Latvia hands over SENTINEL radars to Lithuania to strengthen air defence

Lithuania has taken over SENTINEL radars from Latvia free of charge to enhance its medium-range air defence systems, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence announced on Thursday, citing a BNS report.

Latvia uses other systems for its own air defence needs, and the decision to transfer the radars was made following a proposal from the United States.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas expressed gratitude to Latvia and the US for their continuous cooperation in strengthening regional security.

“The primary task of the SENTINEL radars is to enable NASAMS air target destruction operations, ensuring accurate target detection and tracking information. These radars will help respond more effectively to potential threats and protect the safety of our people,” he said.

NASAMS is one of the most widely used medium-range air defence systems among NATO countries, meeting the requirements of Lithuania’s defence capabilities.

The first NASAMS system arrived in Lithuania in 2020 and was fully integrated into the Lithuanian Armed Forces by 2022. The second phase of NASAMS procurement began in 2023, with the ministry announcing in May that the assembly of these batteries should be completed by the end of 2026.