Lithuania is seeking to establish production of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles on its territory under a bilateral defence industry cooperation agreement, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said Tuesday.
The initiative would be carried out through joint investments under a defence industry cooperation agreement signed by Lithuania and Ukraine in May, Kaunas said.
“We have an agreement with Ukraine known as the drone deal,” Kaunas told the business daily Verslo žinios. “Changes are currently being made within the ministry’s team to bring in key personnel who will begin translating that agreement into practical solutions on the ground, so that we can localize Ukrainian drone production in Lithuania.”
Kaunas said the drones would be manufactured in Lithuania using technology acquired from Ukraine.
According to the minister, the project would benefit both countries by expanding Ukraine’s production capacity while strengthening Lithuania’s defence industry through new manufacturing capabilities, technological advances and opportunities for Lithuanian engineers to work alongside Ukrainian specialists.
Elijus Čivilis, chief executive of the investment promotion agency Invest Lithuania, has previously said that several Ukrainian defence industry investors had received approval from Lithuania’s commission reviewing transactions that meet national security interests to begin operating in the country.
In June, Kaunas invited Luxembourg-based drone manufacturer Luxuav, which was founded by Ukrainians, to carry out testing in Lithuania.
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