HIMARS systems to increase the firepower of Lithuanian army

Source: Ministry of National Defence, Republic of Lithuania

On November 9 the U.S. Department of State greenlighted a potential foreign military sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers to Lithuania.

The contract is expected to be signed by the end of the year. It is planned to cover eight launchers with live and dummy ammunition including different types and combat characteristic guided missile pods, for example, the ATACMS Army Tactical Missile Systems with the range of 300 km. Lithuania will also procure training and system maintenance equipment, services for personnel training, system integration and connection with the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS). The deal is assessed to be worth USD 495 million. The principal sale contractor will be U.S. company Lockheed Martin.

“It is a brand new and powerful capability that Lithuania never had an equivalent of. It will elevate intelligence, electronic warfare and other capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces to a yet higher level,” said Lithuanian minister of national defense Arvydas Anusauskas.

The decision was taken aiming to support Lithuania in strengthening its defensive capabilities as a NATO Ally. The acquired armament is compatible with other technologies used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces which will make it easy to integrate into the existing defence plans and build up deterrence. The Latvian and Estonian Allies also eye HIMARS acquisition which will unquestionably lead to the capability becoming a substantial boost to the defence of not just Lithuania but the entire region.

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