Lithuania debates use of Chinese parts in military drones

The Ministry of Defense allowed purchasing drones with Chinese components to save money. Local manufacturers protested, saying they cannot compete on price with Chinese parts.

Vytanas Buzas, head of Unmanned Defense Systems, said: "This is not a business issue, but a sovereignty issue." He added that companies seriously moving away from Chinese components have either built a full line without them or established production without such parts over the past four years.

The ministry responded that Chinese components are present in almost all drones and that allies operate under the same model.