Lithuania has allocated increased funding to its defense budget to purchase new systems including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Switchblade loitering munitions and Oshkosh JLTVs amid the conflict in Ukraine. The effectiveness of both HIMARS and Switchblades in Ukraine has demonstrated to Lithuanian forces that these weapons can be effective in combat, particularly against Russian forces, says GlobalData.

The leading data and analytics company notes that this purchase commitment follows moves by both Latvia and Poland to purchase the same systems in recent months and is partially aimed at backfilling Lithuanian donations of military equipment to Ukraine, which include M113 armored vehicles as well as armored trucks.

William Davies, Associate Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Lithuania has increased its defense budget in recent years even prior to the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, raising its spending from $1.1 billion in 2018 to $1.6 billion in 2022, according to GlobalData. This was in large part due to an increase in border security and military preparedness in the face of a potential threat from Russia and to make key acquisitions including the purchase of Black Hawks.”

HIMARS systems and Switchblade loitering munitions have both seen extensive use in Ukraine, with HIMARS being utilized to accurately target Russian troops and artillery, with greater range and accuracy than any other Ukrainian artillery. Switchblade loitering munitions, produced by AeroVironment, have been supplied by the US throughout the conflict and have provided Ukraine with the capability to autonomously target Russian troops and provide air cover for advancing Ukrainian forces, in addition to local Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

Davies concludes: “The purchase of HIMARS by Baltic countries in recent months demonstrates that these countries see ranged strike capabilities as critical to ongoing defense. The Switchblades’ affordability is also likely to be an attractive option as it will provide air to ground capabilities at a lower cost than alternatives.”