Lithuanian drone manufacturer RSI Europe has delivered the first batch of FPV drones, named Shpak supplied under the Defence Resource Agency procurement conducted in August.
The Shpak is a 10-inch FPV quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle (drone). It is designed to destroy targets by attaching explosives to them. The drone can lift up to 5 kg and has an impact initiation system that is controlled via remote control. These features make Shpak a very versatile platform for selecting explosives and targets. In addition, the Shpak has advanced radio frequency hopping technology, which enables it to defeat the enemy’s radio-electronic warfare assets. The whole system consists not only of the drones, but also of a ground control station and an antenna that allows drone operators to operate from safe positions over long distances.
Photo: RSI Europe.
These FPV drones are likely to make a significant impact in the defence of Ukraine. Yuriy Butusov, a Ukrainian defence expert who spoke at the Defending Baltics conference in Vilnius on 8-9 October, repeatedly emphasized that drones are the main weapon currently used to destroy Russian forces. He shared impressive statistics showing how one Ukrainian drone unit has already destroyed over 15,000 aggressor targets since the beginning of the war. FPV drones are one of the main tools for such units.
Photo: RSI Europe.
The drone was named Shpak for a reason. “From the moment we started working with FPV drones, we had two goals: to help Ukraine and to contribute to the Lithuanian drone industry. The word špokas (starling) has been used since the time of the Republic of the Two Nations, a country that Ukraine was a part of – a country that fought for many years against the aggressor from the east. We, Lithuanians, as well as Poles and Ukrainians call starling birds ‘špokas’, but Russians do not. We think that such a name is a perfect fit for a Lithuanian drone fighting in the hands of Ukrainians,” said T. Milašauskas, CEO of RSI Europe, clarifying the origin of the name.
Photo: RSI Europe.
This delivery is the first under the 4 million contract. Under the contract, RSI Europe will supply Shpaks not only to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also to the Lithuanian Armed Forces. This is the first large-scale acquisition of FPVs in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. RSI Europe has also been organising FPV pilot training for the Lithuanian Armed Forces since June 2024.