Lithuania is considering buying a drone and low-altitude detection system from Israel’s Elbit Systems after a demonstration of the technology on Tuesday.
"There are many manufacturers and many companies. Today, one company and one set of capabilities were demonstrated, but the foundation is the Telecentre infrastructure, which can be used for our national defence," Transport Minister Juras Taminskas told reporters.
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He added that the final decision on a potential purchase would be made by the Defence Ministry.
Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas said the military would now conduct a detailed analysis to determine how many such systems might be acquired and where they should be deployed."The Israeli company is making an offer, and perhaps the Ukrainians, who are currently using such a multi-layered surveillance system, could also offer something. I believe this is an important and good opportunity," Olekas said.The demonstration featured a surveillance system consisting of a multi-layered sensor network, showcasing its ability to detect, identify and track various types of aircraft, including Shahed-type drones.During the test in the Kaunas district, five types of drones were launched to simulate real attack conditions, flying various routes and speeds at altitudes ranging from several hundred metres to one kilometre.Former Deputy Defence Minister Edvinas Kerza said the cost of the system would depend on its scale, but emphasised that it is "top-tier military technology" designed to protect lives and critical infrastructure.The demonstration follows two recent violations of Lithuanian airspace by suspected combat drones and incidents involving meteorological balloons flying from Belarus in recent months.
