Germany deploys Ozelot mobile short-range air defense missile system in Lithuania


According to a Tweet published by Arvydas Anušauskas, Lithuania's Minister of National Defence on April 2, 2022, in response to the current security situation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has deployed its short-range self-defense air defense system Ozelot in Lithuania. With this air defense system, Germany wants to strengthen air defense capabilities in Lithuania.
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Launcher unit of Ozelot air defense missile system of the German army. (Picture source Army Recognition)


On March 17, 2022, Army Recognition reported that the United Kingdom will deploy a Sky Sabre Air Defence System to Poland and 100 personnel to operate it, following a request from the Polish Government to protect her airspace from any further aggression from Russia.

In recent weeks, NATO has decided to strengthen the protection of the airspace with countries bordering Ukraine following Russian threats and the invasion of Ukraine.

The Ozelot is a German-made short-range air defense system (SHORAD) which is based on the Wiesel 2 light tracked airborne armored vehicle developed by the company Rheinmetall Landsysteme. The vehicle is fitted with a weapon station mounted at the rear of the vehicle which is armed with four ready-to-fire Stinger surface-to-air missiles.

A battery of German Ozelot air defense missile systems consists of 5 to 8 launcher vehicles each equipped with four ready-to-launch surface-to-air missiles, a search and acquisition radar vehicle which has a range of 20 km, and a command post vehicle using the same tracked chassis of the Wiesel 2.

The Stinger surface-to-air missile is able to engage aerial targets at 360° and destroy helicopters or low-flying aircraft. The Stinger missile itself has an outward targeting range of up to 4,800 m (15,700 feet) and can engage low-altitude enemy threats at up to 3,800m (12,500 feet).


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Radar vehicle of Ozelot air defense missile system. (Picture source Army Recognition)