Introduction
Defense cooperation forms a central pillar of the Lithuania–Israel relationship, reflected in regular high-level military visits, significant procurement programs involving major Israeli defense companies, and the integration of Israeli technologies across Lithuania’s armed forces and security services. Recent key acquisitions include Rafael-equipped Boxer infantry fighting vehicles armed with Spike missiles, IAI short-range air-surveillance radars, and several purchases of RADA ieMHR tactical radars for both Lithuania and assistance to Ukraine. Lithuania has also procured Skylock-related counter-drone systems through NT Service and continues to adopt additional Israeli technologies within its security infrastructure, including cyber tools like Cellebrite’s UFED.
Lithuania-Israel Relations
Diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Israel were established in 1992. Since then, the relationship has been sustained through regular high-level contacts: numerous visits to Israel by senior Lithuanian officials and reciprocal visits by Israeli leaders.[1]Embassy of Israel in Vilnius, Bilateral Relations, 20.08.2024 In 2012, Lithuania appointed its first commercial attaché to Israel to promote bilateral trade, investment and tourism.[2]Calcalist, For the first time: Lithuania appoints a commercial attaché in Israel, 21.04.2012
In August 2018 Benjamin Netanyahu was the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit Lithuania.[3]The Times of Israel, Despite honors for collaborators, PM praises Vilnius for Holocaust remembrance, 24.08.2018[4]The Lithuania Tribune, Israeli PM arrives in Lithuania for historic visit, 23.08.2018
Bilateral trade remains modest in scale, though Israeli exports to Lithuania have increased significantly in recent years. Until 2023, Israel’s exports to Lithuania were on the order of tens of millions of dollars and in 2024 reached $115 million. Lithuanian annual exports to Israel are around $100 million.[5]Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, Trade Countries – Imports and Exports, 07.05.2025
In March 2021 Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MRO provider Aviatic to establish a maintenance facility in Siauliai, Lithuania. Under the MOU, the new center will operate as Aviatic MRO and will primarily offer aircraft maintenance and overhaul services, the conversion of Boeing 737NG passenger aircraft into cargo configuration, and the training, certification, and licensing of personnel.[6]Aviation Week, IAI Aviatic To Build MRO Center In Lithuania For 2022, 17.03.2021[7]IAI, IAI and Aviatic to Establish an Aircraft Maintenance Center in Lithuania, 17.03.2021
Military Relations
Lithuania-Israel defense and security partnership centers on sustained procurement of Israeli systems and growing cooperation in cyber and counter-drone capabilities. Major acquisitions have included Elbit Systems’ coastal surveillance system, upgrades to 120 mm mortars, Rafael-equipped Boxer infantry fighting vehicles with Spike missiles, IAI short-range air-surveillance radars, and multiple purchases of RADA ieMHR tactical radars for Lithuania and for aid to Ukraine. Lithuania has also acquired Skylock-linked counter-drone technologies through NT Service and continues to integrate Israeli systems such as Cellebrite digital forensics tools into its security forces. Below is a chronological overview of major milestones in Lithuania–Israel defense, security, and cyber cooperation.
2007: Lithuania awarded Elbit Systems a $10 million contract for delivery and commissioning of an integrated coastal surveillance system. The system integrates radar and electro-optic coverage of the coastline using the coastal radar technologies and video surveillance systems. The project was funded by the European Union (EU), Schengen facility program.[8]Reuters, Israel’s Elbit Systems gets Lithuania surveillance deal, 10.08.2007[9]Aviation Week, Elbit Systems wins $10M contract for Lithuania coastal surveillance, 04.04.2007
2011: Lithuania and Israel signed an agreement on mutual protection of classified military and defense related information.[10]Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Bilateral Agreements – Israel, 20.08.2025
2013: Lithuania contracted Elbit to upgrade the self-propelled 120 mm mortar systems of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, in a deal estimated at EUR 6.6 million. The upgrade, completed in 2016, included fire-control, fire-observation, adjustment equipment, and command-and-control systems.[11]Israel Defense, Elbit Systems Upgraded Lithuanian Army’s Mortar Systems, 06.12.2015[12]Lithuanian Armed Forces, Chief of Defense pays a formal visit to Israel, 28.11.2016
2015: Lithuania signed a deal to purchase 88 Boxer armored fighting vehicles equipped with Rafael’s unmanned turret with an autocannon and a Spike anti-tank missile launcher. The contract was signed with ARTEC, a consortium of German firms KMW and Rheinmetall Military Vehicles, with Rafael providing the unmanned turret system and Spike missiles. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) also played a minor role in the project. Delivery was originally scheduled by the end of 2021 but was delayed due to integration issues with the turrets, prompting Lithuanian complaints and high-level Israeli intervention. By November 2022, the first battalion consisting of 45 vehicles had been fully equipped.[13]Haaretz, Major Israeli Arms Deal Created Diplomatic Crisis With Lithuania, 22.04.2023
