Lithuania to purchase GROM MANPADS Man-Portable Air Defense System from Poland 0307143

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Defence & Security News - Lithuania

 
 
Thursday, July 3, 2014 11:10 AM
 
Lithuania to purchase GROM MANPADS Man-Portable Air Defense System from Poland.
Lithuania's cabinet allowed the Ministry of National Defence to purchase short distance man-portable air-defence systems MANPADS GROM from Poland on Wednesday, July 2, 2014. Man-portable systems will be purchased from the 130 million litas (around 52 million U.S. dollars) of additional military spending funds planned this year, announced the Defence Ministry in a statement.
     
Lithuania's cabinet allowed the Ministry of National Defence to purchase short distance man-portable air-defence systems MANPADS GROM from Poland on Wednesday, July 2, 2014. Man-portable systems will be purchased from the 130 million litas (around 52 million U.S. dollars) of additional military spending funds planned this year, announced the Defence Ministry in a statement.
Polish-made GROM MANPADS Man-Portable Air Defense System
     

The ministry informs that the purchase could cost around 10 million litas, according to news agency BNS.

According to the ministry, GROM systems are one of the main priorities in arming Lithuanian defence forces.

"Mobility and combat capabilities of GROM systems will strengthen the protection of Lithuania's military units and objects from air strikes," announced the ministry.

The Grom is a man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) produced in Poland by BUMAR (Now Polish Defence Holding). The system is designed to target low-flying helicopters and aircraft.

The Polish MANPADS GROM is very similar to the Russian-made SA-18 Grouse (9K38 Igla). The system is designed to be operated by one soldier. It consists of a single-stage projectile, a single-use tubular launcher, a starting mechanism, and an on-ground power supply. The rocket projectile uses solid propellant. The infrared aiming sensor is cooled with liquid nitrogen.

The GROM can be used against flying tagets at a maximum range of 2,000 m for aircraft and 3,000 m for helicopter.