Lithuanian Defence Ecosystem Overview 2026

Welcome word

Lithuania is at a defining moment for its national security and Europe’s resilience. In an era of rapidly evolving threats, rely- ing on yesterday’s solutions is no longer an option. Strengthening defence capabil- ities, investing in technological advantage, and building an economy that supports long-term security are essential. This is why Lithuania has set a clear strategic am- bition: to become a regional centre for de- fence innovation, where security priorities, industrial capacity, and cutting-edge tech- nologies converge to deliver real impact. This ambition is underpinned by strong national commitment. Lithuania’s defence budget will reach €4.79 billion in 2026, around 5.38% of GDP. Sustained invest- ment provides a stable foundation for innovation and industrial development, enabling companies, researchers, and partners to plan long term, scale advanced solutions, and strengthen Lithuania’s con- tribution to NATO and European security. In recent years, Lithuania has moved from a fragmented landscape to a coordinated defence innovation ecosystem. Recognis- ing that innovation is a journey rather than a linear process, the Government, armed forces, research institutions, and indus- try are building a comprehensive toolkit that supports companies from early ideas through testing, procurement, and access to international markets.

The defence and dual-use ecosystem has grown into a coordinated network with in- creasing industrial weight. In 2024, sector turnover reached approximately €960 mil- lion and has continued to expand, driven by support to Ukraine, rising NATO demand, and the reshoring of critical supply chains. Today, around 100 innovative companies operate in areas such as UAVs, lasers and photonics, ICT and advanced engineering. Lithuania already demonstrates strong ca- pabilities in laser and photonics technolo- gies, UAV and counter‑UAV solutions, and high value‑added components. Compa- nies are integrating into global value chains through partnerships with international leaders, strengthening Lithuania’s role as a trusted supplier within NATO and the EU. This growth is supported by a comprehen- sive policy framework, including the De- fence Technology Development Program and the Defence and Security Industry Act. Together with the €300 million Vytis initiative, these measures are accelerat- ing innovation, expanding industrial ca- pacity, and reinforcing Europe’s collective security.

Edvinas Grikšas Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania

01.

Lithuanian Defence Investment Opportunities 02.

Lithuanian Defence Ecosystem

Innovation is central to Lithuania’s response to today’s security challenges. As defence needs evolve rapidly, our priority is to turn ideas into deployable solutions and trans- form Lithuania’s technological potential into real capabilities for our armed forces and allies. Innovation Agency Lithuania acts as a catalyst in this process, connecting de- fence needs with business, science, and international opportunities. At the core of our defence innovation efforts is MilTech Lab, a dedicated unit of Innova- tion Agency Lithuania. MilTech Lab brings together the military, industry, and research institutions to develop, test, and commer- cialize solutions aligned with the priorities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Our ap- proach is mission-driven and focused on practical impact. Innovation Agency Lithuania operates as a one-stop shop for innovation support, en- suring coordinated state assistance across the entire innovation lifecycle - from idea generation to integration into the defence sector. By reducing administrative burden and accelerating decision-making, we help companies focus on developing technolo- gies that work in real conditions. Lithuania’s defence and security ecosystem is built on close cooperation between sci- ence and industry. The process begins with joint workshops with the Armed Forces to identify concrete capability gaps. Compa-

nies can then access Defence. Innovation Vouchers for early-stage development and prototyping with research partners. Testing and demonstration follow through instru- ments such as the MilTech Sandbox (TRL 3–7) and the upcoming Vytis infrastructure, designed specifically for defence innova- tion prototyping and testing. We also enable access to larger funding and international value chains by coordi- nating Lithuania’s participation in EU STEP, NATO DIANA and other initiatives. Beyond funding, we invest in ecosystems and skills through platforms such as the Baltic Miltech Summit and the Miltech Academy, as well as accelerators and venture capital instru- ments. Today, Lithuania’s defence ecosystem in- cludes around 100 innovative companies developing solutions already used to ad- dress real defence needs. By supporting commercialisation, procurement pathways, and internationalisation, Innovation Agency Lithuania is building a resilient, competitive, and future-ready defence ecosystem for Lithuania and Europe.

