Lithuania will send a civilian van converted into a mobile drone repair station to aid the Ukrainian military in its war with Russia, Latvian media reported on Wednesday.
The van, which has room for two military technicians and comes with essential drone repair equipment such as a 3D printer and a soldering station, will make its way to Ukraine in the coming days.
The vehicle's bright orange color will be concealed in a camouflage net.
Repair stations are an essential part of support networks for the damage-prone military drones, which have emerged as an indispensable weapon in Ukraine’s arsenal during the nearly three-year-old conflict.
Emīls Paupe-Balodis, Chairman of the Board of SOS Help Ukraine, said: “We realized that drones are produced in Ukraine in huge quantities, but the big problem is that reconnaissance drones like, say, the DJI Mavic, which are very widespread, they often break, are damaged and are difficult to repair.
“Both because of the lack of parts and because there are high-risk places to set up workshops.”
Ukrainian drone workshops are usually set up close to the frontline to ensure quick support for the damage-prone equipment.
But this approach carries with it a major risk of being targeted in Russian missile attacks, making mobile service stations the preferable solution, says Anatolii Kutsevol, Ukraine's ambassador to Latvia.
“If there are drones, then they must be kept in order. So speed, mobility and support when needed are critical,” Kutsevol said.
The van will be capable of operating from anywhere in Ukraine without an outside source of power for 1-2 days, thanks to its power and heating systems.
This is the third such station built by the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, a state-supported militia, for the Ukrainian military.
But the demand for the mobile stations is far higher, says Egidijus Kabasinskas, Head of the Ukrainian Support Group of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union.
“And they want, I don't even know... a hundred! I mean, a hundred of these cars. But at the moment, every mobile repair station is important because it allows to repair drones very quickly, much faster than in stationary workshops,” he said.
The total cost of the station is around €33,500. It was funded with the help of the Lithuanian diaspora in the U.S.
