Lithuania will provide Ukraine with not only NASAMS launchers but also additional armoured personnel carriers and ammunition.
This was announced on June 28, Ukraine’s Constitution Day, by Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas.
“Air defence is key in Ukraine’s fight against the aggressor,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda wrote on Twitter.
Lithuania transfers to Ukraine two NASAMS launchers
Mr Nauseda also explained that the cost of the two NASAMS launchers that Lithuania has decided to purchase for Ukraine is about 9.8 million euros.
In April, the Air Force Command of Ukraine reported that in just five months of combat use, this NASAMS AD system destroyed over 100 missiles and UAVs (presumably primarily Iranian-made Shahed-type kamikaze drones) of the Russian invaders.
The capabilities of NASAMS include intercepting aerodynamic targets at a distance of up to 20 km with AIM-120 missiles and up to 40 km with AMRAAM ER missiles.
Another vital feature of the system is its absolute multi-channel capability, where the number of targets being fired depends solely on the number of missiles in the launchers.
Lithuanian military aid to Ukraine includes 10 M113 armoured personnel carriers
According to Anusauskas, the planned Lithuanian military aid package to Ukraine will also include 10 M113 armoured personnel carriers. This will bring the total number of these armoured personnel carriers donated by Lithuania to 72.
In total, Lithuania has ordered 12.5 million rounds of ammunition for Ukraine for 2023, of which 2.5 million will be delivered shortly.
Gitanas Nauseda also added that he eagerly awaits more collective decisions regarding support for Ukraine at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius.
President of Lithuania, Nauseda, arrived in Kyiv on June 28 in an unannounced visit. He meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and participates in the celebration of the 27th anniversary of Ukraine’s Constitution adoption.
