Ukraine will receive the first FPV drones manufactured in Lithuania, likely in the second half of September 2024.
This was reported by Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas, as quoted by the local publication LRT.
As the publication recalls, last week, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced that combat drones from five Lithuanian manufacturers had passed the department's frontline tests and would be sent to Ukraine. It's worth noting that this was the second attempt, as the drones did not pass the first test.
Drones from eight Lithuanian companies were tested in Ukraine in two stages, with technical issues arising during the initial phase of flights in the operational environment.
Kasčiūnas stated that Lithuania is also considering purchasing drones from manufacturers who passed the tests.
He added that the current plan includes supplying Ukraine with Lithuanian-made drones worth 5 million euros and allocating up to 3 million euros for the needs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The remaining funds from the 10 million euro programme will be used to purchase reconnaissance drones for Ukraine.
Lithuania's national defense system began to focus more on drones after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, where both sides have been using UAVs for various tasks, ranging from reconnaissance to destroying enemy targets.
