Lithuania's state-owned explosives manufacturer Detonas is to begin producing military-grade explosives and construct two specialised factories – marking the first time the country has produced military explosives domestically.
Transport and Communications Minister Juras Taminskas described the move as historic. "The geopolitical situation demands unconventional solutions. We will strengthen our country's defence independence, increase resilience and ensure reliable supply in critical circumstances," he said.
Detonas currently manufactures industrial explosives for the quarrying and mining sectors, operating branches in Akmenė and Pakruojis in northern Lithuania.
The announcement follows the successful testing of RDX (hexogen) and PETN – two high-power explosives widely used in military munitions – which were developed by the company in late 2025 and cleared for use earlier this year.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications, which is Detonas' sole shareholder, said the new facilities would serve both as production sites and as centres for research and technical expertise.
Output is intended to meet the needs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, support exports to allied nations, and contribute to Ukraine's war effort. Domestic production will reduce Lithuania's current dependence on imports for these materials.
Andrius Griškevičius, the head of Detonas, said the company also intends to develop HMX – a more powerful explosive also known as octogen – and aims to source the raw materials required for production from within Lithuania.
Detonas previously said it had been assessing opportunities to enter the defence industry, participating in sector meetings and conferences to establish industry ties. The company had also previously explored building a TNT production plant, but the project was shelved owing to rising investment costs.
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