The Defence Materiel Agency (DMA) under the Ministry of National Defence has signed several contracts with the U.S. Government on acquisition of manpack radios and small uncrewed aerials systems in a continued effort to strengthen the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The DMA signed two deals on acquisition of L3Harris manpack radios worth approx. USD 25 million in the end of 2024. This will bring the Lithuanian Armed Forces the most advanced L3Harris radios which will be integrated in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles JLTV and the Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
The DMA also signed a deal with the U.S. Government in mid-December on acquisition of small UAS from U.S. manufacturer AeroVironment Inc. The contract is worth USD 7.8 million (without VAT).
The vertical take-off drones is designed for fire control and adjustment tasks. The system will be integrated with Switchblade 600 combat drones also acquired from the U.S. Government. The UAS are planned to be delivered in the end of 2025 and supplemented further in the future.
Lithuania is the largest procurer of U.S. weaponry among the Baltic states. Our acquisitions from the U.S. in the mid-term stands at USD 1.3 billion and takes up approx. 20% of our acquisitions, other purchased systems being the Javelin antitank missiles, JLTV vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters, HINARS, AMRAAM for medium range NASAMS, Switchblade, etc.
Photo credits: E. Genys (Military Academy of Lithuania)
