Lithuania's defense industry is growing: four memorandums signed, investors are exploring the market. And where is native Latvia?
The Lithuanian Association of Defense and Security Industry (LADSI) and three companies from the sector signed memorandums of cooperation with foreign commercial organizations and enterprises on Tuesday.
At the Daimex Baltic 2026 conference, the association signed a memorandum of understanding with the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce — the parties agreed to create a Lithuanian-German platform for cooperation in the defense industry.
Three more memorandums were signed by the Lithuanian radio communication technology manufacturer Cellular Expert and the Australian engineering company Luminact, the defense enterprise NT Service and the French naval group Naval Group, as well as the drone technology startup PDKinematics and the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Bavovna Miltech.
According to the head of the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce, Florian Schröder, the goal is to jointly strengthen the security industry by utilizing Germany's resources, the innovative business of the Baltic states, and Ukraine's combat experience.
"We want to expand not only in Germany and the Baltic states but also include Ukraine. I believe in this 'magic triangle' — the joint development of the defense industry of Germany, the Baltic states, and Ukraine. It is clear that Ukraine has innovations, needs, and capabilities," Schröder told BNS.
"Germany has enormous resources, but it lacks speed. The speed, innovation, and digitalization are present in the Baltic states. I believe that together we can become stronger, more competitive, and provide better deterrence," he noted.
Advisor to LADSI, Vincas Jurgutis, told BNS that these memorandums are significant for defense enterprises.
"In the defense industry, any paper signing is taken quite seriously. Their implementation occurs when joint activities begin, common points of contact in technologies and the creation of joint products are found," Jurgutis noted.
By the way, about 2,000 representatives of the defense industry and security policy from 30 countries are participating in the two-day Daimex Baltic 2026 conference that started on Tuesday. In the corridors, Lithuanian businesses are negotiating with delegations from companies in the USA, Europe, Israel, South Korea, the UAE, and other allied countries.
bb.lv editorial opinion: after all, one of the great Latvian politicians said that drones are the Latvian Nokia. The Latvian Nokia that we will soon be buying in Lithuania?
