The US State Department has cleared two separate Foreign Military Sales (FMS) packages involving missile systems and support services for Lithuania and the Netherlands, reinforcing NATO’s defense posture in Europe.
Lithuania is slated to acquire 168 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles under a $214 million deal, with RTX Corporation serving as the primary contractor. In parallel, the Netherlands has requested 530 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles produced by Lockheed Martin, valued at approximately $200 million.
Washington stated that both transactions are intended to enhance the defensive capabilities of NATO allies while supporting broader US foreign policy and national security goals.
Lithuania’s package also includes 152 additional Sidewinder missiles, eight tactical guidance units, six captive air training missiles, and associated support services. This builds upon a prior $19.5 million FMS that covered 16 missiles, two guidance units, and logistics support.
Although the AIM-9X is traditionally deployed on fighter and attack aircraft, it has also been integrated into ground-based air defense systems such as NASAMS used in Vilnius. Other NATO eastern members, including Poland and Romania, also operate Sidewinder systems.
For the Netherlands, the Hellfire package includes technical support from US Army agencies, along with logistics and program assistance. These missiles are widely deployed on platforms such as the AH-64 Apache and MQ-9A Reaper, both currently in service with Dutch forces. The latest request follows earlier acquisitions of Hellfire missiles for these platforms.
