Drone Coalition raises nearly €500 million for drone purchases

The Latvian-led Drone Coalition has already raised almost €500 million.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds announced this in the social network X.

He noted that Denmark and the Netherlands contributed €400 million, Canada €70 million, Lithuania €3 million, and Latvia about €10 million.

Sprūds added that this is only the beginning, and negotiations with other countries are underway.

EOS C VTOL UAVs received by the DIU from the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation. April 2024. Photo credits: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

Drone Coalition

On January 18, Militarnyi reported on the creation of the Drone Coalition.

Latvia initiated the establishment of the Drone Coalition. The initiative was announced during a meeting between its Defense Minister Andris Sprūds and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umierov in December 2023.

According to the Latvian Minister, this initiative will assist the Ukrainian military in a war where the use of drones has become an important element of combat operations.

Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalization, presented Ukraine’s need for unmanned systems, electronic warfare, and technologies to protect critical infrastructure to representatives of 13 participating countries.

Illustrative photo of the Delair DT46 drone. February 2024. Photo credits: Sébastien Lecornu

The partner countries expressed their support and understanding of the feasibility of the coalition.

Ukraine officials offered the partners a form of drone coalition, which was called 50, 30, 20, where 50% of the tranche is the purchase from the Ukrainian manufacturers.

Ukraine is ready to receive 30% of its drones from manufacturers in partner countries, and 20%, which constitutes the remainder from the total of 100%, is allocated for joint ventures.

According to this plan, joint ventures and joint plants should be established in Ukraine.

Kateryna Chernohorenko added that there have already been several rounds of negotiations between partners, and Ukrainian companies that can provide such an opportunity for joint ventures. The drone coalition includes not only aircraft or drones, but all domains.