Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence has announced it will procure a Polish-made counter-UAS system from Advanced Protection Systems (APS), strengthening the country’s defense of critical infrastructure against drone threats.
The purchase, though executed by the Ministry of Defence, is being financed by Lithuanian energy companies that requested the acquisition. Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė clarified that while the systems are intended for infrastructure protection in peacetime, they will fall under the control of the armed forces in the event of aggression and be integrated into Lithuania’s broader air defense network.
Minister Šakalienė emphasized the growing need for comprehensive counter-UAS capabilities to address the proliferation of drones and ensure security across both civilian and military sectors.
The planned Lithuanian system will include a layered array of technologies including radar and passive electronic reconnaissance systems, optical and optoelectronic sensors, GPS and communications jamming tools, and kinetic countermeasures. The selected APS solution reportedly met all of Lithuania’s procurement requirements, prevailing over two competing bids.
APS is known for its SKYCtrl C-UAS system and FIELDCtrl radar, both of which are deployed in Poland, Ukraine, and a number of other European and Middle Eastern countries. Configurations range from mobile detection units to integrated kinetic platforms equipped with a 30 mm Bushmaster II cannon or APS’s proprietary interceptor drones. Lithuania has yet to disclose which variant it will procure, though a contract is expected to be finalized in the near future.
Post Image Credit: M. Dura via Defence24
