- Lithuanian defense units demonstrated Granta Autonomy’s Hornet XR reconnaissance drone during a visit by Danish and Lithuanian leaders to National Defence Volunteers and Riflemen’s Union forces.
- The Hornet XR fixed-wing UAS has been selected as part of Lithuania’s unmanned modernization effort and has seen operational use, including deployments in Ukraine.
Lithuanian defense units equipped with unmanned aerial systems from Granta Autonomy demonstrated their capabilities during a high-level visit attended by Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, alongside Gitanas Nausėda and First Lady Diana Nausėdienė, according to a statement released by the Vilnius-based company.
The visit took place at formations of the National Defence Volunteers and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, where the delegation was briefed on recent upgrades to Lithuania’s territorial defense forces and observed fielded unmanned systems now entering regular service. The demonstration highlighted Lithuania’s push to expand organic reconnaissance capabilities across reserve and volunteer units amid a deteriorating regional security environment.
As noted by Granta Autonomy, the delegation reviewed the company’s Hornet XR fixed-wing reconnaissance unmanned aerial system, which has been selected by Lithuanian military organizations as part of their unmanned modernization efforts. The company described the platform as a lightweight, long-range reconnaissance asset intended for unit-level intelligence collection.
The Hornet XR is a compact fixed-wing UAS with a reported operational range of up to 50 kilometers and an autonomous endurance of approximately three hours. The system is designed to carry electro-optical payloads optimized for surveillance and target observation while maintaining a small acoustic and visual signature during flight operations.
According to Granta Autonomy, the platform’s size and flight profile are intended to reduce detectability, allowing it to operate in contested environments where traditional reconnaissance assets face higher risks. The system is launched and recovered without complex infrastructure, making it suitable for use by territorial defense units operating with limited logistical support.
Lithuanian defense organizations have accelerated the integration of unmanned systems into volunteer and reserve formations as part of broader efforts to distribute sensing and reconnaissance capabilities across the force. The National Defence Volunteers and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union play a central role in Lithuania’s total defense concept, which emphasizes rapid mobilization and local situational awareness.
The company said the Hornet XR has already undergone operational use, including combat-related deployments in Ukraine, where it was supplied to airborne and other units for battlefield reconnaissance tasks. Those deployments provided real-world feedback on system performance under electronic warfare and air defense threats, according to people familiar with the program.
Lithuania has steadily increased defense spending and accelerated procurement of surveillance, air defense, and unmanned systems following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Small and medium unmanned aerial platforms have been prioritized as cost-effective tools to extend visibility and decision-making at the tactical level.