large and small drones
Smaller drones and larger unmanned aircraft, which cost around $20 million without sophisticated sensors, cameras and other “extras”, have also appeared on shopping lists.
Finland and Denmark began talks with General Atomics after Russia invaded Ukraine last February, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters. They want to buy a small number of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones that can be used for maritime and land surveillance.
A spokesman for the Finnish Defense Ministry declined to comment. A Danish Defense Ministry spokesman said they had ordered at least two “long-range, long-range Remotely Piloted Aircraft System(s)” to strengthen “military capability in the Arctic”, without naming any companies. Started the buying process.
Poland, which is eager to get its hands on a drone of the same model, received two previous-generation models on lease from General Atomics, according to two sources familiar with the situation, pending US approval to buy them new ones. Got it.
Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak confirmed the deliveries, though not the numbers, in a February 12 tweet saying they would be used to survey the country’s eastern border, which it shares with Ukraine and Russian ally Belarus.
Some European countries are also keen to start producing American weapons on their soil as it would reduce dependence on foreign imports and reduce purchasing costs.
In Germany, arms maker Rheinmetall is set to boost production of tank and artillery munitions and may start production of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) mobile rocket launcher, which has had great success targeting Russian positions , CEO Armin Papperger told Reuters.
The system is currently manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp. in Camden, Arkansas. It is unclear whether the systems will be produced under license, a joint venture or some other arrangement.
A Lockheed Martin spokeswoman declined to comment directly on the possibility of Rheinmetall starting production of the HIMARS. Rita Flaherty, Lockheed Martin’s Eastern European business development manager for multiple missile programs, said the company was “exploring co-production and technology transfer with a number of international partners.”
Latvia is also interested in co-producing US munitions. “We recognize the benefits provided by local production of large-caliber ammunition,” military affairs spokesman Roberts Scroux said in a statement to Reuters.
Hopes remain high that European fears of Russian aggression will generate orders for yet another of the biggest, multi-billion-dollar American weapons such as fighter jets and expensive missile defense systems with sophisticated radars.
For more expensive weapons, the first order is expected to be used to backfill equipment shipped by Poland to Ukraine. For example, Slovakia has said it is ready to send its MiG-29 jets to Ukraine. A possible replacement would be Lockheed Martin’s F-16, which costs around $65 million.
Rising demand for US arms has pushed up the prices of the shares of the biggest US defense contractors – adding $35 billion in market value since the start of the invasion of Ukraine – to investors.