Lithuania has signed a €320 million agreement with Swedish defense company Saab to acquire RBS 70 Bolide surface-to-air missiles, marking a major step in the country’s drive to bolster air defense capabilities as security tensions rise across NATO’s eastern border.
The contract, confirmed by the Ministry of National Defence on December 31, 2025, is one of Lithuania’s most substantial air defense procurements to date. It aims to enhance protection against low-flying and fast-moving aerial threats while reinforcing interoperability with allied forces operating in the region.
The acquisition is being executed under a broader trilateral framework arrangement between Saab, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and Lithuania, providing for long-term logistical support and assured missile supply. Deliveries of the Bolide missiles are expected to begin in 2028, with completion scheduled by 2032.
Lithuania has fielded the RBS 70 system for more than two decades, favoring its laser-guided beam-riding technology, which offers strong resilience against electronic warfare and countermeasures. The Bolide variant significantly enhances the system’s performance, introducing improved speed, range, and multi-target engagement capability.
Capable of intercepting aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles at ranges of up to 9 km and altitudes of 5 km, the Bolide missile provides a substantial upgrade to Lithuania’s short-range air defense layer. Defense officials view the investment as a critical element of national deterrence and a key contribution to NATO’s collective air and missile defense posture in the Baltic region.
