Drone Coalition: Latvia to provide Ukraine with over 2500 drones
5 July, 2024 Illustration photo of FPV drone. Photo from open sources In July, Latvia will hand over a significant number of attack drones to the Ukrainian Defense Forces as part of the Drone Coalition.
The Ministry of Defense of Latvia announced this on its website. In total, more than 2,500 drones of various types and specifications will be delivered for a total of EUR4 million as part of the international Drone Coalition led by Latvia. The first batch of 300 drones will arrive in the coming days.
It is noted that the drones were produced by seven Latvian companies.
Illustrative photo of an FPV drone. Photo from open sources
"Together with the members of the international Drone Coalition, we are constantly working to supply Ukraine with drones of various capacities in accordance with the current needs and requirements of the Ukrainian army," said Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds. In 2024, the Latvian Ministry of Defense allocated EUR20 million for the needs of the Drone Coalition, of which EUR10 million were earmarked for the purchase of drones for the Latvian defense industry.
It is noted that in April and May of this year, Latvia had sent 135 drones and electronic warfare equipment of various capacities to Ukraine for a total of about EUR1 million. The Drone Coalition currently includes 14 countries: Latvia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Estonia. Other countries may join the initiative in the future.
In total, as of June, the participating countries had raised EUR549 million to supply Ukraine with drones.
Ukrainian FPV drone operator
The initiative to create the Drone Coalition was announced during a meeting between the Latvian Defense Minister and the Ukrainian Defense Minister in December 2023.
On February 17, 2024, it was formed from eight countries.
In early June, the UK and Latvia opened the bidding for companies to supply FPV drones to Ukraine, on behalf of the Drone Capability Coalition.