Lithuanian shipbuilder Western Baltic Engineering has revealed the conceptual design of the Lithuanian Navy’s Perkūnas (Thunder) class patrol boats.
The milestone aligns with Vilnius’ objective of employing modern maritime security assets incorporating “state-of-the-art” capabilities that will fill gaps across specialized operations and infrastructure protection.
Each boat under the project will measure 88 meters (289 feet) and will have a 17-meter (56-foot) beam.
They will have the capacity for 30 to 60 personnel and will be fitted with a 6-megawatt engine for a speed of over 18 knots (33 kilometers/21 miles per hour).
Western Baltic Engineering’s Shipyard Group division emphasized that the entire effort supports Vilnius’ continuous modernization of military patrol assets and the country’s “economic activity and growth.”
“Through the successful development of the ‘Perkūnas’ conceptual design together with our partners we are ready to advance further,” Western Shipyard Group CEO Arnoldas Šileika stated.
“Recent achievement highlights the expertise of our dedicated team and serves as an inspiration for continued efforts to fully realize this high-value project, making it a powerful addition to our national fleet.”
Lithuania’s launch of the Thunder-class patrol vessel design followed the government’s award to Dutch shipbuilder Damen in 2024 to procure a support boat for the navy.
In 2023, Vilnius collaborated with Western Baltic Engineering for a separate initiative to conceptualize and deliver a new class of warships for the naval force by 2030.
