Latvia to Allocate €20 Million to Ukraine for Drone Coalition and Strengthen Domestic Production
In 2024, Latvia plans to invest €20 million in a drone coalition to support Ukraine. An equal amount will be directed towards developing its own drone forces, which could also aid Ukrainian military efforts. Thus, Latvia will not only supply drones to Ukraine, but will also more actively integrate these technologies into its national armed forces. This was announced by Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds, as reported by LSM.
"Understanding the importance of drones in warfare and drawing on Ukraine's experience, we can announce the launch of an initiative to develop drone capabilities this year. Figuratively speaking, we are talking about creating an army of drones," said Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds.
Spruds noted that local companies will be involved in drone production. The €20 million will be used for infrastructure development and drone procurement, including at least €10 million worth from Latvian companies. He added that seven companies have already passed drone testing, with negotiations for drone purchases set for June.
"Our goal is to acquire up to 1,000 drones, which may also be directed to support Ukraine," added Spruds.
Recognizing the importance of drones in modern warfare, Latvia is actively involving local companies and youth in this sector. From 29 to 30 May, the Latvian War Museum will host the "Drones for Ukraine" idea hackathon. The hackathon invites companies, engineers, technology enthusiasts, and students to submit new ideas for the development of precision munitions, alternative navigation systems, unconventional communication means, and counter-drone systems.
Moreover, drone training will be conducted at various levels, including the National Defence Service, the Youth Guard, Colonel Oskars Kalpaks Vocational Secondary School, and within national defence training activities.
"We are strengthening the overall drone ecosystem and our own industry, capable of innovatively creating, developing, and supplying these technologies for our armed forces and to support Ukraine," said Andris Spruds.
It is worth noting that on 16 January this year, Andris Spruds announced that Latvia is working on forming a coalition of nearly 20 countries to provide thousands of drones to Ukraine. On 25 January, the Ministry of Defence reported that Sweden and the United Kingdom had joined the drone coalition. On 15 February, the UK government announced that the United Kingdom and Latvia would lead this coalition, which will provide Ukraine with thousands of drones worth $250 million.