Lithuanian Military Tests New Counter-Drone Strategies Near Belarus Border
The Lithuanian Army has recently conducted a significant test involving heavy machine guns and surface-to-air missiles against high-speed drones. This initiative highlights the growing interest among global militaries to explore firearm-based countermeasures as a last resort against drone threats.
A video shared by the Lithuanian armed forces showcases air defense units training with large-caliber machine guns and launching Saab’s RBS 70 NG missiles at drone targets. The training, which includes armored vehicles equipped with machine guns, took place at a site less than ten kilometers from the Belarus border.
“Testing of weapon systems (heavy machine guns, RBS, FPV drones) against drones at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground – some work the first time, some don’t. But that’s why we test and weapon crews train to attack this type of target,” the Lietuvos kariuomenė, the country’s armed forces, said in a post on their social media platform.
This exercise follows the recent enactment of a law in Lithuania granting the military authority to neutralize hostile drones swiftly, reflecting the need for quick responses to airspace violations.
On October 23, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda reported an incident involving Russian military aircraft briefly breaching Lithuania’s airspace, describing it as a “blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity.”
The effectiveness of light weapons like shotguns against drones in Ukraine has captured attention, prompting interest from Western militaries. A novel ammunition round for rifles in Ukraine, launched by the defense cluster Brave1, can fire five projectiles in a cloud pattern to target drones up to 50 meters away. This design allows soldiers to switch magazines swiftly based on their target.
The British Army’s Experimentation and Trials Group is also examining the use of shotguns for drone defense, reflecting broader military interest in unconventional counter-drone strategies.
A report from the Center for European Policy Analysis suggests that firearms combined with interceptor drones could be a cost-effective strategy against low-cost drone swarms. The report warns of scenarios where thousands of drones could be deployed overnight, potentially depleting missile supplies quickly.
The report advocates for systems like the German Gepard Flakpanzer, which can hold 640 rounds, and the Rheinmetall Skyranger 35, which can accommodate 220 rounds and rapidly re-target, as modern solutions to counter drone threats.
