The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has announced the creation of clusters in strategically important areas of the defense industry to ensure independence from foreign suppliers.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense reported on this.

One of the priorities of the initiative is to establish a full cycle of production of explosives and ammunition, which will guarantee an uninterrupted supply of critical ammunition for the Lithuanian army and allies.

At the same time, capabilities in the field of unmanned technologies and weapons maintenance will be expanded, which will allow for a quick response to possible threats.

The armored vehicles cluster is planned to be located in Jonava. At the same time, the expansion of drone clusters will cover the production of reconnaissance drones, attack drones, and long-range vehicles, which will strengthen Lithuania’s position in the field of defense technology.

According to the Ministry, the development of the defense industry is a strategic priority for the country. During a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, the representatives of the defense ministry presented the main directions of this initiative, which should strengthen Lithuania’s security capabilities.

The creation of such clusters will allow the country to respond more quickly to security challenges and reduce logistical risks. It will also contribute to economic development, create new jobs, and strengthen Lithuania’s position in defense innovation.

The Ministry of Defense is also working to attract international investment.

Negotiations with the world’s leading defense companies are ongoing, and in February and March, the Defense Minister is scheduled to meet at the Munich Security Conference and during his visit to the United States. It is expected that this issue will also be discussed at the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

Another important aspect is the development of industrial cooperation with foreign companies, which will allow localization of some defense production in Lithuania.

This will help strengthen the country’s military capabilities, as well as create new jobs and expand the integration of Lithuanian enterprises into international defense supply chains.

Militarnyi previously reported that Lithuania planned to increase defense spending to 5-6% of its gross domestic product (GDP).