Ukrainian anti-drone manufacturer December1 to set up joint venture with Lithuania’s Pekkla

Ukrainian anti-drone solutions manufacturer December1 and Lithuanian defence company Pekkla have signed a memorandum on creating a joint venture in Lithuania. The document was signed on 14 October in Kyiv, December1 said in a press release. Production is planned to start in 2027.

The parties agreed to jointly produce the Damba EW system developed by December1. The partners will cooperate under the Build with Ukraine programme, with the support of the Lithuanian government. The partners will supply the products to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Pekkla designs and develops UAVs. The company will be December1’s local partner in Lithuania and will handle infrastructure, regulatory support, and recruiting local engineering talent, while December1 retains technical expertise.

December1 says Damba is one of the most widely deployed EW systems in Ukraine. According to the company, thousands of units are installed on the front line and at critical infrastructure facilities across the country. The system can counter drones of various types, including FPVs, reconnaissance drones and Shaheds, at a depth of up to 50 km.

Illia Kabachynskyi, December1’s Director of International Development, said this is the company’s first joint-venture launch. He added that it will allow to scale up and provide Ukraine’s Defence Forces with more of the necessary equipment. Pekkla CEO Martynas Andriejavas said Lithuania, in turn, will gain new experience, jobs, and development opportunities.

Besides Damba, December1 produces the DroneSensor Providence detection systems and other anti-drone solutions.