Lithuania to purchase AMRAAM missiles for an estimated cost of $100 million

The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to the Government of Lithuania.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced this on October 23.

These missiles will replenish the ammunition of the Lithuanian military’s NASAMS air defense systems.

The Government of Lithuania has requested to purchase 36 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment.

The possible Foreign Military Sale also includes the provision of spare parts and consumables, as well as engineering, technical, and logistics support.

The principal contractor for the future AIM-120 missile deal will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense in Tucson, AZ.

AIM-120 AMRAAM

The AIM-120 AMRAAM is an all-weather, medium-range, air-to-air guided missile developed by the US defense company Raytheon Technologies. The missile is equipped with an active radar homing head system. The AIM-120 is the main missile of the NASAMS air defense system produced by a consortium of the US corporation Raytheon Technologies and the Norwegian group Kongsberg.

The missile entered service with the US Army in 1991. It is the main medium-range missile for American and European fighter jets.

The AIM-120C-8 is the eighth generation of the C version missile, with upgrades aimed at improving the radar homing head system, communications and data transmission systems, and the engine. The missile’s launch range has been increased by 30%, which has increased the effective distance at which an air target can be hit.

In May of this year, a unit equipped with NASAMS air defense systems participated in military exercises in Lithuania for the first time.

The intention to acquire NASAMS was first announced on October 20, 2016, when a technical agreement was signed. The value of the deal was estimated at €100 million. The contract to supply these air defense systems to Lithuania was signed on October 26, 2017.

In October 2020, an air defense battalion officially adopted the Lithuanian NASAMS. These systems arrived in the country in June of the same year.