Lithuania to launch Ukrainian drone production
Photo: Lithuania plans to begin manufacturing Ukrainian drones (Getty Images)
Lithuania aims to establish production of Ukrainian drones on its territory as part of a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the defense industry, says Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas.
According to Kaunas, this initiative will be implemented through joint investments under the defense industry cooperation agreement signed by Lithuania and Ukraine in May.
"We have an agreement with Ukraine known as the drone deal. Changes are currently being made within the ministry’s team to bring in key personnel who will begin translating that agreement into practical solutions on the ground, so that we can localize Ukrainian drone production in Lithuania," Kaunas says.
He also emphasized that the drones will be manufactured in Lithuania using technology acquired from Ukraine.
According to the Minister, the project will benefit both countries by expanding Ukraine’s production capacity while simultaneously strengthening Lithuania's defense industry through new production facilities, technological advancements, and opportunities for Lithuanian engineers to work alongside Ukrainian specialists.
Elijus Čivilis, executive director of the investment promotion agency Invest Lithuania, previously stated that several Ukrainian defense industry investors had received approval from the Lithuanian commission, which reviews transactions related to national security, to begin operations in the country.
Ukraine and the EU have launched a new format of defense partnership. It is intended to serve as the foundation for the Drone Deal and may eventually be expanded to other types of weaponry.
The Netherlands and Denmark have become the eighth and ninth countries to join the international Drone Deal agreement. This will enable the joint production of drones and the development of cutting-edge technologies.
Germany had previously proposed concluding a bilateral agreement with Ukraine on the exchange of defense technologies. Alexander Hoffmann, a representative of the CSU in the Bundestag, stated that Berlin should draw on Ukraine's experience in the fields of unmanned aerial vehicles, counter-drone measures, and missile systems to strengthen its own defense capabilities.
