Drone Coalition marks its first anniversary

On February 14, the first anniversary of the Drone Coalition, founded by Latvia and the United Kingdom, is being marked.

“We can proudly look back at what has been achieved in the first year of the Drone Coalition – Latvia’s drone industry has not only provided practical support to Ukraine on the battlefield in the fight against the occupying army but has also experienced rapid growth. Our manufacturers have proven themselves as reliable and innovative partners. It is important to remember that this is only the beginning – we will continue to develop our capabilities and support Ukraine until its victory,” emphasized Defence Minister Andris Sprūds.

Thanks to participation in the international Drone Coalition, Latvia has made significant progress in drone manufacturing. This initiative has not only strengthened the country’s national defence capabilities, but also provided new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, research, and the military industry as a whole.

Participation in the Drone Coalition has given Latvia access to unique knowledge and experience from the war in Ukraine, as well as the opportunity to test and develop the most advanced drone solutions within the framework of international procurement. The National Armed Forces have used the acquired knowledge to develop a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) concept and enhance combat capabilities. At the same time, the number of drone manufacturers in Latvia has increased – though at different stages of development, local companies now have opportunities to participate in international procurements and gain recognition in the global market.

The total support from all Drone Coalition member states for Ukraine’s drone capabilities reached 1,8 billion EUR in 2024. Last year Latvia allocated 20 million EUR for the needs of the Drone Coalition, and the same amount is planned for this year. Also, in 2024, Latvia has delivered nearly 5,000 drones to Ukraine.

Latvian drone manufacturers have proven themselves as strong players in the international arena – two Latvian companies won in the international drone fund procurement, outperforming 265 competitors. Building on this success, Latvia will continue to develop its drone industry and strengthen defence capabilities while ensuring continued deliveries to Ukraine this year.

Additionally, on May 28, the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with Riga Technical University, will organize an international Drone Summit at the ATTA Center in Riga. The summit will bring together prominent speakers and guests, political leaders from Drone Coalition member states, military experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders of the unmanned aerial vehicle industry.

The Drone Summit will be a one-day event discussing the coalition’s achievements, lessons learned, and future goals, with a focus on global security and modern warfare challenges.
It has been previously reported that the international Drone Coalition, led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, currently includes 17 member states—Latvia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and Sweden.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, February 12, at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels, Norway signed a statement expressing its intention to join the Drone Coalition. It means that soon the coalition will be represented by 18 member states.

The goal of the Drone Coalition member states is to ensure the delivery of drones needed for Ukraine, provide technological support, and assist in personnel training. The commitment includes supplying combat drones of various capacities designed to meet the requirements set by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

MoD Military Public Affairs Department
Media Relations Section
Phone: 67335231
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv