Sweden's SAAB Wins Contract from Lithuania to Supply RBS 70 Bolide Air Defense Missiles.

Lithuania has signed a €320 million contract with Sweden’s Saab to acquire RBS 70 Bolide short-range air defense missiles, according to the Ministry of Defense. The deal underscores Vilnius’s accelerating efforts to harden its airspace as regional security pressures continue to intensify along NATO’s eastern flank.

Lithuania has finalized a landmark €320 million agreement with Swedish defense manufacturer Saab to procure RBS 70 Bolide surface-to-air defense missiles, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced on December 31, 2025. Officials said the contract represents one of the country’s most significant air defense investments to date, aimed at rapidly strengthening national and allied protection against low-altitude aerial threats in an increasingly contested security environment.
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The Bolide is the latest high-speed, laser-guided missile used in the RBS 70 air defense system. Designed to defeat modern aerial threats, it has a range of up to 9 km, is immune to jamming, and can intercept drones, helicopters, and fast jets with pinpoint accuracy. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

This latest order is part of a broader trilateral framework agreement signed by Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence, designed to ensure consistent supply and long-term support for Saab’s short-range air defense solutions. Deliveries of the newly ordered missiles are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2032.

Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Robertas Kaunas emphasized the strategic importance of the deal. “Strengthening air defense is one of our top priorities. We have signed a contract for the acquisition of RBS-70 Bolide-type missiles in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of this type of ammunition to the Lithuanian Armed Forces,” he stated in the official release.

Lithuania has operated the RBS 70 system since 2004, relying on its unique features such as high mobility, rugged reliability, and its laser-guided targeting system. Unlike heat-seeking missiles, the RBS 70 uses laser beam-riding technology, which makes it highly resistant to electronic interference and decoys – a critical advantage in today's electronic warfare environment. The new Bolide missile represents the most advanced iteration of this platform.

The Bolide is a high-speed, multi-target missile that significantly upgrades the performance envelope of the original RBS 70 system. Capable of engaging targets at ranges up to 9 km and at altitudes up to 5 km, it is designed to defeat a wide spectrum of modern aerial threats, including fast jets, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles. Its warhead is also capable of penetrating 200 mm of armor, giving it additional lethality against low-flying or lightly armored aerial targets.

Görgen Johansson, Head of Saab’s Dynamics division, welcomed the new order, saying: “With this order, we continue our commitment to supporting the Lithuanian Armed Forces with our world-leading RBS 70 missiles. These form a key part of the nation’s air defense capability and contribute to keeping Lithuania’s airspace safe.”

Lithuania’s ongoing investment in the RBS 70 Bolide not only provides a robust point-defense solution but also plays a central role in the evolving NATO-integrated air defense network along the alliance’s eastern flank. The missile's portability and modularity make it ideal for rapid deployment across dispersed defensive positions or for protecting key infrastructure.

Alongside the missile acquisition, Lithuania is also expanding its defense cooperation with Saab through additional orders of 84 mm Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles, their associated ammunition, AT4 disposable anti-armor launchers, and Saab’s MSHORAD (Mobile Short-Range Air Defense) solution. This vehicle-mounted system integrates the RBS 70 NG with sensors and fire-control systems, providing a mobile protective shield for maneuvering units.

According to Army Recognition sources, Lithuania is set to field its MSHORAD units in strategic locations by 2027, enabling layered defense coverage that bridges fixed-site air defense with mobile force protection. The integration of RBS 70 NG and Bolide into these mobile platforms reflects a doctrinal shift toward rapid-response, networked air defense capabilities capable of countering both traditional and asymmetric air threats.

The contract with Saab caps a transformative year for Lithuanian defense procurement. With parallel acquisitions of NASAMS and German IRIS-T SLM systems in 2025, Lithuania is aggressively building a multi-layered air defense structure that can operate independently and in conjunction with allied forces.

As tensions persist across NATO’s eastern flank, particularly in light of continued Russian pressure and the evolution of drone and missile warfare, Lithuania’s strategic pivot toward advanced SHORAD systems like the RBS 70 Bolide is both timely and tactically sound. It represents not just a procurement milestone, but a doctrinal affirmation that air defense is now at the core of Baltic deterrence strategy.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.