Lithuania has finalized a €320 million defense procurement contract with Saab for RBS 70 Bolide short-range air defense missiles, reinforcing the country’s push to modernize its air defense capabilities amid heightened regional security concerns. The agreement, confirmed by the Ministry of National Defence on December 31, 2025, underscores Lithuania’s commitment to enhancing both national and NATO-aligned airspace protection.
The contract forms part of a broader trilateral framework involving Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, aimed at ensuring reliable supply chains and long-term sustainment for the RBS 70 system. Missile deliveries are expected to commence in 2028 and extend through 2032, enabling Lithuania to maintain readiness over the next decade.
Lithuania has relied on the RBS 70 system for more than two decades, with its laser-guided beam-riding technology providing a key advantage in electronic warfare-heavy environments. Unlike heat-seeking missiles, the system is highly resistant to jamming and decoys, making it well-suited for countering modern aerial threats such as drones and low-flying cruise missiles.
The Bolide variant represents the most advanced missile in the RBS 70 family, offering greater speed, extended range, and improved target engagement capability. With the ability to strike aerial targets at distances of up to 9 kilometers and penetrate lightly armored threats, the new missiles will significantly strengthen Lithuania’s short-range air defense layer and contribute to NATO’s collective deterrence posture on its eastern flank.
