An experimental airspace monitoring system, SkyFortress – an acoustic drone detection system developed in Ukraine, designed to capture low-flying objects by the sound they produce or radio signals, is being implemented in Lithuania, the Ministry of Defense reported on Friday.
“Aerial threats are rapidly changing, so we are making appropriate decisions. Instead of creating everything from scratch, we are adapting existing systems that are already operational in Ukraine. In this way, we are consistently strengthening the entire chain of air defense: from monitoring airspace to intercepting and neutralizing threats,” said Minister of Defense Robertas Kairys in a statement.
SkyFortress complements the first stage of this chain – monitoring: the system uses artificial intelligence to detect and track low-flying drones or cruise missiles,” he said.
The Ministry of Defense notes that the system is capable of classifying objects in real-time that leave acoustic or electromagnetic traces.
According to the ministry, the contract signed this summer also includes the processing of data collected by sensors, the use of libraries of acoustic and radio frequency digital signatures based on unclassified data, and training of personnel.
During testing, the system's capabilities for detecting and recognizing low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles in Lithuania will be evaluated.
BNS agency reported that in September, a drone that had flown in from Belarus was shot down in Lithuania by Italian fighters stationed in Šiauliai.
Against the backdrop of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, there have been reports of potential aerial threats in Lithuania in recent months; however, this was the first time a drone was shot down in the sky over the country. Similar incidents had previously occurred in Latvia and Estonia.
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