Lithuania will take delivery of Polish-made GROM MANPADS air defense systems end of this week 161214

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Defence & Security News - Lithuania
 
 
Tuesday, December 16, 2014 10:01 AM
 
Lithuania will take delivery of Polish-made GROM MANPADS air defense systems end of this week.
Lithuania expects to receive the first part of air-defense system GROM MANPADS shipment by the end of this week, the country's Defense Minister Juozas Olekas said on Monday, December 15, 2014. Earlier this year, Lithuanian military forces have agreed to purchase the short-range air-defense system GROM from neighboring Poland's manufacturer Mesko. Under the contract, the manufacturer will deliver the system in parts.
     
Lithuania expects to receive the first part of air-defense system GROM MANPADS shipment by the end of this week, the country's Defense Minister Juozas Olekas said on Monday, December 15, 2014.
The GROM MANPADS is in service with the Polish Armed Forces.
     

"We believe that it will reach Lithuania this year, presumably even this week," the minister told reporters after the governmental meeting at which Lithuanian defense expenditure had been discussed.

"It is important, since protection against the enemy's airborne attacks is one of the core elements of our defense system, that is why Lithuania purchases the systems," Olekas added.

The total value of the GROM acquisition project is more than 34 million euros (42 million U.S. dollars).

According to experts, the main advantage of the GROM system is that it can be operated by one soldier who uses the system in small tactical units located at a longer distance from larger units.

The GROM is a Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) designed and manufactured in Poland by the Polish Defense Industry. The system is designed to destroy visually observed air targets, including aircraft, helicopters and other targets emitting infrared radiation.

The GROM is able to engage aerial targets at a maximum range of 5,500 m and altitude from 10 to 3,500m.