The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved bypassing public tender procedures for the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), counter-drone systems, optical surveillance equipment, and laser target designators.

The Cabinet endorsed a resolution, drafted by the Ministry of National Defence, that exempts these acquisitions from the requirements of the Law on Public Procurement in the Fields of Defense and Security.

According to the ministry, counter-drone systems from NT Service will be procured for up to €12 million. An additional €9 million will be allocated for optical surveillance devices from Brolis Semiconductors, while laser target designators from Aktyvus Photonics will be purchased for up to €1.5 million.

The ministry did not disclose specific manufacturers for the UAV acquisitions.

It plans to spend up to €19 million on various types of drones, including first-person view (FPV) drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reconnaissance drones, and other UAVs intended for Lithuania’s military needs.

The drones will be sourced from domestic companies that manufacture or assemble them in Lithuania.

“Lithuanian companies must meet key criteria – drone control software must be developed in Lithuania, and the cloud infrastructure used to store and transmit drone data must be located exclusively within NATO or European Union member states. This will help protect UAVs and their data from cyber threats and ensure secure operations,” the ministry said.

It also noted that more than one supplier may be selected for each drone category, as part of an effort to support and encourage local UAV manufacturers and assemblers.

Source: BNS

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