Lithuania to send an extra 4,500 drones to Ukraine despite delivery delays
Thousands of UAS have been committed or supplied to Ukrainian forces. (Photo: Kyiv Regional Military Administration)
According to local media sources, thousands of drones destined for Ukraine are currently stuck in warehouses due to bureaucratic delays.
Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Dovile Sakaliene, has announced that the country will provide Ukraine with an additional 4,500 drones, at an approximate value of €5 million (US$5.1 million).
The delivery of this latest batch of first-person view (FPV) drones, announced in a statement on X, Sakaliene said that Lithuania has also approved a “new faster procedure for transferring state assets”, ensuring that aid – such as drones – reaches Ukraine faster.
The Lithuanian government previously announced its intent to purchase 3,000 additional Lithuanian-made UAS for Ukraine in 2024. In August 2024, it was announced that €5 million ($5.1 million) had already been earmarked for FPV procurement, with five drone manufacturers reportedly conducting tests in Ukraine.
Related Articles
How Russia is ramping up efforts to counter drones in Ukraine
Details revealed on new UAS munition destined for Ukraine
However, the Defence Minister’s statement on this additional drone delivery and faster bureaucratic procedures came as local Lithuanian press LRT reported that some thousands of drones are still currently stuck in warehouses due to delays. Anticipated delivery of these drones has now been pushed back from 2024 to 2025.
According to Shephard Defence Insight Lithuania will spend around €8 million ($8.86 million) on acquiring 7,300 Lithuanian-made FPV drones. 5,000 of this number are destined for Ukraine as military aid, while the remaining 2,300 have been procured for the Lithuanian army.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![US Navy keeps Super Hornet production restart option open, but without defined cost or timetable]()
US Navy keeps Super Hornet production restart option open, but without defined cost or timetable
The US Navy plans to preserve Super Hornet and Growler tooling as production winds down, with restart costs unassessed and final F/A-18 deliveries expected in late 2027.
-
![Connecting the layers: how networks can secure the future of European air defence]()
Connecting the layers: how networks can secure the future of European air defence
The rise of drones has reshaped the threat landscape for all European militaries. For industry, future defensive strategies must carefully balance a mix of passive and active measures to address the evolving danger, based around a highly integrated and responsive network of sensors and effectors.
-
![Germany could secure greater influence through sixth-generation fighter partnership with Sweden and Spain]()
Germany could secure greater influence through sixth-generation fighter partnership with Sweden and Spain
Germany is assessing potential pathways for a future sixth-generation fighter capability, including discussions with GCAP partners and Sweden.
-
![Quantum Systems details 480km/h Ukrainian interceptor as production scales up]()
Quantum Systems details 480km/h Ukrainian interceptor as production scales up
Quantum Systems’s Ukraine-made interceptor SPYS is thought to cost approximately 10 times less than Russia's jet-powered uncrewed aerial systems and is being produced at scale.
-
![UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs]()
UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs
The UK is seeking to extend the operational reach of uncrewed aerial vehicles, reflecting growing demand for compact, energy-efficient technology to support beyond-line-of-sight operations.
