Twelve firms seek contract for Lithuania’s integrated airspace system

Twelve companies and consortia have submitted preliminary proposals to build an integrated airspace surveillance and control system for Lithuania, LRT reported Wednesday.

The Ministry of National Defence said the bidders include individual Lithuanian companies and consortia bringing together Lithuanian and foreign partners. The contract is expected to be signed in December, with about 5 million euros allocated to the project.

The ministry received 19 applications in the initial competition stage. After assessing final proposals, it will select up to three participants for the first stage. The second and third stages will continue with the highest-rated participant.

The project’s first stage is expected to deliver a working pilot solution in early 2027. During 2027, the system is to connect all sensors and air defence assets linked to it and create a shared picture of the air situation. Information about a detected object will be sent to the relevant institutional and service commanders and critical infrastructure operators. As the object moves, its tracking will be handed over continuously from one territory to another.

In 2028, the system is to connect with the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ airspace surveillance and control system and data transmission platforms used by allies.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the ministry had invited private businesses to submit proposals, adding that involving experts from industry was important to strengthening air defence. The procurement is intended to expand Lithuania’s national short-range air defence capacity and involve the country’s defence industry and technology developers.

In early October, the ministry said an acoustic drone detection system developed in Ukraine, called SkyFortress, was being installed and tested in Lithuania. Concern about detecting airspace violations and air defence increased last year after drone-related incidents began.