The coalition of drones for Ukraine is working. In the coming days, Latvia will provide another batch of its own drones to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces. “The next set of drones is ready! About 500 Latvian-made drones will support the Ukrainians in the performance of various combat tasks,” – wrote on the X network Minister of Defense of Latvia Andris Spruds.
Latvia, which, by the way, is the founder and leader of the coalition together with Great Britain, last month also provided our country with 500 drones. In July, the Ministry of Defense of this country reported about the beginning of the phased delivery of drones to Ukraine, indicating the planned delivery of more than 2,500 different types of combat unmanned aerial systems.
This year, the Ministry of Defense of Latvia allocated about 20 million euros for the needs of the drone coalition. Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have long been used in both civilian and military fields. However, Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine proved that their role and application will only expand in the future.
We would like to remind you that the coalition of drones for Ukraine is an international initiative formed by 16 countries to provide significant support to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. Formed during a meeting of the Defense Contact Group of Ukraine, commonly known as the Ramstein meetings, in February 2024, the coalition aims to supply Ukraine with one million drones. These drones serve many purposes, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strikes against the enemy.
Special emphasis is placed on FPV drones – unmanned aerial vehicles with a video camera that transmits images to the operator and with an attached warhead. They proved highly effective on the battlefield after the full-scale Russian invasion, providing Ukrainian operators with the environment to engage enemy positions, armored vehicles, and ships.
The organization does not have fixed contributions, which takes into account the different capabilities of its members. For example, Latvia has pledged to allocate at least €10 million a year for drones for Ukraine, and Lithuania – €3 million. At the same time, richer countries are able to contribute more substantial amounts. The British government announced the allocation of 325 million pounds for the purchase of 10,000 drones for the Armed Forces. The Netherlands and Denmark announced a joint purchase of UAVs for Ukraine for a total of €400 million, and Canada allocated €70 million to purchase multi-purpose SkyRanger UAV complexes.
The total budget announced by the coalition members should reach 1.5 billion euros.
At the same time, Great Britain and Latvia, on behalf of the drone coalition, held a tender for the supply of FPV drones to Ukraine. As part of the competition, the procurement for testing unmanned aerial vehicles is planned for 352,000 euros. The purpose of the competition was to promote the ability of Western countries to mass-produce drones at an affordable price, thereby strengthening local industry.
However, the coalition’s efforts are not limited to providing drones. They also include the training of Ukrainian operators, support and modernization of drone technologies, as well as ensuring the full integration of these systems into Ukraine’s defense strategy. Such cooperation reflects the broad commitment of the international community to support Ukraine with advanced technologies and military assistance.
The creation of the Drone Coalition highlights the strategic importance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in modern warfare and underscores the global recognition of Ukraine’s need for such technology to enhance its defense capabilities.
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