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Lithuania Strengthens Its Drone Capabilities with New UAV Acquisitions from United States.
Lithuania continues its commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities with recent acquisitions from the United States, including advanced manpack radios and small uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV). These agreements, signed by the Defence Materiel Agency (DMA) under the Ministry of National Defence, represent an investment in modernizing the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Illustration photo issued by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense. (Picture source: Lithuanian MoD)
One of the key acquisitions involves a set of L3Harris manpack radios, valued at approximately 25 million dollars. These advanced communication systems will be integrated into Lithuania’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) and Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles, providing enhanced communication capabilities for troops in the field. L3Harris radios are considered among the most advanced in their category, ensuring that the Lithuanian forces will have reliable and efficient communication technology.
In addition to the radios, Lithuania secured a contract for the acquisition of a small UAS from the U.S. manufacturer AeroVironment Inc., a leader in uncrewed aerial systems. Worth 7.8 million dollars, this deal focuses on vertical take-off drones designed for fire control and adjustment tasks. These systems will be integrated with the Switchblade 600 combat drones, also acquired from the U.S. government. The UAS is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025, with plans for future supplementation to further strengthen Lithuania's drone capabilities.
AeroVironment offers several UAS (uncrewed aerial systems) models that could match the description given in the release, particularly vertical take-off drones for fire control and adjustment tasks. Here are some of the AeroVironment UAS models that could potentially be part of this acquisition.
The Wasp AE is a tactical medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone designed to offer surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and it is capable of vertical takeoff using a launch ramp. Although it is larger than smaller UAS, it could be suitable for fire control tasks due to its surveillance capabilities and endurance.
The Puma 3 AE is a small drone designed for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is capable of vertical takeoff and landing and is used for tactical missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. This model could be a good candidate for fire control and adjustment tasks, although it is lighter and designed for shorter missions.
Although not specifically mentioned in the articles, the Quantix Recon is a hybrid drone capable of both long-range surveillance missions and data collection tasks, with the ability to take off and land vertically. This model is particularly useful for hard-to-access areas, which could make it an interesting option for fire control support missions.
Lithuania’s growing acquisitions from the United States reflect its strengthening defense posture in the Baltic region. With a mid-term procurement plan valued at 1.3 billion dollars, the country has become the largest purchaser of U.S. weaponry among the Baltic states, accounting for approximately 20% of its military acquisitions. Among the systems acquired are Javelin anti-tank missiles, JLTV vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters, HINARS, AMRAAM for medium-range NASAMS, and Switchblade drones, all contributing to the modernization of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
These acquisitions are part of Lithuania's broader defense strategy to improve its operational capabilities and strengthen regional security in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.