Lithuania plans to develop reconnaissance drone capabilities
Source：lrt.lt
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Warsaw
Update Time：2024/01/26
The Lithuanian military aims to develop reconnaissance drone capabilities within three years. In addition, it also plans to acquire combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which will form an integral part of anti-tank defense.
"We will have a fully developed capability at brigade, battalion, up to division, company level. This should be implemented over the next three years," Colonel Rolandas Greibus, head of the Development Planning Board of the Defence Staff, told media.
Major Šarūnas Savukaitis, Chief Planning Officer, reported that the purchase of small unmanned aerial vehicles (15-150 kg) is currently in the final stages. The purchase of mini drones (2-15 kg), on the other hand, will resume soon.
Military units could independently purchase micro-UAVs weighing up to 2 kg. This year, a major centralized purchase of these drones is also expected to be announced.
According to Savukaitis, Lithuania has a lot to choose from, as Germany and the U.S. can offer mini-type drones, while the U.S. and Latvia can offer small-type drones.
Colonel Greibus pointed out that combat drones would be used in conjunction with anti-tank capabilities.
"We see the combat use of these UAV systems in conjunction with anti-tank units, [...] as an integral part of the anti-tank capability," he added.
The Lithuanian Defense Ministry signed a 45-million-euro contract with the U.S. for the purchase of Switchblade 600 combat drones in 2022 in December, with the first batch of these drones to be delivered this year.
Lithuania's interest in drones stems from Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Both sides are using UAVs for various tasks, such as reconnaissance or destroying enemy targets.
Source: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2167243/lithuanian-military-plans-to-develop-reconnaissance-drone-capability-within-3-years