“Operational capability, in terms of drone capability, must be achieved by the end of 2026, that is, by 2027. To carry out this work, the military should develop the drone capability in an integrated manner with other capabilities. This means that we do not see it as a separate unit, it interacts with our other available platforms – with our communication systems and in general with the tactical operation of our army”, said K. Budrys at the press conference after the VGT meeting.
Also, according to him, the aim is to have the drones used by the army produced in Lithuania.
“The President of the Republic worked on this during the last meeting with the defense industry companies, raising the question of what is possible to do in Lithuania, whether it is possible to raise the requirement “maximum production in Lithuania” when we are talking about drones of all levels. The answer from the industry was yes. Time is needed, interaction mechanisms are needed, and that is why the State Defense Council decided today to recommend the Ministry of National Defense to the Lithuanian army to develop drone capabilities with the capabilities of the Lithuanian manufacturing industry,” said the advisor to the country’s leader.
In order for the Lithuanian industry to contribute more to the production of defense equipment, legal acts also need to be changed, noted K. Budrys.
“There is a decision for the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to properly organize that legal environment in the near future,” he added.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, the chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee of the Seimas, candidate for the Minister of National Defense, who participated in the VGT meeting, said that Lithuania needs the entire ecosystem of drones, which would mean production, testing, innovation, and their use.
We cannot lag behind – we need to start both industry and training centers, said the MP.
“We have just started and are starting to create this ecosystem. Amendments to legal acts have been submitted, which will allow us to kindle the Lithuanian drone industry in a certain sense, so that state institutions can also buy Lithuanian drones, because of which we now had some obstacles”, L. Kasčiūnas taught.
“If you just buy some things and depend on global chains – that’s it, you’re isolated, you have serious problems. We have to do everything to prevent this from happening,” he emphasized.
Sees progress
Speaking in general about the development of drone capacity in Lithuania, the politician noted that he sees progress.
“I see a step forward, because from the focus on reconnaissance drones, to reconnaissance drones, we are finally moving to the development of combat drones – small FPV drones are becoming an integral, integral part of our armed forces,” commented L. Kasčiūnas and noted that in the army ” drop-in” and the process of preparing and training drone operators.
“We also have anti-drone solutions <...>. This is both the acquisition of certain weapons and certain innovative solutions for how our forces could destroy flying (enemy – Delphi) drones. A flying missile project is under development, that is, when a drone can destroy an incoming drone.
At the beginning of next year, we may already have good knowledge in this area. This is a project of our Lithuanian industry”, said L. Kasčiūnas.
In the event of a conflict, Lithuania as a border state, according to L. Kasčiūnas, would have to withstand the first blow of the aggressor, and drones are needed for that.
“The dominant doctrinal belief in the West is that if the Russians attack NATO, the war will be different than it is now in Ukraine. Some say drones are a tool for poor militaries. One can follow this doctrinal belief and hope that the enablers will come, the dominance of aviation will come, the deep strikes to the Russians will come, so that in principle the whole matter will be solved without drones.
But as a fringe country that may have to hold the first strike, we need to have that capability, regardless of these beliefs. [To reikia] to withstand the first blow. It programs the fact that we have to think about the development of attack, combat drones,” the chairman of NSGK taught.
At the beginning of the year, the development of unmanned aircraft systems in the Lithuanian army was discussed by the NSGK of the Seimas. The chairman of the committee, L. Kasčiūnas, assured that Lithuania already has the potential to expand combat FPV (English first-person view) drone production. Therefore, the committee headed by him prepared and submitted to the VGT the concept of strengthening the drone systems in the Lithuanian army.
As provided by the Constitution, VGT considers and coordinates the most important issues of state defense. The council includes the president, the prime minister, the speaker of the Seimas, the minister of national defense and the commander of the army. The Council is headed by the President.
