Lithuania expects to receive air defense systems from Norway before 2020
NASAMS medium-range air defense systems, which Lithuania has purchased from Norway, will be delivered by 2020. According to the Delfi news portal, this information was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania, which has signed a technical agreement on the purchase of the systems’ components and missiles this week.
The agreement, which was approved by the defense agencies of Lithuania and Norway, stipulates the conditions and the responsibility of the countries regarding the purchase and sale of the NASAMS components, as well as regarding the aid which Norway will provide to Lithuania for the development of the medium-range air defense capacities by the latter.
"The signing of the technical agreement is one of the most important stages in the development of the medium-range air defense capacity of the Armed Forces of Lithuania. It is gratifying that our ally, Norway, has agreed not only to sell NASAMS components that will notably improve the safety of Lithuanian airspace, but also to help with the introduction of this system to the Armed Forces of Lithuania," the Lithuanian Defense Minister, Juozas Olekas, said.
Continuing the implementation of the project of medium-range air defense, the Defense Ministry of Lithuania will purchase other NASAMS system components such as radars and fire control centers.
Two batteries of the Lithuanian Armed Forces will receive the NASAMS systems. Currently, the Lithuanian Armed Forces only have short-range air defense systems.
It is estimated that the medium-range air defense project will cost Lithuania slightly more than EUR 100 million.