Lithuania begins NASAMS testing
The Lithuanian Air Force has commenced testing of the NASAMS medium-range air defence system, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence announced on 3 October.
Lithuania signed the contract with Kongsberg to acquire NASAMS in October 2017. The €110 million contract includes two air defence batteries and a logistical maintenance package, as well as training for operators and maintenance personnel.
The testing will see components of the weapon system - missile launchers, radars, electro-optical sensors, components of integration with the RBS 70 short-range air defence systems, communication and control components, and vehicles - tested at the production facility, then put to field trials in Lithuania. The trials will assess technical and tactical conformity of NASAMS components to the determined weaponry specification.
The testing will run until February 2020, with the system planned to be officially delivered by the end of 2020.
The system procured by Lithuania includes ex-Norwegian armed forces launchers that have been upgraded to manufacturer parameters. The systems procured from Norway use US-made AMRAAM aircraft defence missiles capable of destroying aircraft and missiles of an adversary several tens of kilometres away.
The equipment will be fully integrated into a system capable of completing air defence tasks: monitor and control air space, issue warning to ground-based units about air threats, and to destroy targets if necessary.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Babcock and Patria join up to compete for the British Army’s medium vehicle requirement]()
Babcock and Patria join up to compete for the British Army’s medium vehicle requirement
Patria’s 6x6 armoured personnel carrier (APC) forms the basis of the trans-European Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS). The Finnish company and Babcock want to offer it for the UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) medium protected requirement.
-
![Avon Protection unveils new MITR-M1 Half Mask]()
Avon Protection unveils new MITR-M1 Half Mask
The mask, according to Avon Protection, is ideal for personnel operating in a low-to-mid-level threat environment, including those special operations and military staff.
-
![First UK-made British Army Boxer rolled out]()
First UK-made British Army Boxer rolled out
The first batch of 623 Boxer ordered were built in Germany with the majority of the work now done in West Midlands and North-East Wales.
-
![Bidders for the British Army Land Mobility Programme stir as the process begins]()
Bidders for the British Army Land Mobility Programme stir as the process begins
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) is seen as vital for both the British Army and local industry as it is worth billions-of-dollars for thousands of vehicles.
