The British Army is funding a so-called drone degree to turn civilians and soldiers into experts on designing and building uncrewed systems. Fifteen civilian students and up to five soldiers a year will take part in the undergraduate course, supported by a £240,000 investment from the Army.

Ukrainian military chiefs estimate uncrewed weapons account for around 70% of all casualties.

Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said: "In Ukraine, drones are causing more casualties than artillery - that's the reality of modern warfare. This degree gives young engineers a fast track to careers at the cutting edge, protecting Britain and powering growth in places like Hereford.

“These graduates will strengthen our Armed Forces and help push forward advances in civilian and commercial drone technology, developing homegrown talent, building British capabilities, from battlefield to business.”

The defence-focused drone degree will start in September this year and cover the design, build and testing of drone systems.

James Newby, CEO of the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, said: “This degree reflects the scale of the opportunity in front of us — to equip the next generation of engineers with skills that matter now, and to quickly deliver positive impacts in terms of skills, defence and a security capability and regional growth.

“The fact that we expect many local young people to take on the degree and build their futures with us, is incredibly exciting.”

Earlier this month, Defence Secretary John Healey announced production would start on a new type of drone for Ukraine called an Octopus, designed to intercept other drones used by Russia to attack civilian targets.

The UK aims to produce thousands of the drones per month, with each Octopus costing just 10% of the drones they are designed to intercept.