Lithuania is again inviting businesses to develop technology capable of detecting, tracking and neutralising weather balloons used to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus, increasing funding for the initiative to 3 million euros.
The Economy and Innovation Ministry said Thursday it had increased the budget for the project by 2 million euros from the 1 million euros originally planned. At the ministry’s initiative, the State Border Guard Service and the Innovation Agency have launched a pre-commercial procurement process for the project.
“We have secured 3 million euros in funding and, recognising the importance of the project, increased its budget from the initially planned 1 million euros. We believe this cooperation between the state and innovative businesses will help develop an advanced solution that will not only strengthen Lithuania’s airspace protection but also create new opportunities for our defence and security technology ecosystem,” Economy Minister Edvinas Grikšas said in a statement.
Deputy State Border Guard Service Commander Antanas Montvydas said attempts to smuggle cigarettes by balloon from Belarus had declined significantly after authorities introduced more effective countermeasures but stressed that further investment in advanced technologies remained necessary.
