Lithuania To Open Talks On Purchase Of Norwegian Medium-Range Aircraft Defense System

Lithuania has decided to open talks with the Norwegian government on acquisition of medium-range missile defense systems NASAMS.

"We have decided to open negotiations with the Norwegian government on possible purchase of the NASAMS systems," Lithuania's Defense Minister Juozas Olekas told Baltic Times after a meeting of the Defense Resource Council on Friday. However, the price of the systems remains unclear.

Lithuania's Armed Forces currently have short-range aircraft defense systems. 

"This could simply defend our airspace in the medium range. We had short-rage aircraft defense systems that can reach three to five kilometres, and this will be the medium range where missiles fly dozens of kilometres and can take down targets at an altitude of 15 kilometres," Olekas said.

According to earlier reports, the medium-range aircraft defense project may be developed jointly by the three Baltic States.