Safariland operates in the law enforcement, military, and public safety sectors, with an annual turnover of around 500 million USD. The company has maintained a strong production base in Lithuania, Safariland Lithuania, for over a decade. The partnership with the young but rapidly growing KOVO Armor is seen as an opportunity to further strengthen these results and expand production in Lithuania.
“Our goal is to help Lithuanian companies establish strategic connections and gain a real foothold in the international defense and security market. The agreement between KOVO Armor and Safariland shows that Lithuanian companies are already capable of competing at the highest level and becoming part of global supply chains. Such examples build trust in Lithuania’s entire defense technology sector,”
says Simona Buziliauskienė, Head of the Market Development Department at the Innovation Agency.
According to KOVO Armor CEO Agnė Rakštytė, collaboration in the defense sector is often built on partnerships, making such events essential for shaping the sector’s future.
Integrated Systems as the Result of Partnership
Cooperation with Safariland will enable production in Lithuania of fully integrated ballistic vests for the defense and security sectors: KOVO Armor will supply the hard ballistic components—plates—while Safariland will provide the vests with soft armor. Both companies guarantee products that meet the highest international standards, made from innovative materials combining lightness and reliability.
“By combining Safariland’s ergonomic ballistic vests with KOVO’s lightweight ballistic plates, we aim to jointly create cutting-edge solutions proudly manufactured in Lithuania. This is a step toward greater safety—not only for our soldiers and officers but for the entire region,”
says Agnė Rakštytė.
KOVO Armor specializes in the development and production of advanced ballistic protection solutions. Its portfolio includes ballistic inserts, helmets, add-on armor, fragmentation catchers, shields, and blast protection kits for soldiers, security personnel, and military equipment. The company’s main mission is to reduce injury risk for soldiers and officers while ensuring their equipment remains as lightweight as possible.
“In modern operations, every kilogram matters—lighter protection means greater mobility, less fatigue, fewer injuries and maintenance needs, and higher operational efficiency. Our goal is to create solutions that provide maximum protection while maintaining agility,”
emphasizes A. Rakštytė.
The Value of the Partnership for Lithuanian Industry
The memorandum with Safariland extends beyond technological development—it also represents new opportunities for Lithuanian industry. The collaboration will create jobs at two production sites, strengthen subcontractor and supplier networks, and open the door for jointly produced Lithuanian goods to reach international markets.
“This partnership allows us to combine our strengths in a competitive environment and develop interoperable, high-tech solutions together. It is not only a step toward the best possible protection for Lithuanian soldiers and officers but also an opportunity to boost our country’s industry and exports,”
says A. Rakštytė.
