Lithuania receives shipment of Bolide air defence missiles
Lithuania has received Bolide missiles for its RBS-70 air defence systems, a 7 million euro shipment under a larger 320 million euro contract. The missiles are laser-guided and can engage targets up to 9 km away.
The Lithuanian Defence Ministry announced on Thursday that the country's military has received a shipment of Bolide missiles. Produced by Sweden's SAAB Dynamics, these missiles are designed for the RBS-70 man-portable short-range air defence system, which is already in service with the Lithuanian Air Defence Battalion. The delivery is valued at 7 million euros and forms part of a 320 million euro contract signed last year, with supplies continuing through to 2032.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas stated that air defence remains one of the nation's top priorities. He emphasised that Lithuania has a clear and consistent plan to strengthen air defence, implemented step by step. Each new system, radar, and missile represents a concrete result of that plan. Kaunas described the Bolide missiles as reliable, combat-proven, and resistant to jamming, capable of effectively destroying modern aerial threats.
The RBS-70 is a tripod-mounted launcher system valued for its mobility and ease of deployment. It can be set up quickly by a small crew, making it suitable for rapid deployment across various terrains. The system uses laser guidance, which makes the missiles resistant to electronic interference. Bolide missiles can engage targets at ranges of up to 9 kilometres and penetrate up to 200 millimetres of armour, enabling them to be used against both aircraft and low-flying threats.
