Lithuanian Armed Forces receives additional Polish Grom missiles
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has bolstered military inventory with a shipment of additional Grom air defence missiles, as part of efforts to modernise its armed forces.
This procurement is via a €28m ($32.8m) contract signed with Polish defence manufacturer Mesko, a subsidiary of the Polish Armament Group (PGZ), in 2023.
“Lithuania remains firmly committed to modernising its armed forces, with a strong focus on air defence,” the MoD announced on social media platform X.
The Grom man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) is designed to engage and neutralise low-altitude threats, including various aircraft, helicopters, fighter jets, and uncrewed aerial vehicles.
The missiles are equipped with heat-seeking warheads that lock onto targets pre-launch and can intercept threats up to an altitude of 3.5km and at distances reaching 5.5km.
According to Mesko, the system weighs 18.5kg and has an average flight speed of 580m/s.
Grom missile can be operated from various positions such as standing or kneeling stances, from trenches, ship decks, or even while aboard slow-moving vehicles.
In 2023, defence ministers from Lithuania and Poland reached an agreement to deepen their collaboration and increase the frequency of joint military exercises.
The two nations also committed to maintaining their partnership in acquiring defence equipment and facilitating cross-border military operations.
Lithuania and Poland also pledged further military support to Ukraine in 2023 as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression.
In July 2024, Lithuania, in collaboration with Poland, Norway and Estonia, applied for co-funding from the European Union to collectively acquire Piorun short-range mobile air defence systems; Piorun being the newer version of the Grom system.
The MoD reported that Lithuania’s military operates an earlier variant of the Polish-manufactured Grom air defence system.
As per GlobalData report, Lithuania’s defence budget stood at $2.1bn in 2024 and is projected to expand with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 6% from 2025 to 2029.
The Lithuanian military is actively engaged in various procurement initiatives, which include the acquisition of armoured vehicles, M142 HIMARS rocket launchers, and Black Hawk helicopters to enhance its modern operational capabilities, said the report.
