Disruptive technologies in Lithuania’s defence

Problem

In February 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s defence sector changed dramatically. The number of NATO member countries has increased. Attention to defence, capability development and funding has increased dramatically. Defence events and exibitions, which have been organised for many years, are now breaking all-time records in terms of participants and attendance.

A record number of NATO countries now fund defence with >2% of GDP, according to an agreement from 2006. In 2022, global defence spending reached an all-time high. New EDF and NATO funds were created to finance innovative defence companies. The momentum is also being felt in Lithuania’s neighbourhood, with record-breaking defence contracts in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Similar trends are also felt in Lithuania. Defence budget and equipment modernisation has increased sharply. More funding is available (milinvest funds). In 2023, prototype testing procedures have been simplified. New national guidelines for the development of the Lithuanian defence and security industry in 2022-2027.

The defence sector is very broad and covers many different actors (academia, business, government organisations, military, etc.) and a large number of different objects and technologies. Lithuania is too small to cover the entire defence spectrum on its own. There is a clear need to pick priorities which would help the local defence sector to move in the same direction.

Goal

The aim of the project is to develop a long-term strategy of technological priorities for the national defence system to ensure the technological advantage of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The strategy will help the different actors in the defence sector (science, business, state institutions, the Lithuanian Armed Forces) to focus their efforts on the same goals, as well as facilitate cooperation, competitiveness and innovation development in the Lithuanian defence industry.

Result

Participants

2023/24

Dominykas Kugelevičius

2023/24

Lukas Charitonovas