Lithuania plans to acquire Jehu-class patrol boats from Finland, Lithuania’s Defence Ministry said on April 27. A procurement agreement is expected to be signed shortly.
Deputy Defence Minister Vilius Sameska said these vessels would increase Lithuania’s coastal surveillance capabilities and fill the operational gap in the Curonian Lagoon.
The two countries have also renewed the memorandum of understanding, which was first signed in 2005 and remained in force until 2015. It was updated due to the worsening security situation in the region.
Lithuania is already cooperating with Finland on the acquisition of command and control systems, the Lithuanian ministry said. Following the signing of the agreement in late 2016, the Lithuanian military installed and is currently expanding Systematic’s SitaWare Battle Management System, including additional products.
In 2017, a contract was signed with Finnish company Navielektro Ky on a software upgrade of Lithuania’s integrated maritime surveillance system and technical surveillance means system. Lithuania also plans to sign a contract this year on upgrading the system to handle classified information. (LRT/Business World Magazine)
