Lithuania buying 8 HIMARS, ATACMS missiles to be in their arsenal

Lithuania is buying 8 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launchers from the United States.

The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania reported about this.

The agreement was signed on Thursday, December 15, during the visit of the Defense Minister of Lithuania to the USA.

Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas, who met with United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon, noted that this agreement was of special importance for Lithuania’s defense.

He emphasized that HIMARS was a new step in the development of the capabilities of the Lithuanian army as they would significantly strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.

“I am glad that this year we signed an agreement for the purchase of this important system. Now we are starting to talk about cooperation with the US on the integration of HIMARS – personnel training, maintenance. It is very important that all the Baltic states buy HIMARS.

We will actively cooperate with Estonia and Latvia in developing this potential and increasing the security of the entire region. The first deliveries of HIMARS are scheduled for 2025,” Anušauskas said.

HIMARS will be delivered with several types of missiles, including M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Missile Pods, which can reach targets at a distance of 300 kilometers.

The total cost of such a deal is estimated up to $495 million. The contract will be executed by the American company Lockheed Martin.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense notes that the acquired HIMARS is compatible with other equipment used by the Lithuanian army, so it will be easier to integrate into existing defense plans and thus increase deterrence.

Lithuania is to receive the first HIMARS systems in 2025.

In November of this year, the U.S. State Department made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Lithuania of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Launchers. Preliminary agreements between the countries refer to eight self-propelled launchers, ammunition, related equipment, spare parts and the provision of technical support for the maintenance of these systems.