Poland has suggested to Lithuania to jointly acquire Polish Piorun air defence systems, according to a statement released by Lithuanian and Polish Defence Ministers Laurynas Kasciunas and Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Vilnius on July 3.
“We are very pleased with Poland’s offer to join the purchase of the Piorun short-range mobile air defence systems. As you know, strengthening air defence systems at all possible levels is a priority for us,” Kasciunas told a joint press conference after their meeting.
Lithuania is already using an older version of the Poland-made Grom air defence system, Kasciunas points out, adding that most of them will be handed over to Ukraine.
“They will have to be replaced by more modern systems, namely Piorun, which is very much in line with our entire defence planning,” Kasciunas said.
Piorun would be a good choice for the establishment of a national division within the Lithuanian military, the strengthening of Lithuania’s national volunteer forces, or when considering greater protection of critical infrastructure, he argues. (LRT)