Lithuania agrees with three countries on air defense rotation

At least three NATO member states will deploy their air defense systems in Lithuania next year as part of a rotational deployment.

This was stated by Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas, LRT reports.

He had previously stated that European NATO allies should’ve deployed their forces in Lithuania and that the Netherlands would be one of those countries.

“I can say three. Maybe even more,” the minister said.

When asked whether Sweden would be among those countries, Kasciunas replied: “I can’t confirm that at the moment.”

The publication added that last year, NATO had agreed on a model for the rotational deployment of air defense systems in the Baltic states. This should happen almost continuously.

This summer, the Patriot air defense systems from the Netherlands were deployed in Lithuania at the Siauliai air base as part of the BALTCON24 exercise.

At the time, Laurinas Kasciunas suggested that the Netherlands regularly deployed that air defense system in Lithuania as part of the exercises.

Lithuania is also strengthening its air defense on its own by purchasing new short- and medium-range air defense systems. As part of this, in October 2024, two additional agreements were signed with European manufacturers of air defense systems.

Thus, on October 1, an agreement was signed with the Swedish manufacturer Saab Dynamics for the purchase of additional short-range mobile air defense systems based on RBS 70 anti-aircraft missiles in the latest NG version, worth about €130 million.

On October 3, a contract was signed with the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace for the supply of another medium-range air defense system NASAMS for almost €234 million. Due to additional funding, this air defense system was ordered 7 years earlier than planned.

These systems will be designed to provide air defense for a division of the National Armed Forces. The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense noted that without additional funding, the acquisition of these systems was planned no earlier than 2030.