On September 14–16 Vice Minister of National Defence Vilius Semeška and representatives of the Defence Materiel Agency under the MoD travelled to in London to attend the defence and security trade exhibition Defence and Security Equipment International, DSEI 2021, to see the cutting-edge defence industry technology introduced by NATO and EU manufacturers.
“The Lithuanian Armed Forces needs to have the most advanced Western equipment. New acquisition planning is currently underway, therefore it was particularly important to be at DSEI 2021 and to develop cooperation with our closest allies. Defence materiel upgrade is a strong deterrent, also, the Lithuanian defence industry has an opportunity to establish close business contacts with international organisations as a result,” Vice Minister said.
V. Semeška also met with Ms Sandy Long, Senior Advisor for Defense Exports, Office of Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, top officials in the agency overseeing defence industry at the British Ministry of Defence , and Director of the Defence Materiel Organisation of the Netherlands Vice Admiral Arie Jan de Waard.
Such companies as BAE Systems, Thales, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Rheinmetall, KMW, take part in the exhibition. The largest manufacturers of Europe and the U.S. provide weaponry and equipment – Vilkas IFVs, , PZH2000s, Black Hawk helicopters, Javelin antitank equipment, etc. – to the Lithuanian Armed Forces too. At meetings with Rheinmetall and KMW executives Vice Minister discussed the possibilities of pacing up the completion of the Vilkas IFV project, as well as other projects.
The Ministry of National Defence is currently looking into the possibilities of procuring additional artillery systems, mortars, radars, and UAVs.
