Lithuania bolsters border security with new helicopters and drones
The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT) has strengthened its surveillance and operational capabilities along the borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region by acquiring modern helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
As reported by Russian media, citing the VSAT press office on July 24, the agency has procured three state-of-the-art Airbus H145 D3 multi-role helicopters from Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH at a total cost of €57 million. Of this amount, €11 million was financed through the European Union, while the remaining €46 million came from Lithuania’s national budget.
According to VSAT, the newly acquired helicopters are outfitted with "advanced optical and thermal imaging systems, live video transmission technology, and modern communications gear." These aircraft are designed not only for border patrol and surveillance missions, but also for reconnaissance, search and rescue efforts, organ transport, firefighting, and monitoring transit routes.
In addition to the helicopters, vertical take-off UAVs were purchased from the California-based aerospace company EDGE Autonomy for €2.4 million. These drones will be deployed to monitor remote and hard-to-access sections of the border with Belarus and Kaliningrad, capturing incidents of illegal border crossings, smuggling activities, and other violations.
"The drones will transmit real-time data to command centres and will also be incorporated into the technical fleet of Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency) for use in international missions," the VSAT stated.
The agency emphasised that the acquisition of this equipment will "significantly enhance the service's capabilities in securing national borders, supporting other government agencies in emergency response, and contributing to international operations."
By Tamilla Hasanova