Lithuania’s transport minister announced Friday the creation of 26 restricted zones across the country’s airspace, a move aimed at improving the military’s ability to respond to aerial threats amid heightened regional tensions.
“We are constantly working with the military to ensure the security of our airspace,” Transport Minister Juras Taminskas told reporters at a news conference.
“Given the tense geopolitical situation, the ongoing airspace violations and the challenges we face every day, we initiated and the parliament amended the Aviation Law, which paved the way for further steps,” he said. “I have now designated a grid of 26 restricted zones across Lithuania’s airspace.”
Taminskas said the network of prohibited zones, which also includes Lithuania’s territorial waters, will enable faster responses to airspace violations.
“Lithuania is not under martial law; we are in peacetime,” he said. “Until now, the military had limited possibilities to respond. As of this week, the military has been given that capability. The grid itself is inactive – it is activated when necessary.”
Lithuanian Air Force Lt. Col. Povilas Cicėnas said the new system will allow the armed forces to quickly target specific areas of the sky when responding to potential incursions.
“The new grid enables the military to activate a specific part of the airspace and take appropriate action against a violator,” Cicėnas said, adding that civilian aviation would be only minimally affected.
The restricted zones will be activated only when there is an urgent need to use military force – particularly against drones that violate Lithuanian airspace. The grid has both horizontal dimensions, defined by coordinates, and vertical ones, defined by flight levels.
In the event of a threat, a specific zone will be activated by the state air navigation service provider Oro Navigacija at the request of the chief of defence or an authorised representative, according to the Transport Ministry.
Pilots operating in affected areas would be informed of a threat at least 10 minutes before a zone is activated, giving them time to leave. To ensure such communication, all aircraft will be required to have transponders and radio equipment installed. Owners of light aircraft have until next May to comply.
Under previous regulations, military force could be used only in exceptional cases – for example, when an aircraft entered a prohibited zone and posed a direct threat to critical infrastructure.
“Until now, prohibited zones existed only above certain areas of critical infrastructure,” Taminskas said. “We cannot make the entire Lithuanian airspace prohibited during peacetime.”
The ministry said amendments to the Statute on the Use of Military Force will also allow action against drones that violate airspace procedures set by the chief of defence.
“When the situation is safe, the grid is deactivated, and normal airspace operations continue,” Taminskas said.
The move comes amid growing security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where both sides have heavily relied on drones for reconnaissance and attacks.
Fears about drone incursions intensified after Russian aircraft entered NATO airspace several times in recent months. Two Russian Gerbera drones entered Lithuanian airspace this summer, one carrying explosives.
In response, NATO has stepped up efforts to strengthen its eastern flank and recently launched Operation Eastern Sentry, aimed at bolstering defence capabilities along the alliance’s border with Russia.
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