Its acquisitions include Javelin antitank missiles, JLTV armored vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters, HIMARS rocket artillery and AMRAAM missiles for NASAMS air defense systems. Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas is now seeking to turn procurement relationships into longer-term industrial ties with U.S. companies.
During a U.S. visit, Kaunas met representatives of Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Palantir and Epirus. He said Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman were establishing links with Lithuanian companies, while inviting Epirus to present its microwave-based counter-drone systems in Lithuania as early as next year.
A joint declaration signed by Kaunas and Mach Industries President Nathan Diller sets out plans to explore a Mach presence and defense production capacity in Lithuania. “We will seek to establish the production of drone systems in Lithuania, including systems that have already been tested in Ukraine under real combat conditions,” Kaunas said.
The proposed work would bring production of U.S. technology closer to Ukraine while adding to Lithuania’s defense industrial base, according to the ministry. Any systems made in Lithuania could support Ukraine in the future if they meet its requirements and the necessary conditions are in place.
“Lithuania understands that credible deterrence requires both advanced technology and the capacity to produce it at scale,” said Mach Industries founder and chief executive Ethan Thornton. “This declaration provides a foundation for exploring how we can build these capabilities together and strengthen the defence industrial base across NATO.”
