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The Lithuanian government has signed a contract with a drone manufacturer to supply thousands of first-person-view drones to the Ukrainian and Lithuanian armed forces.

What’s the deal: The contract between the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense and Granta Autonomy, valued at $1 million, will involve producing and delivering nearly 1,000 GA-10-FPV-AI drones. The contract is part of a larger defense procurement initiative that will see 7,300 drones produced, with 2,300 units allocated to the Lithuanian military and 5,000 units donated to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Drone capabilities: The GA-10-FPV-AI drones are quadcopters with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, allowing them to operate in various terrains and environments. These drones are designed to function autonomously even in GPS-denied areas, making them highly reliable in contested or electronically jammed battlefields. They can carry a maximum payload of 3 kilograms, allowing them to be versatile in their missions, including surveillance, reconnaissance, or small munitions. Additionally, the drones are customizable, enabling operators to adjust video transmission frequencies and integrate different types of cameras to suit specific operational needs.

This comes as Lithuania is actively integrating drones into its military forces as part of a broader strategy to enhance its combat capabilities with modern, cost-effective technology. In addition to Lithuania, many other countries are investing heavily in lightweight drones after their widespread use in the Ukraine-Russia war.