Lithuania would need 100 pilots to intercept 100 Shahed drones, defence minister says

Lithuania’s air defence system would require at least 100 pilots to neutralise an attack by 100 Shahed-style drones, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said on Monday during a discussion on the LRT Forum programme, as reported by LRT.lt.

Kaunas, who recently visited Ukraine, explained that current drone interception technology still relies heavily on human operators. “If 100 Shaheds arrive, we need at least 100 pilots, because only in the final 1.5 kilometres can the interceptor ‘lock on’ to the target and act autonomously. The question is why? Because Ukraine is still developing AI-based technology that could guide the interceptor to the target without constant pilot control,” he said.

The minister highlighted Ukraine’s Skymap system as an example of integrated air defence, combining radar, sensor data, and even machine-gun targeting assistance. “Buying just radars or interceptors isn’t enough. Everything must be unified into a single system,” he stated.

Last year, Lithuania’s State Defence Council approved plans for an integrated air defence system, with roughly €500 million allocated. However, former defence minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas warned that even this investment would only provide a “minimalist” solution.

“We must be clear: even after implementing our plans, not every drone will be detected. The risk remains,” Kasčiūnas said, citing delays in Western defence production and Ukraine’s reluctance to share wartime technology.

He also criticised Lithuania’s public procurement procedures, which he said hinder rapid testing of new defence technologies. “If the military identifies a promising system, current rules force them through months of bureaucracy before testing. In this geopolitical climate, we need faster decisions,” he argued.

Former defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė added that distrust in public spending—fuelled by past controversies like the cancelled Embraer transport aircraft deal—has further slowed progress. She recalled attempting to introduce a “toy assembly line” concept to streamline procurement during her tenure.