Lithuania begins NASAMS testing
The Lithuanian Air Force has commenced testing of the NASAMS medium-range air defence system, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence announced on 3 October.
Lithuania signed the contract with Kongsberg to acquire NASAMS in October 2017. The €110 million contract includes two air defence batteries and a logistical maintenance package, as well as training for operators and maintenance personnel.
The testing will see components of the weapon system - missile launchers, radars, electro-optical sensors, components of integration with the RBS 70 short-range air defence systems, communication and control components, and vehicles - tested at the production facility, then put to field trials in Lithuania. The trials will assess technical and tactical conformity of NASAMS components to the determined weaponry specification.
The testing will run until February 2020, with the system planned to be officially delivered by the end of 2020.
The system procured by Lithuania includes ex-Norwegian armed forces launchers that have been upgraded to manufacturer parameters. The systems procured from Norway use US-made AMRAAM aircraft defence missiles capable of destroying aircraft and missiles of an adversary several tens of kilometres away.
The equipment will be fully integrated into a system capable of completing air defence tasks: monitor and control air space, issue warning to ground-based units about air threats, and to destroy targets if necessary.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Drone wars: countries are looking for answers but do companies have the solutions?]()
Drone wars: countries are looking for answers but do companies have the solutions?
Manufacturers are speeding up their counter-drone development efforts as countries increasingly focus on procurements to provide battlefield and national protection.
-
![Fourth company looks to Texelis Celeris chassis to develop a new 4x4 vehicle]()
Fourth company looks to Texelis Celeris chassis to develop a new 4x4 vehicle
Finnish company SCATA will use the Texelis Celeris chassis for a new vehicle similar to the Serval 4x4 which Texelis is building with KNDS France for the French Army.
-
![Thales Storm 2 counter-drone system being evaluated by potential customers]()
Thales Storm 2 counter-drone system being evaluated by potential customers
The attack drone threat from first-person view uncrewed aerial systems has been highlighted by recent conflicts and Thales has adapted its Storm 2 counter-improvised explosive device jammer to provide protection.
-
![Rolls-Royce to lead powertrain development for MGCS in important step for the programme]()
Rolls-Royce to lead powertrain development for MGCS in important step for the programme
The move signals significant progress for the delayed Franco-German Main Ground Combat System programme with first powerpack prototypes set to be tested before the end of the decade.
