In the coming years, the Lithuanian government will roll out a large -scale defense plan within which it is intended that fifteen thousand adults and seven thousand children learn to develop and control drones. The Lithuanian youth has to learn from the age of eight through games how to build and control a simple drone, according to it the initiative presented this week of the Ministries of Defense and Education.
The development program has been created to strengthen the “drone control among citizens” and to “expand the exercise in civil resistance.” Lithuania, a country with 2.8 million inhabitants that borders the Russian exclave Kaliningrad, has increasingly been taking the threat from Moscow into account since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian drone filled with explosives was recently found, which ended up in the Lithuanian airspace via Belarus. The government fears that this will happen more often.
Drone technology in group 3
Lithuania wants its own population to learn on a large scale how to make and control drones. According to the proposal, children must already get acquainted with the Drone technology in group 3 of primary school. At a later age they then get to know more advanced systems, for example by designing, making and 3D printing parts.
The plan presented on Tuesday must ensure that more than 22,000 Lithuanians strengthen the drone capacity of the country. It is a three -year plan, which involves 3.3 million euros. In that period, nine training complexes must rise. According to Lithuanian media In addition, the country has applied for a loan of 5.8 billion euros from the European Union.
The first three training complexes will open next month. The rest must be ready before 2028. With the help of the Schuttersbond, citizens learn in those places, among other things, to make hostile projectiles harmless. The government may organize competitions in the future to recruit the best builders and drone directors.
Investments in Defense
Due to the Russian threat, Lithuania has been investing heavily in its defense industry for some time: in 2030 the government wants to spend 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. This makes Lithuania for many other NATO member states, who have not even achieved the (now increased) financial standard of 2 percent GDP in recent years.
Earlier this month, Lithuania officially asked NATO for extra help with strengthening its own air defense. According to the Lithuanian Minister of Defense, a Russian drone flew into Lithuanian airspace via Belarus. The projectile would have two kilos of explosives on board, which were found on a military training ground. Lithuania also found a drone in July, with similar content.
In addition to the Russian threat, Lithuania also sees more and more aggression from neighboring Wit-Russia, an important ally of the Kremlin. The Lithuanian government fears that the Russian war in Ukraine will spread to the Baltic States.
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