Lithuania’s government on June 11 granted permission to bypass public procurement procedures in the acquisition of combat payloads, specifically kamikaze drones and anti-tank mines.
According to the resolution prepared by the Defence Ministry these purchases will not be subject to provisions of the Law on Public Procurement in the Fields of Defence and Security.
This means that the Defence Resources Agency will be able to acquire so-called kamikaze drones and anti-tank mines without announcing a public tender.
The ministry says the exemption is justified under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows member states to take necessary measures to protect essential security interests related to the production or trade of arms, munitions and war materiel.
The decision aims to safeguard key national security interests, including the protection of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, the democratic constitutional order and a peaceful and secure environment for national development, as well as to strengthen Lithuania’s defence capabilities, according to the ministry.
Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that Lithuanian companies capable of producing such weaponry had already been approached.
“I prefer not to name them at this stage because, I think we all understand, negotiations are a very sensitive process,” she told reporters ahead of the Cabinet meeting.
The minister added that further details about the acquisition of the kamikaze drones and mines, including when the systems would be delivered to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, would be available “in the near future”.
“As for specific dates, the Defence Resources Agency, which is directly responsible for most of these procurement processes, will be able to provide information as soon as it becomes possible,” she said.
The ministry said the resolution aimed to supply the Lithuanian military with domestically produced military equipment and achieve operational drone capacity until 2027, while also encouraging the development of defence technology capabilities as well as creating new, resilient and reliable supply chains.
In preparation for these purchases, the Defence Resources Agency has identified Lithuanian businesses capable of manufacturing equipment that meets the armed forces’ technical requirements.
Without the exemption, the agency would be obliged to hold a competitive tender involving multiple suppliers, including foreign bidders. While such a process might result in more cost-effective offers, the ministry argues it would not serve vital national security interests.
Moreover, without the exemption, the ministry warns it would not be possible to develop and support the domestic capacity for production, maintenance, and supply of military equipment and spare parts – capabilities needed to ensure continuous and timely support to both the Ukrainian and Lithuanian armed forces.
Last week, the government similarly approved the no-tender purchase of drones, anti-drone systems and optical surveillance equipment. (LRT)