Lithuania stocks up on Saab RBS 70 missiles
The Lithuanian Defence Materiel Agency has signed a four-year contract with Saab for additional RBS 70 air defence missiles.
Saab has signed a four-year contract with the Lithuanian Defence Materiel Agency, which allows the customer to place orders for RBS 70 missiles until 2026. An initial purchase under the new contract has been placed, worth SEK 350 million ($32 million). Deliveries will take place from 2023-2024.
Lithuania has been a user of the RBS 70 ground-based air defence missile system since 2004.
“'Our best-in-class short-range air defence missiles deliver a tactical advantage. The recent contract will further strengthen Lithuania’s air defence capability through the RBS 70 system,' said Görgen Johansson, head of Saab Dynamics.
Shephard Defence Insight lists Lithuania as having taken delivery of 260 RBS 70 missiles and estimates the unit cost at $100,000. Fellow Baltic nations Latvia and Finland also operate the Saab air defence system. Lithuania's medium-range air defence layer is provided by the Kongsberg NASAMS system and the country signed a letter of intent to join the Europe-wide Sky Shield initiative earlier this month.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million]()
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
![Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans]()
Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans
The Russia–Ukraine war has continued to be the place the world’s militaries have been watching for lessons on both the EW and uncrewed front. Its conventional war aspect, however, has also been catching the attention of leaders.
-
![NSPA signs new helmet system deal and agreement for C-UAS systems]()
NSPA signs new helmet system deal and agreement for C-UAS systems
The Caiman helmet has been designed to be scalable for dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories and can incorporate electronics, communications headsets and other critical equipment.
-
![US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years]()
US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years
The reduction would impact several acquisition and development programmes, creating capabilities gaps in US missile defence architecture.
