Chairman of the LDSIA Board participated in “ASD Europe – London Spring Convention 2025”
Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian Defence and Security Industry Association (LDSIA), Egidijus Skužinskas, participated in the ASD Members' Convention in London, where he represented the interests of Lithuania's defence and security industry ecosystem in high-level discussions.
The event, “ASD Europe – London Spring Convention 2025”, brought together more than 30 member organizations of ASD (Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe) – national association representatives and senior executives from major European defence and aerospace companies.
Key topics discussed included strengthening defence supply chains, enhancing cooperation between the European Union (EU) and NATO, increasing resilience, and fostering innovation within the European defence sector.
"Today, as the geopolitical situation remains tense, especially in our region, the resilience of defence supply chains, a strong EU-NATO partnership, and technological advancement are becoming essential elements of security. The discussions organized by ASD shape decisions that directly affect Lithuania – through industry integration into European projects and opportunities to accelerate innovation on a national scale. Our goal is for Lithuania to be not only a reliable partner in the defence chain but also an active contributor, helping to build long-term resilience and security in the Baltic region," said LDSIA Chairman of the Board, Egidijus Skužinskas.
Key highlights from the ASD Convention:
▪️ European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, delivered a keynote speech followed by a Q&A session, emphasizing the importance of EU strategic autonomy and an innovative defence industry;
▪️ A declaration was adopted by the ASD Board, expressing support for the recently signed EU–UK security and defence partnership. It calls for reduced dependence on non-European suppliers and stronger mutual commitments;
▪️ High-level discussions were held on sustainable aviation, technological solutions for military effectiveness, and transatlantic cooperation;
▪️ A new ASD leadership was elected.
New ASD leadership:
▪️ President: Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Swedish defence company Saab, with 40 years of experience in engineering, sensor systems, and defence;
▪️ Vice President: Eric Béranger, CEO of the international missile systems corporation MBDA;
▪️ Secretary General (from September): Camille Grand, former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment.
Lithuania became a member of ASD Europe (Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe) one year ago. The country's interests in this international organization are represented by the Lithuanian Defence and Security Industry Association (LDSIA), ensuring that Lithuania’s voice is heard in key discussions on common standards, supply chain resilience, and innovation development.
