UK-Latvia drone coalition boosts Ukraine with thousands of drones

The "drone coalition" led by the United Kingdom and Latvia will supply drones worth 250 million dollars to Ukraine. This information was announced on the British Ministry of Defense‘s official website. 

On February 15, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps declared that Britain and Latvia would jointly spearhead a substantial coalition to manufacture drones for Ukraine, The Bulgarian Military reports.

The effectiveness of FPV drones on the battlefield has been greatly demonstrated since the full-scale Russian invasion. They grant operators situational awareness and the capacity to successfully infiltrate enemy positions and armoured vehicles.

Thousands of drones for Ukraine

Marking a significant evolution in support extended by the West, Britain stands at the forefront, vowing to significantly upscale the delivery of First-Person View drones [FPVs] to Ukraine, according to a recent announcement. 

Setting the tone for the year, this initiative marks the early rollout of a substantial £200 million [$250 million] program introduced by the Prime Minister in January. 

In a move that promises to inject vitality into the drone industry, the UK plans to procure thousands of these FPV drones for Ukraine. They will source them from homegrown manufacturers and others, a strategy that neatly aligns with the Prime Minister’s economic growth objectives. 

“In line with our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s needs, we’ve ramped up our aid to £2.5 billion this year alone, allocating a significant £200 million of this towards drone production. This strategic investment positions us as Ukraine’s leading drone supplier,” shared Grant Shapps, the British Defense Secretary.

Increase the defensive capacity

On the sidelines of a NATO Ministerial Convention, the British Defense Secretary is organizing a meeting with his counterparts from the 13-strong NATO membership and Sweden. The key agenda? To ink an agreement focused on two groundbreaking multinational ammunition and missile supply programs. 

These enterprising initiatives, proudly led by the United Kingdom, aim to boost the capabilities of the defence industry across the affluent Euro-Atlantic belt. They also aspire to quickly replenish stockpiles and provide unwavering support to Ukraine. 

In addition, Britain is actively collaborating with its NATO allies, such as Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the mighty US, to ensure top-notch air defence hardware is delivered to Ukraine. Most recently, Canada has joined this crucial initiative, which has so far successfully dispatched hundreds of missiles and a mix of short- and medium-range air defence structures to protect Ukrainian urban areas from Russian attacks.

Local production

As reported by BulgarianMilitary.com on January 4, Ukraine is poised to challenge Russia’s dominance in the field of drone production and utilization. In a New Year’s Eve speech, President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined an ambitious plan to equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces with one million drones by the end of 2024. This would entail approximately 2,732 drones being active every day, either engaged in manufacturing or participating in combat operations. 

Ukrainian domain experts predict that by 2024, Ukraine will be focusing intensively on scaling up its domestic military production. This initiative to stimulate local manufacturing, described as the “engine of economic recovery”, is projected to increase its capacity at least sixfold. This strategy, unveiled by Oleksandr Kamishin, the Minister of Strategic Industries, on December 27, forms the basis of Kyiv’s future plans.

On Target

There’s been a notable shift in Russia’s tactics in Ukraine, directly affecting the country’s industry. It’s fair to say that Russia’s interventions, not only in 2023 but also those predicted for 2024, are primarily directed towards enterprises within the defense sector rather than Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. At least, that’s the gossip making rounds in Russia. 

However, it’s not just Moscow spilling the beans. Information from intelligence agents in London, UK, supports these claims. The British intelligence reports maintain that Russia’s new prime targets are facilities like military factories, workshops, and munitions depots. 

Echoing this loudly and clearly, British intelligence stated to Platform X, “It’s clear that Russian strategists acknowledge the escalating importance of defence industry skills and are gearing up for a prolonged conflict.”