Invest Lithuania is Lithuania’s national in- vestment promotion agency and a dedi- cated partner for international defence and security companies looking to establish or expand operations in the country. Acting as a one-stop shop, Invest Lithuania pro- vides free-of-charge support across the full investment cycle – from market intel- ligence and site selection to connecting companies with government institutions, suppliers, and talent pools. In the defence sector specifically, the agency plays a key role in helping investors navigate Lithua- nia’s fast-growing defence ecosystem and accelerating setup processes for strate- gic manufacturers, enabling operations to launch in as little as half a year. Invest Lithuania’s work is reflected in major success cases now shaping Lithuania’s de- fence industrial base. The agency has sup-

ported Rheinmetall’s entry and expansion in Lithuania, including the development of a large-scale artillery ammunition plant backed by over €180 million in investment and creating at least 150 jobs – a milestone project strengthening both national and European defence supply chains. More recently, Lithuanian Defence Services an- nounced a nearly €50 million investment in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone, where Leopard 2A8 tank assembly and advanced military equipment manufacturing will be developed with streamlined implementa- tion support. Alongside these flagship de- fence projects, Invest Lithuania has also helped attract global business leaders such as Nasdaq, Revolut, Continental, and Danske Bank, demonstrating the country’s ability to support world-class investors across high-tech, financial services, and strategically important industries.

Paulius Kamaitis Acting Director of Innovation Agency Lithuania

Lithuanian Defence Industry Community 03.

Defence and Security Ecosystem in Lithuania 04.

Sandbox 05.

Miltech Sandbox - dedicated platform designed to accelerate the development, testing, and adoption of military and du- al-use technologies. Its purpose is to con- nect innovators, startups, research insti- tutions, and defense-sector stakeholders, providing them with a structured environ- ment to validate concepts, access testing facilities, and navigate regulatory pro- cesses relevant to the defense industry. The platform supports companies throughout the innovation lifecycle-from Viešoji įstaiga Inovacijų agentūra | inovacijuagentura.lt Valstybės sienos apsaugos tarnyba prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos | www.vsat.lrv.lt Policijos departamentas prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos | www.policija.lrv.lt Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga | www.sauliusajunga.lt The website provides up-to-date news and events of high relevance to the de- fence and security ecosystem in Lithuania and abroad. It also features a comprehen- sive defence ecosystem map, structured Vilniaus universitetas | www.vu.lt Kauno technologijos universitetas | www.ktu.edu Vilniaus Gedimino technikos universitetas | www.vilniustech.lt Klaipėdos universitetas | www.ku.lt Baltijos pažangių technologijų institutas | www.bpti.lt

early prototyping to field testing-offering guidance, resources, and expert support. Miltech Sandbox is strengthened by a wide network of partners , including de- fense institutions, testing and certifica- tion bodies, research organizations, and industry players. This collaborative eco- system helps innovators access special- ized expertise, infrastructure, and poten- tial end-users, enabling faster and more efficient development of defense-related solutions. Valstybinis mokslinių tyrimų institutas Fizinių ir technologijos mokslų centras | www.ftmc.lt Kauno mokslo ir technologijų parkas, VšĮ | www.techpark.lt Klaipėdos mokslo ir technologijų parkas, VšĮ | www.kmtp.lt UAB Ignalinos aerodromas | www.ifly.lt UAB Pažangios inovacijos | www.manuvalley.tech/en UAB Ostara | www.ostaralab.com UAB IT logika | www.itlogika.lt UAB Altechna R&D | www.wophotonics.com VšĮ Šviesos kūgiai | www.sviesoskugiai.lt UAB Sertika | www.sertika.lt

Key products: drones and

100 innovative companies with products, services, and components

Lithuania excels at delivering photonics, engineering and ICT solutions

Strong scientific base, active R&D institutes and universities

anti-drone systems, electro-optical and laser systems

Lithuanian Defence Strengths

Systematic promotion of defense innovations

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UAV & Counter-UAV Nanosatellites & Satellite

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Ammunition Communication & Information Systems High-tech Components Detection, Location, Acquisition, Deception Equipment

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Defence Innovation Workshops Defence Innovation Vouchers Miltech academy Baltic Miltech Summit Miltech Sandbox

Network of partners: •

Communications Ground Vehicles EOD Equipment R&D Lasers & Photonics Personal Equipment And Military Rations

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• • • • • • •

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From Idea to Export: Lithuania’s Innovation Toolkit

• •

•

• •

Commerciali zation/ production

Challenges

Funding Prototyping Testing

Procurement

Export

by areas of activity, which allows users to explore Lithuanian companies, learn more about their capabilities, and identify po- tential partnership opportunities.

