Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas highlighted the strategic importance of this acquisition, stating, “MSHORAD is designed to provide protection for certain facilities, sites, and critical infrastructure. The advantage of this system is its mobility, which makes it a much-needed system that will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. We are currently using the older generation RBS70 air defence system and Bolide missiles.”
The MSHORAD system, a modern upgrade to Lithuania’s current air defence arsenal, will include mobile fire control centres, Giraffe 1X mobile radars, and RBS70 NG mobile fire units, all mounted on JLTV armoured all-terrain vehicles. This advanced configuration will offer Lithuania enhanced protection and operational flexibility, ensuring rapid response to potential aerial threats.
“We are proud to continue to support the air defence of Lithuania. MSHORAD is our response to the new threats on the battlefield. Saab’s wide expertise makes us able to deliver everything from radar and firing units as well as our command- and control system; the result is the most modern and capable mobile short-range air defence solution on the market,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
Minister Kasčiūnas also indicated future plans to further strengthen Lithuania’s air defence, revealing ongoing considerations for acquiring additional systems. Discussions are underway regarding the potential purchase of Piorun air defence systems from Poland and additional medium-range air defence systems. The Defence Ministry is expected to decide by September whether to opt for NASAMS or IRIS-T SLM systems, neither of which are currently in use by the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
