Lithuania signs cooperation deal with US defence firm Mach Industries

Lithuania's Economy Ministry announced on Friday that the country's economy and defence ministers signed a cooperation agreement with US defence technology firm Mach Industries during their visit to the United States. The deal is meant to support the company's expansion in Lithuania, covering the establishment of a local subsidiary and the development of capabilities for assembling, integrating and producing advanced systems and their components.

Economy Minister Lukas Grikšas said the agreement would open new opportunities for Lithuanian engineers and suppliers while reinforcing the defence capacity of both Lithuania and NATO's eastern flank. According to the ministry, US foreign direct investment in Lithuania currently stands at nearly 2.8 billion euros, with manufacturing accounting for 72% of that total.

Mach Industries focuses on unmanned aviation, space and defence systems, as well as infrastructure for their mass production. The company has already showcased its Viper autonomous vertical takeoff and landing platform in Lithuania, demonstrating it during exercises at the Rūdninkai military training ground.

UV LED partnership also signed

A separate memorandum was signed during the visit between Lithuanian company INTA and US-based UVTON Inc., focused on cooperation in developing UV LED (ultraviolet light-emitting diode) applications and products. The partnership will draw on the expertise and intellectual property of Remigijus Gaska, a US-based scientist and pioneer in UV LED technology, for joint projects in disinfection, diagnostics, sensors and environmental monitoring. The long-term aim is to build a complete UV LED value chain in Lithuania, spanning technology development and patents through to prototyping, certification and production.