Lithuania has ordered additional NASAMS air defense systems

15 December, 2023 The NASAMS air defense system in service with Lithuania. Photo credits: Armed Forces of Lithuania The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense has signed a contract with the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace for the supply of additional NASAMS air defense systems.

The press service of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense reported on this. The EUR200 million contract was signed this week. The Ministry of National Defence starts the second stage of the mid-range air defense system purchasing.

Part of the NASAMS systems purchased under this agreement is expected to be delivered to Lithuania as soon as 2026.

The SL-AMRAAM missile for the NASAMS air defense system. Photo credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces

According to Deputy Minister of National Defence Greta Monika Tuckute, the decision to continue purchasing NASAMS systems was based on the main argument that they are already successfully used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, so the new replenishment will not have integration problems. The contract also provides for the modernization of some NASAMS equipment that Lithuania purchased in 2017.

This modernization will provide the Lithuanian Army with the most modern and effective configuration of this air defense system. The first contract for the supply of NASAMS air defense systems to Lithuania was signed on October 26, 2017. The intention to purchase the air defense systems was first announced on October 20, 2016.

Already in October 2020, Lithuanian NASAMS were officially transferred to the air defense battalion. These systems arrived in the country in June of the same year. It is worth recalling that earlier this year, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense purchased two NASAMS launchers for Ukraine as part of military aid.

The NASAMS launcher on a truck that was handed over to Ukraine.

November 2023.

Photo credits: Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania

The launchers were delivered to Ukraine in November and complemented and expanded the operational capabilities of the NASAMS systems that were transferred by Norway and the United States.

The workplace of the NASAMS air defense system crew.

Frame from the video

Before the transfer of launchers, the Ukrainian military underwent comprehensive training in Norway.