Lithuania explores cost of national air defence ‘dome’ amid rising drone threats

Lithuania’s parliamentary National Security and Defence Committee (NSGK) has requested calculations on the potential cost of creating a comprehensive national air defence system, dubbed the “Lithuanian dome,” to counter growing drone threats, LRT.lt reports.

Laurynas Kasčiūnas, deputy chair of the committee, stated that current budget plans only cover protection for strategic sites and major cities, leaving much of the country exposed. “The plan programmed into the budget doesn’t cover everything—we won’t see full coverage, only strategic objects and cities. We should want and be able to see more,” he said during Thursday’s session.

The system, designed to detect and neutralise drones, could cost “billions,” according to Kasčiūnas. He emphasised the need for advanced sensor networks capable of distinguishing drones from other radar signals, marking a shift from Lithuania’s current reliance on NATO air policing. The committee expects preliminary cost estimates within a month.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed the financial scope would be “very large” but declined to specify figures, noting that immediate focus remains on anti-drone solutions. Authorities have yet to determine the origin of a drone detected in Lithuanian airspace on Wednesday, which triggered temporary airspace closures over Vilnius and nearby regions after crossing the border near Ignalina at 9:40 AM. The object vanished from radar near Merkine around 11:09 AM.

Kasčiūnas suggested the drone was likely a Ukrainian model disoriented by electronic countermeasures. The incident prompted NATO fighter jets to scramble, halted train operations in Vilnius County, and issued air raid alerts across multiple districts before the all-clear was given at 10:51 AM.

Lithuania has previously announced plans to acquire short-range “Giraffe” radars and mobile air defence systems like Poland’s “Piorun,” though deliveries may take years.