Lithuania has tripled funding for a programme aimed at developing technology to detect and stop weather balloons used to smuggle cigarettes across the border from Belarus.

The Economy and Innovation Ministry announced on July 9 that the budget had been increased from €1mn to €3mn. The initiative is being implemented through a pre-commercial procurement process organised jointly by the ministry, the State Border Guard Service and the Innovation Agency, the ministry said on July 9.

"We have secured €3mn in funding and, recognising the importance of the project, increased its budget from the initially planned €1mn. We believe this cooperation between the state and innovative businesses will help develop an advanced solution that will not only strengthen Lithuania's airspace protection but also create new opportunities for our defence and security technology ecosystem," Economy Minister Edvinas Griksas said in a statement.

Under the programme, three shortlisted participants will each receive €233,000 to design and demonstrate prototype systems in operational conditions. The winning bidder will then be awarded €2.3mn to manufacture a pilot batch and complete validation of the technology.

The competition is open to companies with recent experience in defence or security research and development or those that have already commercialised relevant technologies. Proposed systems must have military, public security or dual-use applications.

Officials say the technology should not only detect, track and neutralise smuggling balloons but also provide capabilities against drones, broadening its potential role in protecting Lithuanian airspace.

Last year, three Lithuanian companies – IT Logika, Teltonika and Dangaus Sviesos – each received 100,000 euros to develop initial prototypes, which underwent their first field trials at the Pabrade training area in February, independent Lithuanian news agency BNS and public broadcaster LRT.lt reported.