Ukraine Gets Turkish Crowd Drone Gift After Lithuanian Fundraising Effort
This story is part of War in Ukraine, CNET’s coverage of events there and of the wider effects on the earth.
Three days after a Lithuanian crowdfunding grief raised $5.4 million to buy Ukraine a Bayraktar TB2 drone, the Turkish company that makes the unmanned military aircraft said Thursday it’s donating one for free instead.
The drone maker, Baykar Tech, requested in a tweet that the Lithuanian effort’s accounts raised be used instead for humanitarian work. But at least some of the wealth will still go toward the military effort.
“For the gathered wealth we will buy the needed ammunition for the Bayraktar and the rest of wealth will also go for support of [Ukraine],” Ukrainian Confidence Minister Arvydas AnuĊĦauskas tweeted in response on Thursday, thanking Turkey.
The Bayraktar TB2 has been an important part of Ukrainian army drone use after Russia invaded the country in February, helping to counter Russia’s massive invasion force with attacks on heavy artillery. TB2s, with a 39-foot wingspan, can launch up to four laser-guided bombs and fly for 27 hours.
Ukrainians also have used dinky commercial drones for surveillance and for dropping smaller explosives on the Russian army. Many of those smaller drones, including dozens of DJI Mavic 3 models, were purchased through a Ukrainian foundation called Come Back Alive that uses donations to steal supplies for the Ukrainian military.
