At the request of the Ministry of Energy and funded by energy companies, Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence will purchase anti-drone systems. The contract is expected to be signed soon.
These systems will detect drones and their operators in real time and stop them from entering protected areas. They will use radar, radio frequency sensors, as well as optical and infrared cameras. The systems will also employ electronic warfare tools, kinetic defences and GPS jamming or spoofing. They will be connected to other defence systems, including air defences and electronic intelligence networks.
Three companies participated in the procurement, and the equipment chosen comes from the Polish manufacturer Advanced Protection Systems SA.
A unified air defence system
“In the event of aggression against Lithuania, the Lithuanian Armed Forces will take over the management of anti-drone systems at energy facilities, integrating them into a unified air defence system,” said Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė. “This decision strengthens the country’s overall defence capability, especially in light of the rapid development of drone technologies and the challenges they pose to the security of critical infrastructure.”
“Protecting strategic energy infrastructure is one of our top priorities, particularly in the current tense geopolitical environment,” said Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas. “We must be ready for a range of scenarios, which is why the physical protection of infrastructure is so important. Additional security measures can make a significant contribution to our shared energy and national security goals, enhancing the overall safety and defence of our country. I thank the Ministry of National Defence and the Defence Resources Agency for their support in carrying out this procurement and ensuring cross-sector equipment integrity.”