Lithuania to deliver first FPV drones to Ukraine in early fall
Illustrative image (Getty Images)
Ukraine will receive the first Lithuanian-made FPV drones, probably in the second half of September 2024, according to Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas.
Last week, the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania announced that combat drones of 5 Lithuanian manufacturers passed the department's tests in front-line conditions and will be sent to Ukraine. This was the second attempt since the first test of the UAV failed.
UAVs of eight Lithuanian companies were tested in Ukraine in two stages, and technical problems arose at the initial stage of flights in the operational environment.
Kasčiūnas says that Lithuania is also considering the possibility of purchasing UAVs from manufacturers that have passed tests.
He adds that it is currently planned to supply Ukraine with drones of Lithuanian production of 5 million euros and allocate up to 3 million euros for the needs of the Armed Forces of Lithuania. The rest of the 10 million euro program will be used to purchase reconnaissance drones for Ukraine.
Background
At the beginning of July, Lithuania signed contracts worth 36 million euros for the purchase of various types of drones from Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian manufacturers. The Defense Ministry expects most of the drones to be delivered this fall, with the rest arriving in early 2025.
In general, Lithuania is one of Ukraine's allies, which supports us not only in the humanitarian sphere but also in the military. For example, in June, Lithuania handed over 14 M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine as part of the demining coalition.
