Lithuania not blind to air defence challenges but faces global delays, says defence minister

Lithuania’s defence minister has rejected claims the country is defenceless against airborne threats, though he acknowledged persistent delays in acquiring critical detection systems, LRT reports.

Speaking on the public broadcaster’s Dienos tema programme, Robertas Kaunas addressed criticism that Lithuania remains unable to detect and neutralise unauthorised drones and other low-altitude objects after a drone crashed into a lake in Varėna district this week.

“I wouldn’t agree that we’re like blind kittens,” Kaunas said. “Radar has its limitations—if we see certain altitudes and areas, we won’t see objects flying below them.” He confirmed that newly deployed radars can track objects from 300 metres, but the drone in question flew even lower. Additional low-altitude radars have been ordered, though delivery timelines remain unclear.

Kaunas stressed that radar alone is insufficient: “We need an entire ecosystem—sensors, cameras, acoustic and frequency analysers—all integrated into one system for a complete picture.” He noted that even advanced nations like Israel face ongoing challenges despite decades of investment in air defence.

When pressed on whether Lithuania had improved its detection capabilities since last summer—when unauthorised drones also entered its airspace, prompting public searches—Kaunas pointed to progress in tracking high-altitude balloons. “Before, we didn’t even see them until they nearly landed on our heads at the air base. Now we detect them because we’ve recalibrated systems and directed radars accordingly.”

He admitted that ordered equipment, including drone-detection systems, faces “very long” delivery delays. “This isn’t just Lithuania’s problem—it’s an issue for the entire defence industry,” he said, citing Europe’s struggle to meet surging demand. “We allocate funds and place orders, but then we wait endlessly, chasing suppliers for updates while prices keep rising due to high demand.”

The minister linked the latest drone incident to broader regional tensions stemming from Russia’s war in Ukraine, emphasising that while Lithuania is not at war, it cannot avoid the conflict’s spillover effects.