Workshops with military, Miltech Academy, Dual-use accelerator

Miltech Sandbox, VYTIS, Ranges

VC, ILTE, STEP, NATO, EDF

Exhibitions, trade missions

Defence innovation vouchers, STEP, Bilateral projects

Industrial cooperation

All information -> www.miltechsandbox.lt

06.

30+ 2 40+ years of experience countries our products are shipped to manufacturing sites - in the EU and the US

Altechna is a global provider of high-pre- cision laser optics, optical coatings, and optomechanical assemblies. With the in- frastructure of a leader and the flexibility of a partner, we enable serial production of the most powerful lasers. Backed by 30+ years of experience and a team of 140+ professionals across the EU and the US, we deliver advanced optical solutions for industrial, semiconductor, medical and de- fense applications. “ Altechna has a proven role in mis- sion-critical defense laser programs that demand absolute accuracy and re- liability. Our optics and assemblies are engineered for high performance and backed by scalable manufacturing, es- sential for defense applications.

In 2023, we strengthened our capabilities with the acquisition of Alpine Research Op- tics, expanding our expertise in high-dam- age-threshold optics for DUV, visible, and IR applications to meet the most demand- ing laser system requirements.

Main Product Highlight Altechna products are designed and optimized for long-lifetime, high-power laser systems operating in the 193 nm to 3 µm wavelength range. Our expertise in custom optical designs and high-dam- age-threshold coatings, combined with rigorous metrology, ensures precision, re- liability, and repeatability from prototype to mass production.

Antanas Laurutis CEO

www.altechna.com

07.

40k 38 countries, 40,000 systems annually

European soldier modernization

€18M–€80M+

since 2023

Revenue growth (2024–26)

BROLIS is a high-tech company that de- velops and manufactures electro-optical systems (thermal imagers, laser systems, night vision equipment, etc.) for defense and security. BROLIS supplies its equip- ment to 38 countries worldwide (NATO member states and partners) and is one of the fastest-growing defense companies in Europe. “ BROLIS is a new rising star in the Euro- pean and Western defense landscape, confidently expanding into interna- tional markets and successfully com- peting technologically with the most well-known global players. We are a European defense company using ex- clusively European supply chains, with- out Chinese, Russian, Belarusian, or ITAR-controlled components.

Kristijonas Vizbaras Co-founder

www.brolis-defence.com

08.

Fully autonomous UAV Hornet XR - for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisi- tion and reconnaissance missions. The newest addition to Granta Autonomy’s mini-UAV arsenal, the Hornet XR, takes co- vert reconnaissance to the next level. This innovative drone leverages experience and feedback from past models to deliver ex- ceptional performance: • The Hornet XR prioritizes portability and stealth. With a compact wingspan of 1.6 meters, a length of just 0.84 meters, and a lightweight design at 3.2 kilograms, it’s quickly launched by hand, eliminating the need for cumbersome support equipment; • Despite its size, the Hornet XR boasts impressive stamina, offering three hours of silent flight time thanks to its electric propulsion system. This silent operation makes it virtually undetectable, perfect for missions requiring absolute discretion. • The Hornet XR sets itself apart with its pre-programmed autonomous flight capa- bilities. This drone can execute complex missions flawlessly, even in environments with radio jamming or complete radio si- lence. Landing is equally effortless – the Hornet XR utilizes a deep-stall method for smooth recovery, even in confined spaces. Loitering munition aircraft X-Wing - for anti-armor and fragmentation (multi-pur- pose) warheads The X-WING combines the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) of a quadcopter with the efficient, fixed-wing flight of an air- plane, giving it a range of up to 50 km. This design provides front-line units with a por- table, modular, and easy-to-deploy sys- tem for precision strike missions. Granta Autonomy developed the 12kg X-WING to meet the demand for loitering munitions that infantry units can deploy without spe-

