On December 15, 2022, Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anushauskas, during an official visit to Washington, signed an agreement with the US Department of Defense in the form of an exchange of letters LOA (Letters of Offer and Acceptance) on Lithuania's purchase of HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket) land-based missile systems through the US program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS). System) manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, including missile ammunition.
Combat vehicle of the M142 HIMARS missile system of the US Army during multinational exercises in Latvia (c) US ArmyThe value of the agreement concluded by Lithuania is $495 million.
It includes the supply of eight combat vehicles of the M142 HIMARS complex, as well as GMLRS and ATACMS guided missile kits, auxiliary equipment, spare parts, training equipment and services for training personnel and integrating the complexes into the NATO control system. The start of deliveries to the Lithuanian armed forces is scheduled for 2025.
Thus, apparently, the signed agreement fully complies with the parameters of the notification issued on November 9, 2022 by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to the US Congress about the planned upcoming sale of HIMARS missile systems to Lithuania through the FMS program with an announced cost of $495 million.
According to the DSCA notification, the delivery to Lithuania should include eight M142 HIMARS combat vehicles, up to 36 six-shot transport and launch modules with six GMLRS M30A2 Alternative Warhead (AW) correctable high-precision missiles with a fragmentation warhead and improved IMPS (Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System) engines in each (a total of 216 missiles), 36 six-shot transport andlaunch modules with six GMLRS M31A2 Modular correctable missiles with a monoblock warhead in each (216 missiles totaled), 36 six-shot transport and launch modules with six corrected extended-range missiles ER GMLRS XM403 Alternative Warhead IPMS with a fragmentation warhead in each (a total of 216 missiles), 36 six-shot transport and launch modules with six correctable extended-range missiles ER GMLRS XM404 Unitary IPMS with a monoblock warhead in each (a total of 216 missiles), and 18 operational-tactical missiles ATACMS M57. The delivery will also include practical M28A2 LCRRPRP missiles, International Field Artillery Tactical Data System (IFATDS) fire control systems, communication systems, training equipment, and other related equipment.
Lithuania became the second customer of HIMARS missile systems among the Baltic republics after Estonia, which signed a similar agreement on the purchase of HIMARS through FMS on December 2, 2022. Estonia has ordered six HIMARS combat vehicles and a set of GMLRS and ATACMS missiles, judging by the DSCA notification for Estonia, identical to the Lithuanian one. Estonia's deliveries should start in 2024.
The acquisition of HIMARS missile systems is being carried out by Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia as part of a joint project. The joint communique adopted following the meeting of the Defense Ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in Siauliai (Lithuania) on May 21, 2021, among other things, contained a provision on exploring the possibility of joint acquisition by the three countries of multiple Launch Rocket systems in the period after 2025. In fact, this meant the purchase of American HIMARS missile systems.
With the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, the acquisition of HIMARS complexes by the Baltic republics was accelerated. In addition, the Baltic States, along with HIMARS missile systems, will also be supplied with ATACMS operational and tactical missiles.
Lithuania became the ninth foreign customer of HIMARS missile systems after Singapore, the UAE, Jordan, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Australia and Estonia.
