Lithuania allocates €5 million for integrated air threat detection system

LRT reports that Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence has announced a €5 million state procurement for an integrated airspace monitoring and control system that will combine data from different institutions.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the system, being developed with the help of artificial intelligence, would combine sensor and radar data from the military and other institutions in real time. This is intended to improve drone identification and allow the public to be warned about threats more quickly.

“A single national system will strengthen the early warning and response of state institutions to emerging air threats,” Kaunas said, adding that the procurement would also strengthen Lithuanian businesses’ expertise in air defence.

The project will be carried out in three stages. A functioning pilot solution is expected at the beginning of next year.

In 2027, the system is expected to connect all sensors and air defence measures linked to it, creating a common air situation picture. Information about a detected object would be sent to the institutions responsible for the relevant territory and to critical infrastructure operators.

By 2028, the system should also be connected to data transmission platforms used by allies.

Up to three participants are expected to be selected in the first stage. The second and third stages will continue with the highest-rated participant. Companies can submit applications to take part in the competition until September 14.

A draft government programme implementation plan registered this week says Lithuania should develop an airspace monitoring and integrated air defence system by the third quarter of 2028. The system is intended to detect and neutralise unmanned aircraft while ensuring interoperability with NATO’s integrated air and missile defence system.

According to the Ministry of National Defence, €524 million has been allocated to air defence this year. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has previously said that a larger share of next year’s defence budget should go to air defence.

Over the past several years, seven suspected Ukrainian drones carrying explosives and apparently affected by Russian equipment have entered Lithuanian airspace.