Lithuania agrees with three countries on air defense rotation

25 October, 2024 Illustrative photo of a Patriot PAC 2 missile launch. Photo from open sources At least three NATO member states will deploy their air defense systems in Lithuania next year as part of a rotational deployment.

This was stated by Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas, LRT reports. He had previously stated that European NATO allies should've deployed their forces in Lithuania and that the Netherlands would be one of those countries. "I can say three.

Maybe even more," the minister said. When asked whether Sweden would be among those countries, Kasciunas replied: "I can't confirm that at the moment."

Illustration for the news. Patriot air defense system.

Photo credits: AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski

The publication added that last year, NATO had agreed on a model for the rotational deployment of air defense systems in the Baltic states. This should happen almost continuously. This summer, the Patriot air defense systems from the Netherlands were deployed in Lithuania at the Siauliai air base as part of the BALTCON24 exercise.

At the time, Laurinas Kasciunas suggested that the Netherlands regularly deployed that air defense system in Lithuania as part of the exercises. Lithuania is also strengthening its air defense on its own by purchasing new short- and medium-range air defense systems. As part of this, in October 2024, two additional agreements were signed with European manufacturers of air defense systems.

MSHORAD air defense system on JLTV.

Photo credits: Saab

Thus, on October 1, an agreement was signed with the Swedish manufacturer Saab Dynamics for the purchase of additional short-range mobile air defense systems based on RBS 70 anti-aircraft missiles in the latest NG version, worth about EUR130 million.

Lithuanian NASAMS air defense system. Photo credits: Armed Forces of Lithuania

On October 3, a contract was signed with the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace for the supply of another medium-range air defense system NASAMS for almost EUR234 million. Due to additional funding, this air defense system was ordered 7 years earlier than planned.

These systems will be designed to provide air defense for a division of the National Armed Forces.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense noted that without additional funding, the acquisition of these systems was planned no earlier than 2030.