Lithuanian and German military officials discuss air defence capabilities

Lithuanian and German military representatives met on Monday to discuss regional security and air defence cooperation, reports BNS.

The Lithuanian Defence Staff hosted a delegation led by German Air Force Brigadier General Arnt Kuebart, commander of the Air and Missile Defence Forces. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the current security situation, airspace monitoring, and control measures, as well as Lithuania’s ongoing development of air defence capabilities.

Lithuanian officials presented their threat assessments, preparedness to respond to airspace violations, and existing air defence systems, including future expansion plans. Discussions also covered modern challenges in countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), emphasising the importance of integrated air defence systems, early warning mechanisms, airspace surveillance, and electronic warfare tools.

“Air threats are becoming increasingly complex and diverse, making the strengthening of air defence one of the top priorities for the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Cooperation with Germany and other NATO allies not only accelerates capability development but also allows us to adopt valuable experience,” said Lithuanian Navy Captain Giedrius Premeneckas, as quoted in the statement.

The German delegation outlined their country’s air defence capabilities, development priorities, and planned modernisation programmes. Both sides explored opportunities for bilateral military cooperation, particularly in enhancing air defence and airspace monitoring interoperability.

Participants also exchanged lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, focusing on the use of UAVs in combat, associated threats, and the most effective countermeasures. The German side presented training programmes for Ukrainian air defence specialists and shared insights gained from these efforts.

Lithuania is actively strengthening its air defence capabilities, accelerating the acquisition of necessary armaments and systems. Current priorities include improving the detection, identification, and neutralisation of UAVs, as well as deepening cooperation among the military, state institutions, and allies to ensure an effective response to evolving air threats, according to the statement.

The discussions follow recent increases in airspace violations over Lithuania and other Baltic states. Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong protest over ongoing airspace violations originating from Belarus.