U.S. defense technology company “Mach Industries” plans to expand in Lithuania
During his visit to the U.S., Minister of Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas, together with Minister of National Defense Robertas Kaunas, signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S. defense technology company Mach Industries regarding the company’s expansion in Lithuania. The agreement provides for cooperation in establishing a branch of the company in Lithuania and creating capabilities for the assembly, integration, or production of advanced systems and their components.
“An agreement with 'Mach Industries' would enable the production of advanced defense systems in Lithuania and open up more opportunities for our engineers and suppliers. Products manufactured here would strengthen the capabilities of Lithuania and NATO’s eastern flank and help Ukraine defend itself. U.S. direct investment in Lithuania already totals nearly 2.8 billion euros, with 72 percent of that going to manufacturing. We aim to see investment grow in the defense industry as well,” says Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
“Mach Industries” develops advanced unmanned aviation, space, and defense systems, as well as the infrastructure required for their mass production. The company has already demonstrated one of these systems – the “Viper” autonomous vertical takeoff and landing platform – in Lithuania during exercises at the Rūdninkai military training area.
“We are developing our systems based on insights gained from observing Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, with the aim of providing Ukraine, Lithuania, and other NATO partners with effective tools,” says Ethan Thornton, founder and CEO of Mach Industries.
Another memorandum was signed during E. Grikšas’s visit to the U.S. The Lithuanian company “INTA” and the U.S. company “UVTON, Inc.” signed an agreement on potential cooperation in developing applications and products based on ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) technology. The partnership plans to leverage the expertise, technologies, and intellectual property of Dr. Remigijus Gaška – a Lithuanian-born U.S. scientist, entrepreneur, and pioneer in UV LED technology – for joint Lithuanian-U.S. scientific and business projects in the fields of UV LED disinfection, diagnostics, sensors, and environmental monitoring. The long-term goal is to establish a complete value chain in Lithuania, ranging from technologies and patents to prototyping, certification, and manufacturing.
From September 23 to 25, E. Grikšas is on a working visit to the United States, where he is meeting with companies such as CAST AI, Constellation Network, and other potential investors, presenting Lithuania’s investment environment, and participating in the Lithuania–U.S. Business Forum alongside a Lithuanian business delegation.
Photo by Robertas Dačkus.