Lithuanian conservatives urge defence minister to take leadership on drone detection

The leader of Lithuania’s conservative Homeland Union party, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, has called on Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas to show stronger leadership in addressing drone threats, following the discovery of a crashed drone in Utena district, LRT reports.

Kasčiūnas urged Kaunas to engage with the country’s aerospace and startup communities to develop faster, non-traditional solutions rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf purchases. “We need energy, leadership. Try looking at this unconventionally,” he said, criticising what he called a “static and slow” approach.

While acknowledging the government’s constraints, Kasčiūnas argued that even partial detection capabilities would be an improvement. “First, let’s create some kind of detection system, then explain its possibilities and limits. Right now, we don’t even have detection, yet we’re already explaining why we won’t see everything,” he said, calling for greater ambition in addressing the issue.

Rimantas Sinkevičius, chair of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee (NSGK), defended the minister’s efforts, stating that Kaunas “is doing what he can.” Sinkevičius noted that while millions in funding have been allocated to incentivise domestic defence industry solutions, results have yet to materialise. “A million-euro prize was offered. And what? Sadly, nothing,” he said.

He added that Lithuania’s existing scientific and technical base limits rapid development of effective counter-drone systems. “In that area, work is underway, but it’s undeniable that it would be faster to purchase what already exists in the world,” Sinkevičius said, while stressing that no system offers 100% protection. “Even Israel, with its Iron Dome, couldn’t fully defend itself. We likely won’t either, but we must try,” he said.

The debate follows a Sunday report by the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) of a downed drone found in Samanė village, Utena district. While Lithuanian radars did not detect the object, authorities suspect it may be a Ukrainian drone diverted off course by Russian forces. Recent months have seen multiple airspace violations in the Baltics and Finland due to such incidents.