Lithuania flags drone detection gaps as new radars remain years away

Lithuania’s current airspace surveillance systems are not effective enough to detect small, low-flying objects, and new short-range and passive detection equipment is expected within the next few years, LRT reported, citing the Defence Ministry.

The ministry said Lithuania is adding radar systems, testing acoustic sensors and developing a layered air defence system. It said earlier incidents in which potentially dangerous objects entering Lithuanian airspace disappeared from surveillance systems had highlighted challenges in detecting small objects flying at low altitudes. However, the ministry said there was no basis to identify one specific technical gap or blind spot as the cause.

The State Defence Council decided in November 2025 to develop an integrated, layered airspace defence system covering surveillance, early warning, defence and the protection of critical infrastructure.

Test batches of interceptor drones are expected within six to nine months of contracts being signed. Their integration into the country’s air defence system will depend on the results of trials, the ministry said.

Lithuania has already installed passive radars to monitor and track low-flying drones and plans to add more. It is also strengthening short- and medium-range detection capabilities. The country has acquired electronic warfare equipment and plans to buy mobile systems to destroy targets through kinetic force.

The ministry is also developing a system to coordinate the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, border guards, public security services and other state institutions. It aims to combine data from different sensors and agencies to improve real-time awareness, early warning and response, and to track objects as they move across the country.

The system is being developed using lessons from Ukraine’s experience countering drone threats. At a later stage, Lithuania plans to connect it to data-sharing platforms used by NATO allies.