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Mar 13 2025

NCIA expands radio coverage in the Baltic region

On 20 February 2025, NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) representatives attended an event in Kaunas, Lithuania, marking the successful completion of the installation and the beginning of the warranty of the update of Karmelava (KM) Voice Communication Equipment (VCE) to integrate new radio sites and equipment to enhance interoperability across the region.

During the event, the NCIA Air Command and Control Chief, John Booth, signed a handover-takeover protocol alongside the Chief of the Lithuanian Air Force, Colonel Antanas Matutis, and representatives from the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, formally transitioning the upgraded system into operational use.

The main contract for the project was awarded to CS-Group to deliver the upgrade across multiple sites in Karmelava, Ignalina, Juodkrante, and Alytus, as well as the installation and integration of the new radio site at Siauliai.

This upgrade is critical to the three Baltic Nations, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, which operate a shared radio network that ensures comprehensive coverage across the region. By expanding radio coverage in Lithuania, the project significantly enhances operational capabilities of both national and NATO air operations over the Baltic area, further strengthening regional security and collective defence efforts.

The project required close coordination between all parties, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and the CS-Group, to ensure seamless integration within an active operational environment. The deep collaboration between NCIA and the Baltic Nations was instrumental to the successful delivery of this project.