Lithuania confirms itself as a new key player in the European defense sector through significant collaborations and technological advancements. Recent developments highlight this strategic shift in the country’s prospective defence ecosystem.  

On June 12th, Broswarm, a Vilnius-based startup specializing in landmine detection, clinched first place at the 14th edition of the NATO Innovation Challenge, focusing on the critical issue of Remote Explosive-Contaminated Area Recognition and Neutralization.  

Broswarm was recognized for its innovative solution and pioneering drone-based landmine detection, unveiling for the first time X-Ray Eagle, a new technology combining GPR with mSAR (Miniscale Synthetic Aperture Radar), permitting the detection of shapes and objects underground.  

ScaleWolf, a dual-use tech VC fund and accelerator, has recently invested $100,000 in Broswarm, underscoring its commitment to supporting solutions that address global security challenges.

This event follows the news of Rheinmetall’s agreement. This project represents a commitment to the local defence sector, as part of Lithuania’s broader strategy to foster a robust defence ecosystem. With an investment of more than EUR 180M, the new plant is also expected to create at least 150 new jobs.

The Ministry of Economy and Innovation signed contracts for 14 large-scale investment projects within the Green Corridor initiative, creating nearly 4,000 jobs and attracting more than EUR 1.25B investment. The turnover of the defence sector has doubled over five years to EUR 700M, with a 14% increase in employees.