Lithuania expects to complete assembly of second NASAMS battery this year

Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence announced on Wednesday that the country expects to complete assembly of its second medium-range NASAMS air defence battery by the end of 2026, according to a statement reported by public broadcaster LRT.

Critical components—including radars and electro-optical sensors—are scheduled to arrive in Lithuania later this year, the ministry said. Once delivered, these parts will finalise the battery’s configuration, enabling it to reach its intended operational capability.

The acquisition is part of Lithuania’s second phase of NASAMS procurement, launched in 2023 as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national air defences. The first phase began in 2017, with the system fully delivered in 2020 and integrated into the Lithuanian Armed Forces by 2022.

NASAMS is among the most widely used medium-range air defence systems in NATO, meeting Lithuania’s operational requirements. The total cost of the procurement is approximately €200 million, covering system components, spare parts, technical documentation, training for operators and technical personnel, and modernisation of existing systems.