Lithuania opens Vanagas range for testing military drones

Lithuania’s Defence Innovation Centre has opened a test range for drones and other military technologies at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground near Pabradė, LRT reported, citing the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

The Vanagas range will allow the military to test technologies in real conditions with Lithuanian and foreign defence companies, gather feedback from military specialists and adapt solutions to the army’s needs, Major General Žilvinas Gaubys, head of the Training and Doctrine Command, said.

The army described Vanagas as specialised testing infrastructure developed in response to the growing need to train with unmanned aircraft, land and water robotic systems, and other advanced defence technologies. It is intended to support the rapid development, testing and use of military technologies in a real battlefield environment, and to connect the armed forces with researchers and manufacturers.

The army said the role of unmanned systems in its operations had changed substantially over the past two years. Drones, once an additional reconnaissance tool, are becoming part of military activity at every level, from individual soldiers and squads to battalions and brigades.

At the end of May, the army presented its Autonomous Remote Unmanned Operations (ANBO) formation, which brings together reconnaissance and combat capabilities, including ISR and FPV systems, long-range strike systems and capabilities to counter enemy drones. ANBO will also test and experiment with new unmanned and counter-drone technologies alongside Lithuanian and foreign defence companies. Army Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras said in the spring that the formation is expected to reach full operational capability in 2027.

Drone use, FPV operations, countering enemy unmanned aircraft and integrating robotic systems are becoming standard parts of military training, the army said. Training programmes, military publications and doctrine are being updated, and conscripts are also being trained as drone operators.

A centre for training unmanned-systems operators and instructors was established in 2024 at the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ General Stasys Raštikis School in Kaunas. It teaches personnel to operate, assemble and repair reconnaissance and attack systems, and includes training classrooms, repair workshops, a practical training area and 3D-printing capabilities.

The armed forces also test new systems in real conditions with the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union and the defence industry, and regularly hold FPV tactical competitions to help pilots improve their skills and share practical experience.