cialized launch equipment. Designed to be a “shooter” to Granta’s “sensor” Hornet XR reconnaissance drone, the X-WING also uses artificial intelligence (AI) for autono- mous flight, even when GNSS or GPS sig- nals are unavailable or spoofed. Digital data link Hornet DDL - for contest- ed environments The Hornet DDL, which weighs less than 50g and consumes less than 10W during active transmission, can achieve a video transmission range of 10 km with an om- nidirectional antenna and 30+ km with a directional antenna. Granta’s Datalink solution ensures com- patibility with most ground control sta- tion software, and an AI-based targeting system can help guide the UAV to heavily camouflaged targets. Micro gimbals GS-214X and GS-218X - for ISTAR Granta Autonomy’s powerful but light- weight GS-214X and GS-218X micro gim- bal systems are the fourth generation of gimbal-mounted EO/IR payloads the busi- ness has designed from scratch: • Measuring 71 mm and weighing just 180g and 195g, respectively, these sensors fea- ture an EO camera with a zoom capabil- ity of ×40 (×20 optical and ×2 digital), a horizontal field of view of 60° to 3° (opti- cal), and 1.5° (digital), and a resolution of 1280×960 pixels. Both sensors feature a FLIR Boson+ 640 long-wave infrared sensor, which has a resolution of 640×512 pixels, with the GS- 214X using a 14 mm lens offering a hori- zontal field of view of 32° and the GS-218X using an 18 mm lens offering a horizontal field of view of 24°.

2 3x major defense awards (2024–2025) production and

UAV integration partnership

workforce since 2024

2025 Rheinmetall

Granta Autonomy Granta Autonomy is an innovative and experienced engineering company with a focus on the development and production of unmanned aircraft sys- “ At the beginning of the Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2014, drones were used almost exclusively for reconnais- sance, but they were soon followed by grenade-throwers, the so-called ka- mikaze drones, drones carrying large payloads, and drones that can reach targets hundreds or even a thousand kilometres away. In the past, such re- sults could only be achieved with very expensive military equipment. Today, drones allow us to reach targets effi- ciently and use munitions more effec- tively.

tems (UAS) and critical components for in- telligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR), search and rescue, and loitering munitions.

siles ourselves in the near future, but we are already developing lasers, an- ti-drone devices and UAVs, and we are one of the leaders in the region. We are incredibly proud to partner with Rheinmetall Electronics, a company with a stellar reputation for excellence in defense technology. This partner- ship represents a pivotal moment for Granta Autonomy, validating our team’s talent and the advanced capabilities of our drone systems. We believe this will be a game-changer in enhancing the operational effectiveness of military vehicles.

Our specialists go to Ukraine to test our products, share insights with Ukrainian soldiers, and develop solutions that would be the most efficient on the bat- tlefield. We have seen first-hand on several occasions that it is this experi- ence and the advanced solutions born from it that are highly appreciated by our Western partners. In Lithuania, we will not be able to pro- duce tanks, rifles and long-range mis-

Gediminas Guoba CEO

www.grantaautonomy.com

09.

60+ 99% 15+ years of experience defence projects every year export

Precizika Metrology designs and manu- factures high accuracy feedback devices for precise motion measuring. With a full in-house production line and a dedicat- ed R&D team, we offer fast, flexible and cost-efficient manufacturing ideally suited for a lead-time-sensitive defence industry. “ In this very competitive industry, it is no longer enough to have a standard off- the-shelf product range, there is a high demand for close engineer-to-engineer communication, quick prototyping and precise product adjustments to ensure accurate and reliable operation of vital military systems. Delivering on these requirements has allowed us to build strong long-stand- ing relationships with leading defense contractors worldwide. We remain strongly focused on the defence sec- tor, with several advanced projects cur- rently in development that we believe will further strengthen our position in the industry.

Main Product Highlight Encoders and optical glass gratings tailored for specific motion measurement tasks. Prod- ucts can be developed from the ground up or customized to meet specific customer re- quirements, ensuring optimal performance in demanding and mission-critical environments.

Arnas Rudžianskas Head of Commerce

www.precizika.com

10.

