Former defence ministers clash over air defence contracts

Former Lithuanian defence ministers Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Dovilė Šakalienė are disputing how many air defence contracts were signed and how quickly the country’s capabilities were developed, LRT.lt reports.

LRT.lt reviewed a document stating that the Social Democrats have so far signed six contracts for the acquisition of air defence weapons during their term in office.

Kasčiūnas, who leads the Conservatives, said air defence had not been a priority for the Social Democrats. He also argued that capabilities developed particularly slowly while Šakalienė was minister.

Šakalienė rejected the criticism, saying that air defence received significant attention during her tenure. She said weapons procurement processes were long and complex, and that the absence of signed contracts did not mean the necessary work had not taken place.

The Ministry of National Defence said air defence was one of the priority directions for developing the Lithuanian military’s capabilities and that related decisions were being made consistently each year.

Kasčiūnas said that at least three air defence weapons contracts had been signed while he was defence minister, from the end of March to December 2024.

He said two of the contracts concerned MSHORAD short-range mobile air defence systems designed to counter drones and cruise missiles at close range and to protect military units and infrastructure. He also referred to a contract for an additional medium-range NASAMS air defence system, signed in summer 2024.

Kasčiūnas said he had also initiated the acquisition of other air defence equipment. Discussing Šakalienė’s tenure, he claimed that only one air defence system acquisition contract had been signed during that period.

Šakalienė, meanwhile, listed work carried out while she was minister and said Kasčiūnas was exaggerating his contribution to air defence.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius previously said that air defence was becoming the country’s main defence priority. He declined to assess how many air defence weapons contracts had been signed under the Social Democrats, saying his goal was to make the issue a priority rather than review the records of previous governments and ministers.