Naval Group Offers Latest MP-OPV Design for Lithuanian Navy

On July 1, 2026, Naval Group and four Lithuanian research institutions signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Vilnius to establish SHIELD Lab, a maritime defence innovation laboratory supporting the Lithuanian Navy’s future capability development. The initiative, involving Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Klaipėda University, the Baltic Institute of Advanced Technology (BPTI), and the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), is part of Naval Group’s industrial cooperation proposal for Lithuania’s Multi-Purpose Offshore Patrol Vessel (MP-OPV) programme. SHIELD Lab will focus on the Lithuanian Navy’s research priorities, developing a dedicated R&D roadmap for the future MP-OPV programme, advancing technologies for the international VANTAGE programme, and supporting other collaborative defence innovation projects. My story for Naval News, here.