Lithuania Delivers New Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Ukraine as Part of the International Drone Coalition
On May 17, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced the delivery of a new military aid package to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, that consisted of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 5.56x45mm ammunition, anti-drone equipment, 100 kW generators, and folding beds. The delivery is part of the Vilnius government’s commitment to supporting the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) coalition, which is led by the United Kingdom and Latvia. For security reasons, the ministry’s statement did not reveal the number of equipment delivered, the models of the relevant UAVs, or their destination.
The international Drone Coalition, which Latvia proposed and coordinated with the United Kingdom, was officially established on February 14, 2024. Aside from Lithuania, Canada, the Netherlands, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany have so far joined the Coalition, which aims to supply Ukraine with thousands of UAVs, including first-person view (FPV) drones, which have proven to be extremely effective on the battlefield. Latvian Minister of Defense Andris Spruds stated on May 14 that the Coalition has collected more than 500 million euros ($535 million) so far. While Denmark and the Netherlands contributed 400 million euros, Lithuania 3 million euros, and Latvia approximately 10 million euros, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom reported allocating additional funds to produce various types of unmanned aerial vehicles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Aside from its committed support for the international drone coalition, Lithuania has provided approximately 616 million euros in military aid to Ukraine since the war began. These include L-39ZA Albatros light attack aircraft, M577 armored vehicles, NASAMS air defense system, Bofors L70 short-range automatic anti-aircraft systems, M113 tracked armored personnel carriers, electrical generators, millions of small arms ammunition, and anti-tank weapons. In addition to regular military equipment supplies, Lithuania actively trains Ukrainian soldiers, provides medical treatment and rehabilitation, expert advice, and contributes to Ukraine’s international fund. Lithuania additionally established a long-term support plan for Ukraine. A new military aid package worth 200 million Euros is planned for Ukraine for the years 2024-2026, according to this plan.