The Ministry of National Defence responds to the continued brutal Russian missile attacks against military and civilian targets in Ukraine and to Ukraine’s request for urgent assistance in strengthening air defence: two medium-range NASAMS air defence system launchers will be purchased for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On June 27 the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence signed the acquisition contract with Norwegian company Kongsberg.
“We are purchasing upgraded NASAMS missile launchers which will be fully ready for integration with the Armed Forces of Ukraine fire control units thus supplementing and extending its NASAMS operational capability donated by Norway and U.S.,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
The contract is worth approx. EUR 9.8 million. Lithuania will also arrange the transfer and hand-over of the equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine which will take place in the coming three months. The Ministry of Defence of Norway will contribute to the assistance with a donation of NASAMs launcher maintenance equipment.
NASAMS medium-range air defence system are used in the Lithuanian Armed Forces as well.
The military assistance package is also planned to comprise ten M113 armored personnel carriers, thus making it to the total of 72 such vehicles donated by Lithuania.
Lithuania placed an order for 12.5 million rounds of ammunition for Ukraine to be produced in 2023, 2.5 million of it will be handed over to Ukraine shortly. Thousands of rounds of anti-tank ammunition for grenade launchers will follow soon as well. With this assistance package, Lithuania’s contribution to Ukraine’s defence will exceed half a billion euros.
The Ministry of National Defence has also made a commitment to continue the support to Ukraine in the long-term by endorsing a military assistance plan covering at least 200 million of euros assistance in 2024-2026.