Lithuania

Lithuania Secures Long-Term Supply of Saab Bolide Missiles for RBS 70 Air Defence

Lithuania has signed a €320 million contract with Saab for Bolide missiles for its RBS 70 air-defence systems, securing long-term ammunition supplies through the early 2030s as Vilnius continues to expand and modernise its short-range air-defence capabilities.

Chris Patkin

06 Jan 2026 — 1 min read

Photo by Alessandro Ricossa

Lithuania has taken another major step in strengthening its short-range air-defence capability, signing a €320 million (USD 373 million) contract with Saab for Bolide surface-to-air missiles intended for the country’s RBS 70 systems.

The agreement was confirmed by the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence on 31 December, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2032. According to the ministry, the new contract—together with previously signed agreements—will ensure uninterrupted availability of this category of ammunition for the Lithuanian Armed Forces throughout the 2026–2032 period.

Saab stated that the order falls under an existing framework agreement for the RBS 70 NG (New Generation) system between Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence.

Building a layered SHORAD architecture

Lithuania’s Air Defence Battalion has operated the RBS 70 system since 2004, but procurement activity has accelerated sharply since 2022. In October that year, Vilnius placed a €45 million order for Bolide and Mk 2 missiles. This was followed in July and October 2024 by two further contracts worth €147 million and €130 million respectively, covering mobile short-range air-defence (MSHORAD) equipment.

Those MSHORAD packages included mobile firing units, radar assets, and an integrated command-and-control (C2) system, significantly expanding the mobility and responsiveness of Lithuania’s air-defence forces. On 1 December 2025, the Ministry ordered a third MSHORAD battery incorporating RBS 70, further reinforcing the system’s role as a core element of Lithuania’s SHORAD layer.

Bolide missile capabilities

The laser-guided Bolide missile is designed to counter a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones. The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence highlighted that the missile is highly resistant to jamming, can engage air targets at distances of up to 9 km, and is capable of penetrating armour up to 200 mm thick—giving it limited effectiveness against lightly armoured ground targets as well.

Slovenia Takes Over Presidency of Central European Defence Cooperation Initiative

Slovenia assumed the one-year rotating presidency of the Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC) initiative on 1 January, a platform aimed at reinforcing defence cooperation among Central European states within EU and NATO frameworks.

Helsing Acquisition of Keybotic Underscores EU Drive Toward Defence Autonomy

German defence software firm Helsing has acquired Barcelona-based robotics startup Keybotic, marking another step in Europe’s effort to build indigenous defence technology capabilities and reduce reliance on external suppliers.

French Minister Delegate for Europe Visits DOK-ING in Zagreb Excerpt

France’s Minister Delegate for Europe visited Croatian unmanned systems manufacturer DOK-ING in Zagreb, underscoring growing interest in European industrial capabilities for security, defense, and resilience.

Father-and-Son Team Sets World Record With 3D-Printed High-Speed Drone, Highlighting Defense-Relevant UAV Technologies

A South African father-and-son engineering team has reclaimed the Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest drone using a largely 3D-printed quadcopter design. The platform reached a verified speed of 657 km/h in December 2025.