On Thursday, April 30, 2026, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence announced that the Defence Material Agency (Gynybos resursų agentura) had signed an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement with the United States for the purchase of a second battery of M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) multiple rocket launchers. Earlier, on December 16, 2022, eight launchers had been contracted for the first battery.
Photo: Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence
Under the latest amendment to the baseline agreement, which was worth approximately 495 million USD, for the purchase of the HIMARS system, the Lithuanian Armed Forces will receive additional launchers together with live and training ammunition. These will include launch pods for various types of guided missiles, command-and-control and communications systems, as well as logistics, training, and sustainment support packages.
“HIMARS is a U.S.-made mobile artillery system that has proven itself in the war in Ukraine and is used by 14 NATO and other partner countries. Our U.S. allies have committed to delivering the first battery later this year, but we are investing in the future and further strengthening the country’s defense capability, deterrence of the enemy, and our ability to defend the eastern flank together with our allies,” said Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.
The total value of the contracts for the first and second HIMARS batteries is approximately USD 778 million. The contract will be carried out by U.S. company Lockheed Martin. As the ministry in Vilnius emphasizes, the rocket artillery system being procured is compatible with other technologies used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, which will facilitate its integration into existing defense plans and thereby increase deterrence potential. While awaiting the first HIMARS battery, Lithuanian Armed Forces personnel had already been preparing, with military training conducted by a U.S. unit deployed in Lithuania.
Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence stresses that the United States remains one of the country’s strategic partners. Over the past three years, Lithuania has purchased approximately 2 billion EUR worth of weapons and equipment from the United States and is the largest buyer of U.S. arms among the Baltic states. These include FGM-148F Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, JLTV armored vehicles, UH-60M Black Hawk multirole helicopters, AMRAAM, AMRAAM-ER, and Sidewinder missiles for NASAMS medium-range air defense systems, AN/TPS-77 radars, L3Harris Technologies communications systems, and AeroVironment Inc. unmanned systems, including Switchblade 600, as well as the recently purchased MEROPS AS-3 Surveyor counter-drone systems.
Additional M142 HIMARS launchers were also recently contracted by Estonia, increasing its order from six to nine units. The third customer in the region is Latvia, with six launchers. As a result, the total number of launchers currently ordered by the Baltic states stands at 31.
On December 21, 2021, in Kaunas, Lithuania, the then defense ministers of these countries signed a letter of intent on the joint development of missile capabilities, particularly in the area of field rocket systems. The successes of Ukrainian launchers of this type, supplied by the United States as part of military assistance in the face of Russian aggression, gave an additional impetus to accelerate the implementation of these plans.
Recently, the authorities in Vilnius also increased their order for French 155 mm CAESAR MkII 6×6 self-propelled howitzers from 18 to 48 units.
🇱🇹🇺🇸 More HIMARS for Lithuania!
🤝 Lithuania and the US have expanded the procurement agreement for a second HIMARS battery, including additional launchers, munitions, training, and logistics support. A clear step to strengthen deterrence and defence on NATO’s Eastern flank. pic.twitter.com/kgXEWTfq5r
— Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) April 30, 2026
🙂↕️ Security is the best gift.
🇱🇹 Lithuania and the 🇺🇸 U.S. signed an addendum for a second HIMARS battery, including launchers, munitions, and support systems.
💪🏻 This strengthens deterrence and our ability to defend alongside allies on NATO’s eastern flank. pic.twitter.com/IyC2zlHLbJ
— Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) April 30, 2026
UPDATE:
May 1, 2026: Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence:
We have signed an agreement with LockheedMartin, paving the way for deeper industrial collaboration
The goal: bring Lithuanian businesses & research institutions into international supply chains & make Lithuania an active part of the global defence industry, not just a customer
We have signed an agreement with @LockheedMartin, paving the way for deeper industrial collaboration
The goal: bring Lithuanian businesses & research institutions into international supply chains & make Lithuania an active part of the global defence industry, not just a customer pic.twitter.com/SZInd1SM6O
— Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) May 1, 2026
UPDATE 2:
On May 4, the first Lithuanian launcher was unveiled in all its glory:
🇱🇹🇺🇸 @LockheedMartin has unveiled the first HIMARS launchers destined for Lithuania, marking a major step in strengthening our defence capabilities.
These systems, proven in Ukraine, will enhance NATO interoperability and deterrence on the Alliance’s eastern flank. pic.twitter.com/tpxx8nS1x1
— Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) May 4, 2026
See also:
- Lithuania Receives Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 Grenade Launchers
- Lithuania signs third contract for MSHORAD systems
- Lithuania is negotiating the possibility of assembling CV90 infantry fighting vehicles domestically
- Lithuania Takes Out a Loan to Purchase Leopard 2A8 Tanks
- GMLRS ammunition for Singapore
- Sweden approved to purchase M142 HIMARS
- U.S. Approves Billions in Arms Sales to Taiwan