Lithuania has placed a major order with Saab to ensure a sustained supply of Bolide short-range air defense missiles, committing 3 billion Swedish krona ($326 million) to strengthen its ground-based air defense capabilities. The missiles will be deployed using the RBS 70 NG launcher currently in service with the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The procurement was executed under a broader framework agreement involving Saab, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration, and Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence. According to the agreement, missile deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2028 and 2032, supporting long-term air defense readiness.
Lithuania has operated the RBS 70 man-portable air defense system since 2004, using it to counter low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems. While earlier versions employed Mk 1 and Mk 2 missiles, the newer RBS 70 NG variant uses the Bolide missile, offering improved speed, extended range, and increased lethality.
Vilnius has steadily expanded its Bolide inventory in recent years, including missile purchases valued at $16 million in May 2024 and $2.2 million in May 2025. In December, Lithuania also ordered Saab’s Mobile SHORAD system, combining the RBS 70 NG with the Giraffe 1X radar on JLTV 4×4 vehicles, enhancing protection against aerial threats with a highly jam-resistant, Mach-2 missile capable of engaging targets up to 8 kilometers away.
