Lithuania to prioritise air defence development, delay other military purchases

Lithuania will focus on developing an integrated air defence system over the next three years, potentially delaying other planned military procurements, senior officials said following a meeting of the State Defence Council on November 18.

Chief of Defence Gen. Raimundas Vaikšnoras told reporters in Vilnius that the armed forces are reviewing new planning assumptions and exploring ways to strengthen air defence capabilities, even if it comes “at the expense of other capabilities,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Lithuanian media.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas added that some acquisitions “may be shifted around in time,” although neither official specified which programmes could be affected. Gen. Vaikšnoras said the timeline will be clarified once detailed planning is completed.

Despite the potential reshuffling, Lithuania remains committed to key defence objectives, including building a national military division by 2030 and preparing to host a German brigade by 2027.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces, the State Border Guard Service, and the Public Security Service will all take part in the development of the new air defence architecture.

Deividas Matulionis, the president’s chief national security adviser, said the project will cost several hundred million euros and will be funded from the existing defence budget rather than through additional spending.

Next year’s draft budget allocates €4.8 billion to national defence, equal to 5.38% of GDP, up from the current level of roughly 4% of GDP.

The new system is expected to counter threats from unmanned aerial vehicles as well as “smugglers’ balloons,” which have recently posed security risks along Lithuania’s borders.

By Aghakazim Guliyev