Lithuania has repositioned a NASAMS air-defense system near Vilnius, replacing the RBS 70 system previously responsible for protecting the capital. The deployment is intended to strengthen the city’s protection against a wider range of aerial threats.Lithuanian defense officials have highlighted the longer reach and improved response capabilities offered by NASAMS. The decision comes as NATO countries in the region remain concerned about unauthorized drone activity and repeated airspace incidents.Lithuania currently fields two NASAMS batteries and is expected to receive a third in 2028. The systems form part of a broader modernization program aimed at creating a more comprehensive layered air-defense structure.The Baltic country’s location on NATO’s eastern boundary makes air surveillance and missile defense particularly important. Lithuania shares borders with Russia and Belarus, creating a requirement for rapid detection and response to potential aerial incursions.Defense spending has consequently increased substantially. Lithuania has allocated €4.7 billion for defense in 2026, exceeding 5 percent of GDP. The additional resources are being used for NASAMS, Piorun missiles, mobile short-range air-defense systems, surveillance radars, and counter-drone equipment.Vilnius is also increasing protection for critical infrastructure. Military personnel have been assigned to assist with security around important energy facilities following concerns about potential sabotage against transport and energy networks.At the strategic level, Lithuania is reassessing aspects of its participation in NATO’s deterrence arrangements. The country’s air-defense investment is therefore part of a much wider effort to improve national resilience and military preparedness.
