Lithuania has signed a €320 million contract with Swedish defense company Saab to acquire RBS 70 Bolide short-range air defense missiles, marking one of the country’s largest investments in ground-based air defense. Announced by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense on December 31, 2025, the deal reflects Vilnius’s urgent efforts to reinforce airspace protection as security pressures intensify along NATO’s eastern flank.
The procurement is part of a trilateral framework agreement involving Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, and Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence. This structure is intended to guarantee long-term missile availability, logistical support, and system sustainment. Deliveries of the RBS 70 Bolide missiles are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2032, providing Lithuania with a sustained supply of modern short-range air defense munitions.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said the acquisition ensures uninterrupted access to critical air defense ammunition for the armed forces. Lithuania has operated the RBS 70 system since 2004, valuing its mobility, reliability, and laser beam-riding guidance, which offers strong resistance to electronic warfare and countermeasure environments compared to infrared-guided systems.
The RBS 70 Bolide missile significantly enhances the system’s performance, offering engagement ranges of up to 9 kilometers and interception altitudes of up to 5 kilometers. Designed to counter fast jets, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles, the Bolide’s high-speed profile and advanced warhead provide improved lethality against modern low-altitude aerial threats, strengthening Lithuania’s layered air defense posture.
