Israel’s ELTA Systems has secured a contract from the Lithuanian Armed Forces to supply five gap filler short-range air surveillance radars and logistic maintenance services.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces are planning to install the radars in Varėna, Švenčionys, Vilnius, Jurbarkas and Pagėgiai.
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Wind farms developed in Šilutė and Tauragė districts of western Lithuania are impacting the ability of the armed forces’ air surveillance radars to detect and track air targets.
According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence, two of the radars will be used to address the issue.
Firms developing the wind farms will incur the expenses of the purchase of the two radars.
Lithuania National Defence vice-minister Giedrimas Jeglinskas said: “We are approaching the completion of the project of Lithuania’s public and private sectors launched three years ago to concert national security and business interests in renewable energy sector.”
The armed forces regularly evaluates the impact of wind farms on national security interests.
Companies need to obtain permits from the Lithuanian Armed Forces to design and construct wind farms in the country.
ELTA Systems was selected from a list of three applicants for the €2.8m contract.
The selection was made on the basis of price, cost of services after the warranty period, and technical parameters.
The armed forces are planning to integrate short-range radars into the joint Lithuanian airspace surveillance system and use them until the end of next year.
Lithuania seeks to bolster air surveillance with radiolocation equipment, as well as surveillance of the border zone and aviation functions.
