KOVO Armor to manufacture ballistic protection products in Klaipėda FEZ

Kovo Šarvai, operating under the KOVO Armor brand, is investing 3 million euros in infrastructure for producing helmets, vests, inserts, ballistic plates, and other ballistic protection products in the Klaipėda Free Economic Zone (FEZ). The company’s products are intended for local and global military and law enforcement agencies.

The KOVO Armor factory, spanning 900 square meters, is located in the FlexStart 2 manufacturing facility within the Klaipėda FEZ. The company’s total investment of nearly 3 million euros includes 2 million euros provided by the national development bank ILTE under the “Startuok” program. Additionally, KOVO Armor has attracted private investment from business angels, including Martynas Stašaitis and Gediminas Damijonaitis, the founders of Lithuanian-American IT powerhouse Devbridge.

According to KOVO Armor CEO Agnė Rakštytė, the company will use ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), deep-drawn technology and other innovative manufacturing methods. This will allow the products made in Klaipėda to meet the growing global demand for reliable, lightweight and effective protective equipment.

“These ballistic protection products are among the most advanced in the world, offering exceptional protection-to-weight ratios compared to similarly sized alternatives. In Klaipėda, we will also have the capability to quickly deliver tailored and complex customer orders,” said Rakštytė.

As part of the project, KOVO Armor plans to create 25 new jobs over three years, 15 of which will be for highly qualified specialists. The company chose Klaipėda FEZ for its quick launch capabilities, convenient transportation infrastructure, and the presence of an active community of high-value-added manufacturers.

KOVO Armor is currently building a team of defense sector experts. The product development and manufacturing processes will be led by one of the company’s co-founders, French engineer Maxime Dartois, who has over 15 years of experience in innovative ballistic protection solutions and has worked with prestigious global companies. Business development and sales will be overseen by co-founder Eligijus Mylė, a former Lithuanian Army officer with eight years of experience in defense product sales and business growth.

According to Karolis Pilipauskas, Sales and Marketing Director at Klaipėda FEZ, KOVO Armor’s investment aligns with Lithuania’s recent focus on developing its defense technology industry. It also demonstrates to the public that this sector is primarily associated with high-value-added, high-tech, safe and export-oriented production.

“A cutting-edge Lithuanian company focused on exports is entering Klaipėda FEZ with products highly relevant to today’s needs. This is a significant investor for us, as we can now showcase Klaipėda FEZ’s potential in the defense sector with a concrete example. I am confident that as interest in this field grows, similar investments will increase nationwide. Lithuania is already gradually becoming a regional center of excellence in the defense sector,” said Pilipauskas.

KOVO Armor is the first defense sector company to invest in Lithuania’s free economic zones.