical workshop, a lecture hall, an assembly workshop, and a dedicated classroom for school students. The facility is equipped with advanced machinery, including a laser engraver, a CNC milling machine, and a vacuum thermoforming machine.

On its opening day, AVIA Lab hosted the launch of the UAV Engineering Bootcamp 2026—a nine-day practical intensive focused on the design and development of unmanned aerial systems. Seventy university and school students are participating in the programme, working directly with the laboratory’s manufacturing equipment and learning to assemble drone models.

The laboratory had been operating in a test mode since October 2025, during which time it trained over 120 students across two cohorts. According to KAI President Kseniia Semenova, the next stage of AVIA Lab’s development will focus on scientific research in aviation and aircraft engineering.

Applications for the upcoming training cohort can be submitted via the official KAI website.

Defender Media previously reported on the ecosystem of UAV manufacturer Deviro and the latest products added to the company’s portfolio.