The Lithuanian Navy has procured patrol ship marine radars with air target acquisition and tracking capability. The contract was signed with Italian company Leonardo S.p.A. last week and the procurement carried out by the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence.
Another bidder in the procurement procedure was Sweden’s SAAB AB, Lithuania’s pick, however, was offering the most economically advantageous conditions. The total value of the contract amounts to approx. EUR 7.9 million, VAT not included. AS agreed by the contract, the supplier will take care of all the technical documentation, train the operators and maintenance personnel, carry out the radar testing, install and integrate all the acquired equipment into the patrol vessels. The equipment is planned to be delivered and all services provided by the end of 2023.
“As we are continuing the efforts of modernizing the Lithuanian Armed Forces and supplying it with modern and technologically advanced weaponry, equipment and gear, we are also strengthening maritime capabilities as part of that effort , thus further enhancing deterrence and defence,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
The newly acquired radar systems will be installed on the patrol ships of the Lithuanian Naval Flotilla : LNS Žemaitis P11, LNS Dzūkas P12, LNS Aukštaitis P14, and LNS Sėlis P15. The main role of the new equipment is to ensure safety of the ships when navigating in narrow passages (e.g., straits, port channels) and open sea , and search and rescue missions. The systems will help detect objects as far as 100 kilometers way. The dual function of the radars is detection and tracking of surface and airborne targets which will enable the use of currently integrated weapons on different types of targets with accuracy, including under especially adverse hydrometeorological conditions during the light and the dark part of the day. The multifunction sensor was selected in the procurement to save national defence funds: there will no longer be a need to acquire radar antennas for air target surveillance separately.
Radar accuracy and range is vital in search and rescue operations to ensure timely detection of and assistance to the distressed, coordination with other allied ships and aircraft. The procured radars will also have integrated IFF antennas.
Photo credit: Lithuanian Navy
