Lithuania’s national defence system is currently assessing the need for the acquisition of anti-drones, says Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas.
He intends to discuss future investments with Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
“Now we are assessing what capacity is needed, I will go to the prime minister, I will talk about what kind of investments are needed here to get this thing moving, because there is a world of drones and there is a world of anti-drones,” Kasčiūnas said on LRT TV’s programme Dienos Tema (Topic of the Day) on Wednesday.
He argued that anti-drone capabilities needed to be developed in parallel with drone capabilities.
Lithuania plans to develop drone capability by 2027. Last week, the military launched its first training course for instructors of the so-called FPV kamikaze drones, and plans are underway to accelerate the acquisition of these unmanned aerial vehicles.
Drones have started to receive more attention in Lithuania due to their intensive use in the war in Ukraine.
Kasčiūnas also said that contracts for the acquisition of counter-mobility equipment were signed on Wednesday.
According to him, the equipment will be delivered to 28 counter-mobility parks, planned in various locations in Lithuania, over the summer.
Permanent counter-mobility fortifications are also to be installed along the border with Russia and Belarus to stop the possible movement of hostile forces. This is planned for late summer.
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