This ambitious initiative is squarely aimed at strengthening Lithuania’s defence capabilities. It provides critical financial support to a wide array of defence technology development projects. The increased funding is a clear indicator of Lithuania’s commitment to investing in scientific and business projects within the defence sector, including the co-financing of projects under the European Defence Fund.
Arvydas Anušauskas, the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania, emphasized the importance of this development. “Our focus on meeting the National Defence System’s requirements extends to the realms of defence technology, innovation, and breakthrough technologies. We are actively seeking to enhance our collaborations with not only companies, suppliers, and manufacturers in the defence industry but also with the academic community, innovators, and defence technology developers in Lithuania. This cooperative approach is pivotal for the security of our nation and the region,” he stated.
Sigitas Dzekunskas, Director of the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence, highlighted the practical implications of this funding increase. “With more resources at our disposal, Lithuanian companies will now be able to participate more actively in EU and other international defence technology development programmes. In the past, financial constraints forced us to pass on many such opportunities. This initiative is a strategic step in ensuring the National Defence System’s collaboration on science, defence research, technology, and international multilateral procurement,” he explained.
The Lithuanian Defence Materiel Agency is currently overseeing various innovative projects, including the development of loitering ammunition, maritime laser communication systems, radar electromagnetic signature reading and analysis systems, and autonomous land and air systems.
Looking ahead to 2024, the agency has outlined new projects that will benefit from the increased funding. These include an AI-based autonomous mine detection and identification platform, and a meter for measuring the initial velocity of mortar mines. These projects are expected to bring cutting-edge solutions to the market, significantly enhancing the efficiency of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
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