October 2015: Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė visited Israel to promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of security, economy, energy, and tourism. During her visit, she met with President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an interview given during the trip, She stated that the recent strengthening of ties was linked to expanding security cooperation, and expressed interest in Israel’s expertise in the field of cyber defense.[14]Walla, “We also have aggressive neighbors”: The Iron Lady of Eastern Europe stands by Israel, 21.10.2015
November 2016: Chief of Defense of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas conducted a first formal visit in Israel. During the visit Lithuanian Chief of Defense met with the Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman and the IDF’s Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot to discuss bilateral and multilateral military cooperation, tour units of the Israel Defense Forces and visit companies of defense industry: RADA Electronic Industries, Elbit Systems, Rafael, Israel Military Industry, and Israel Aerospace Industries.[15]Lithuanian Armed Forces, Chief of Defense pays a formal visit to Israel, 28.11.2016[16]Israel Defense, Lithuanian Chief of Defense visits Israel, 29.11.2016
April 2018: The Lithuanian Armed Forces signed a €2.8 million contract with IAI to procure five gap-filler short-range air surveillance radars and logistic maintenance services. The radars will be installed in Varėna, Švenčionys, Vilnius, Jurbarkas, and Pagėgiai.[17]Israel Defense, Lithuania to Buy Five Radars from IAI, 01.04.2018
June 2018: Lithuania and Israel signed an agreement on cooperation in the fields of public security and the fight against crime.[18]Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Bilateral Agreements – Israel, 20.08.2025
August 2018: BeeSense EU, subsidiary of the Israeli BeeSense, was granted a €1.6m fund from the European Regional Development Fund, and the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania, to create a unique prototype HALO for monitoring and security.[19]BeeSense Official website, BeeSense Europe In 2025 it was reported that BeeSense operates a Lithuania subsidiary that develops software for advanced intelligence and surveillance.[20]Haaretz commercial content, The Eyes of the Nation 2025 AI-enhanced Electro-Optics for Defense and Security, 08.06.2025
January 2019: Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister of Lithuania, visited Israel and participated in Cybertech 2019. Saulius Skvernelis said cooperation with Israel around cybersecurity was launched a few years earlier with the support of the PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and there was an agreement to expand it.[21]Israel Defense, “The EU Must Do More to Strengthen Its Connections with Israel”, 29.01.2019
2019: Gripen combat aircraft that are part of NATO Integrated Air Defense System have participated in a four-month long mission to protect the Baltic airspace of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania in 2019. The Gripen aircraft are equipped with Litening 4i pods developed by the Israeli Rafael.[22]Saab, The Czech Air Force Marks 15 Years of Gripen Operations, 20.04.2020[23]SAAB, Two decades of Gripen fighters in the Czech Air Force – making the skies safe, 16.04.2025
March 2022: Lithuanian Armed Forces signed a €4 million agreement with the Lithuanian company NT Service to buy anti-drone equipment. NT service is partnered with the Israeli company Skylock.[24]Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian Armed Forces buy equipment to fight drones, 14.03.2022 NT service is known to market Skylock’s products such as Skybeam, a portable electronic warfare anti-drone device.[25]Intelligence Online, Israel’s Skylock brought into Ukrainian anti-drone battlefield by Lithuania’s NT Service, 07.04.2022[26]Skylock, Skybeam
June 2022: Lithuanian deputy minister Semeska visited Israel and held meetings with senior executives in Rafael and SIBAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry’s International Cooperation Directorate.[27]Haaretz, Major Israeli Arms Deal Created Diplomatic Crisis With Lithuania, 22.04.2023
March 2023: Lithuanian volunteers, from the blue/yellow foundation, purchased 16 ieMHR radars by the Israeli RADA for Ukraine use. The sum for the €14 million purchase was raised in the fundraising campaign.[28]Militarny, Lithuanian volunteers purchased tactical radars for Ukraine, 15.03.2023[29]Delfi, In Kaunas Ukrainians learn to use the radars bought by Lithuanians, 14.03.2023 This matches Russian reports about transfers of at least 16 radars of this kind to Ukraine.[30]Israel Defense, Report: Lithuania Allocates Millions to Ukraine, Includes Israeli RADA Radars, 27.08.2024
May 2024: Lithuania purchased ieMHR radars made by the Israeli company RADA for €13.5 million as part of a military aid package to Ukraine.[31]Israel Defense, Report: Lithuania Allocates Millions to Ukraine, Includes Israeli RADA Radars, 27.08.2024
