The Adria Defence news network reports that Lithuania will fast-track interceptor drones and short-range and passive radars as Vilnius builds a lower-cost defence layer against small aerial threats.
“The Lithuanian government has authorized the Defence Resources Agency to procure the equipment without applying the standard defence and security public procurement requirements, the Ministry of National Defence announced on September 2,” says the news outlet. “The procurement will include trial batches of interceptor drones from multiple manufacturers rather than immediately selecting a single system for large-scale deployment. Lithuania plans to compare the technologies under operational conditions and assess their effectiveness and compatibility with systems already used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces. “
Earlier this year Latvia handed over the SENTINEL radars to Lithuania on a non-reimbursable basis, as part of a wider initiative to bolster Baltic state’s air defence.
“The main role of the SENTINEL radars is to enable airborne target neutralisation with the NASAMS with air tracking and surveillance data,” according to the Lithuanian defence ministry. “The equipment will improve the effectiveness of Lithuania’s response and help protect the population.”
For more information
https://www.adriadefense.com/lithuania-fast-tracks-drone-interceptors-and-new-radars/
https://kam.lt/en/lithuania-will-obtain-more-radars-for-the-nasams-system/
(Image: Lithuanian defence ministry)