Lithuania Promises NASAMS Air Defense Systems for Ukraine

Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defense said it is buying two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) launchers for battle-scarred Ukraine.

“In response to Ukraine’s urgent request for assistance in strengthening air defense, we are purchasing two NASAMS medium-range air defense missile launchers for the Ukrainian army,” the ministry said in a statement.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the NASAMS systems for Ukraine are being purchased under the new contract signed on June 27 between Lithuania, Norway, and the Norwegian producer Kongsberg. Delivery of the systems is expected to take place within the next three months.

Lithuania is also sending 10 more M113 armored personnel carriers, over 2.5 million rounds of ammunition and thousands of pieces of anti-tank ammunition for grenade launchers to Kyiv.

According to Lithuanian government officials, the total value of the military aid transferred by Vilnius already exceeds €500 million.

Ukrainian military are being trained by Lithuanian experts to maintain M113 tracked armored personnel carriers and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers.

Currently, the Ukrainian armed forces have two batteries of NASAMS air defense systems. Also, six more systems were ordered by the United States and one by Canada as part of military aid to Ukraine. Norway also announced plans to transfer two fire platoons of this air defense system.