During the exercises, Mach Industries organized a demonstration flight of its Viper platform for representatives of the Lithuanian and Estonian armed forces. Viper is an autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform that combines the long-range strike capability of the ATACMS-class system with the precision characteristic of Hellfire-class weapons.
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Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas emphasized the importance of such demonstrations in assessing advanced systems capable of meeting Lithuania’s growing defense needs.
“The Lithuanian army needs what is modern, efficient, and effective in real environments. Technologies tested under realistic conditions help us move towards solutions that can strengthen Lithuania’s airspace defense and NATO’s eastern flank,” said Minister R. Kaunas.
Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas highlighted the broader impact of the exercises on industry and innovation.
“Advanced technologies like Mach Industries’ Viper are important not only for meeting defense needs but also for opening new opportunities for research, experimental development, and manufacturing cooperation between Lithuanian companies and partners from NATO countries,” said Minister E. Grikšas.
VANGUARD 2026 provided an opportunity for Mach Industries to demonstrate the potential of the Viper platform in Lithuania. This platform is continuously tested at the Dugvėjaus testing range under the U.S. Army’s Future Command / Army Applications Laboratory (AFC/AAL) Strategic Strike Command program.
Mach Industries founder and CEO Ethan Thornton stated that VANGUARD 2026 was an ideal platform to showcase Viper’s capabilities.
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“We develop our systems based on insights gained from observing the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, aiming to provide Ukraine, Lithuania, and other NATO partners with effective and easily deployable means to deter and counter aggression,” said E. Thornton.
“Such platforms are becoming increasingly attractive as low-cost and rapidly deployable alternatives,” said Lithuanian Army Training and Doctrine Command Chief Major General Žilvinas Gaubys. “We will carefully evaluate the potential role of such systems in our defense plans.”
VANGUARD 2026 brought together military operators, defense planners, procurement officials, and industry representatives to evaluate new technologies under realistic operational conditions. The exercises involved 15 companies from Lithuania, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Poland, and Belgium. The focus was on innovative defense solutions aimed at strengthening air defense and improving responses to modern security threats.
Preliminary results of the Viper demonstration were later presented at an event organized by the U.S. Embassy in Lithuania. Representatives from the governments and defense sectors of Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Japan, Poland, and Israel attended.
“The United States is committed to cooperating with Lithuania and allies worldwide to leverage American technology to defend freedom, as well as to implement advanced manufacturing and AI-based tools to maintain our technological edge. This is an ambitious agenda that is already being implemented,” said U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. MacDonald.
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