The Ministry of National Defence will step up the support to technological defence innovation: the Defense Technology Development Program launched in 2021 has been extended for another four years and doubled its funding to 5 million euros.
The Defense Technology Development Program is designed to strengthen the national defence capabilities and advance the development of Lithuania’s defence industry through financial support to defence technology development projects. The funds allocated from the defence budget are used for scientific and business projects in the area of defence and co-financing of the European Union Defence Fund projects.
“Our attention to the National Defence System requirements must include defence technology development, innovation and breakthrough technologies. We aim for more cooperation in these areas not just with the companies, suppliers and manufacturers in the defence industry but also with the academic community, innovators and defence technology developers of Lithuania. I am convinced that this cooperation will grow and become a contribution to the security of our country and the region in the future,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
“More funding will facilitate the involvement of Lithuanian companies in EU and other international defence technology development programs, we will be able to contribute to the projects we used to be forced to skip due to financing shortages,” says Sigitas Dzekunskas, Director of the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence and adds that one of the primary objectives of his agency is to ensure cooperation of the National Defence System on science, defence research and technology and international multilateral procurement.
The Defence Materiel Agency currently conducts the projects for developing loitering ammunition, maritime laser communication system, radar electromagnetic signature reading and analysis system and autonomous land and air systems.
New projects have been mapped out for 2024 to benefit from the funding increase: AI-based autonomous mine detection and identification platform and meter for initial mortar mine velocity. These projects will ensure innovative solutions on the market are used for a better efficiency of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Photo credit: Private Recruit K. Kavolėlis /MoD
