Lithuanian Defense Ministry to purchase drones worth EUR 36 million

The Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania has signed contracts with manufacturers for the purchase of various unmanned systems for a total of about EUR 36 million.

This is said in a statement published on the website of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence, Ukrinform reports.

As noted, the ministry will procure different drone systems – small class surveillance uncrewed aircraft systems from a Latvian company Edge Autonomy, mini class surveillance drones from an Estonian Threod Systems, and micro class drones (quadcopters) from  Deftools UAB.   

Most of the drones will be delivered this autumn and the remainder – in early 2025.

According to the ministry, the acquisitions are implemented as a matter of urgency to strengthen the UAV capability and integrate it in the Lithuanian Armed Forces as soon as possible.

“Acquisition and integration of UAVs is among key priorities in the effort to have modern armed forces, therefore its development of gathering pace after 15 years of attention to the area,” the report says.

The ministry added that nearly EUR 200 million is planned to be dedicated for drone of all types procurements until 2030, the average of EUR 30 million a year. 

Photo: DELFI / KAROLINA PANSEVIČї