126 employees. In 2025 number grew 40%

direct response €15.5M

revenue. In 2025 number grew by almost 80%

to the full-scale war in Ukraine by founding company in 2022

RSI Europe Remote explosives initiation systems, FPV drone systems, drone warheads, integra- tion of systems into armed forces. Main Product Highlight Development, manufacturing, and integration of tactical FPV drones and remote initiation systems into armed forces; training courses for FPV drone teams. Through close cooperation with soldiers on the Ukrainian front who use our products, we “ In close cooperation with soldiers on the Ukrainian front who use our prod- ucts, we respond quickly to changes on the battlefield and adapt our sys- tems accordingly. This allows us to offer Ukraine, NATO countries, and al- lied partners effective military systems that meet both battlefield and NATO requirements. Our annual drone pro- duction capacity in Europe has reached 120,000 units, and if needed, it can be rapidly increased, allowing us to deliv- er large volumes of equipment quick- ly, thanks to secure and tested supply chains.

quickly respond to changes on the battlefield and adapt our systems accordingly. This al- lows us to deliver effective military systems for Ukraine, NATO countries, and allied partners that meet both operational battlefield needs and NATO requirements. Our annual drone production capacity in Eu- rope has reached 120,000 units and can be rapidly scaled if required. Secure and proven supply chains allow us to deliver large volumes of equipment quickly.

RSI Europe, in cooperation with the Lith- uanian Armed Forces, co-developed the first FPV strike drone operator team training course and contributed to the establishment of FPV drone capability within national defence. The experience gained is applied to the further devel- opment of drone operator training and to supporting the creation of indepen- dent training capacities for other NATO countries.

Tomas Milašauskas CEO

www.rsieu.com

11.

20+ €50M 300 years of experience ICT experts annual turnover NOVIAN PRO is a well-established ICT company with 20+ years in business, ap- proximately EUR 50 million turnover and around 300 experts in ICT. Headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania, the company operates in six countries and has delivered projects in more than 50 countries (2018-2024).

NOVIAN PRO delivers innovation and con- sulting for international and national R&D programmes (ESA, EDIDP, EDF), as well as end-to-end software development, sys- tem integration, and lifecycle services, including 24/7 maintenance and support. The company also provides critical infra- structure solutions, covering HPC, cloud, and managed services. In the defence and security domain, NOVI- AN PRO focuses on AI-enabled data pro- cessing and decision support, delivering

secure and interoperable C2/C2SA archi- tectures. These solutions integrate com- munications, data exchange, and shared distributed data storage. In addition, NOVIAN PRO develops AI- based X-ray image recognition solutions for security screening and inspection, as well as advanced time and resource man- agement systems supporting mission plan- ning, operational coordination, and critical workforce management.

“ NOVIAN PRO builds AI-driven software and interoperable command-and-con- trol capabilities that help defence and public security users turn complex, multi-source data into actionable de- cisions. Our track record spans EDF/ EDIDP and ESA programmes, from hy- brid-threat OSINT to AI-enabled tar- geting and space domain awareness, supported by strong integration, se- cure communications and distributed data-management expertise.

Main Product Highlight - Innovations and consulting for defence and space R&D (feasibility studies, op- erational and technological consulting; project execution under ESA, EDIDP, EDF and national programmes). - End-to-end software engineering and system integration for defence and se- curity systems (C2/SC2, communications and data exchange, shared distribut- ed data storage). - AI-enabled capabilities for situational awareness and analysis, including hy- brid-threat OSINT/SocMINT/NLP solutions and AI algorithms for prediction, tar- get detection and recognition. - AI-assisted suspicious item detection for customs and logistics security, sup- porting cargo screening and risk-based inspection workflows. - Simulation, streaming and monitoring solutions delivered in defence contexts (e.g., tactical data links, UAV video streaming/processing, tracking data ex- change, simulators, network monitoring, secure remote access), plus lifecycle support, training and 24/7 maintenance.

Paulius Vaitkevičius Head of Innovations, NOVIAN PRO

novian.lt/novian-pro

Notes 12.

The Baltic Miltech Summit is a strategic event bring- ing together defense industry leaders, NATO and EU policymakers, and research institutions to advance defense innovation and technology development. Event goals: – Create a platform for industry, government, military, and academia to exchange ideas on defense innovation.

– Strengthen regional and international defense in- dustry cooperation. – Accelerate the growth of local and regional defense ecosystems. The Summit features an international conference, B2B matchmaking sessions, and a networking event in Vilnius. 65 +

30 + 850 + Speakers Countries Participants

2025

Pranciškus Vaišvila Industry Development Manager • p.vaisvila@inovacijuagentura.lt • +370 659 09815 Izabelė Martišiūnė Head of Miltech Lab • i.martisiune@inovacijuagentura.lt • +370 664 80390

www.innovationagency.lt

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