December 2024: Lithuania has signed a contract with KNDS Deutschland for the delivery of 44 LEOPARD 2 A8 tanks to the Lithuanian Army. The tanks will be equipped with Trophy active protection system developed by Israeli Rafael.[32]KDNS, Lithuania procures LEOPARD 2 A8 main battle tanks from KNDS, 19.12.2024[33]Janes, Lithuania accelerates Leopard 2A8 procurement, replenishes ammunition stocks, 19.08.2025
April 2025: The first Israel-Lithuania Defense Innovation Forum “Securing the Future” took place in Vilnius. The forum was co-organized by the Embassy of Israel in Lithuania together with the Israel Ministry of Defense, and was attended by 15 Israeli defense companies alongside Lithuanian manufacturers and representatives from NATO, and Lithuanian parliamentary, government, security and defense agencies.[34]Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania, Introductory Israel-Lithuania Defense Innovation Forum: “Securing the Future” took place in Vilnius, 03.04.2025
April 2025: Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Dovilė Šakalienė visited Israel and met with Minister of Defense of Israel Israel Katz, members of SIBAT, the International Defense Cooperation Directorate at Israel’s Ministry of Defense and representatives from the defense industry.[35]Ministry of National Defense Republic of Lithuania, Lithuania and Israel strengthen cooperation, 29.04.2025 During the visit, the Minister of National Defense discussed bilateral cooperation with Rafael, including launching the production of Spike missiles in Lithuania, as well as the possibility of producing 120mm ammunition, drones, and anti-drone vehicles with Elbit Systems and IAI.[36]LRT, Lithuania’s military receives Israeli anti-tank missiles worth €6m, 19.08.2025
August 2025: During the Lithuania-Israel Economic, Business and Science Forum that took place in Vilnius, President Gitanas Nauseda said Lithuanian “representatives are eager to strengthen existing and engage in new partnerships with Israel in the fields of defense and space technologies”.[37]The Baltic Times, Israel could take part in developing Lithuania’s defense industry – Nauseda, 04.08.2025
August 2025: The Lithuanian Armed Forces have received a new delivery of LR2 Spike anti-tank missiles worth 6 million euros. The missiles will be integrated with the Boxer-type infantry fighting vehicles known as “Vilkas”.[38]LRT, Lithuania’s military receives Israeli anti-tank missiles worth €6m, 19.08.2025[39]The Defense Post, Lithuania Boosts Anti-Tank Firepower with Israeli Spike LR2 Missiles, 20.08.2025
December 2025: Lithuania decided to acquire 100 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles equipped with the Iron Fist active protection system by the Israeli Elbit Systems.[40]El Espanol, La OTAN apuesta por el ‘Puño de Hierro’ de Israel para proteger los blindados CV90 de los países nórdicos y del Báltico, 10.01.2026
Joint Drills:
Swift Response 2018: IDF paratroopers participated in the US-led Swift Response military exercise which took place in June 2018 in Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.[41]Israel Defense, Watch: IDF Paratroopers Participate in US-led Exercise in Europe, 14.06.2018
Allied Spirit X 2019: Lithuania and Israel participated in an exercise held in Germany along NATO ally and partner nations: United States, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.[42]Israel Defense, Israeli Forces Participated in NATO’s Allied Spirit X Exercise, 18.04.2019
Cyber
January 2019: Prime Minister of Lithuania Saulius Skvernelis participated in the CyberTech conference in Tel Aviv.[43]Israel Defense, Cybertech 2019: Israel’s Largest Event Breaks New Records, 01.02.2019
May 2022: Israeli OT security company Waterfall Security Solutions was hired to deploy a cybersecurity solution to Poland and Lithuania’s natural gas connection. This new natural gas interconnect joins Polish, Lithuanian, Baltic and Finnish gas transmission systems with the European Union pipeline system.[44]Israel Defense, Israeli company to provide cybersecurity solution to Poland and Lithuania’s natural gas connection, 21.05.2022
April 2024: Lithuanian officials participated in the CyberTech conference 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel.[45]Israel Defense, Cybertech Global Tel Aviv 2024: The Litmus Test of Israeli Cyber, 18.04.2024
Paragon Solutions: Lithuania is known to be a customer of Paragon, and WhatsApp has reported that phone numbers with Lithuania’s national prefix were among the targets of attacks attributed to the company.[46]Haaretz, Israeli Spyware Firm Paragon Cuts Italy’s Access After Journalists Targeted, 06.02.2025[47]BBC, Spyware firm cuts Italy access after alleged targeting of activists – reports, 06.02.2025
Cellebrite: The Lithuanian Police Department has used Cellebrite’s UFED phone hacking system since before 2022. A tender to renew UFED Touch2 licenses was published in November 2022,[48]The Lithuanian public procurement portal, Mobilių įrenginių tyrimo programinės įrangos licencijų atnaujinimo paslaugos, 25.11.2022[49]Mercel, Mobile Device Research Software License Refrement Services, 25.11.2022 followed by another tender in September 2024 to renew licenses for the newer UFED 4PC version.[50]The Lithuanian public procurement portal, UFED 4 PC license renewal, 18.09.2024