Lithuania deploys Ukrainian-made system to detect low-flying objects

VILNIUS - Lithuania is deploying a pilot SkyFortress airspace surveillance system developed in Ukraine to detect low-flying objects by their sound or radio signals, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

According to Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas, Lithuania is adapting solutions already in use in Ukraine to strengthen its air defence chain, from airspace surveillance to the interception and neutralisation of air threats.

According to the Defence Ministry, SkyFortress uses artificial intelligence to detect, track and classify low-flying drones or cruise missiles in real time based on their acoustic or electromagnetic signatures.

The ministry said the contract signed this summer also includes processing data collected by sensors, using acoustic and radio-frequency digital signature libraries based on unclassified data, and training personnel.

During testing of the system, its capabilities to detect and identify low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles in Lithuania will be evaluated.

In September, a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus was shot down for the first time. It was downed by Italian fighter jets deployed in Siauliai. Previously, drones entering from Belarus were shot down in Latvia and Estonia.