The Lithuanian Air Force for the first time conducted combat launches of the NASAMS III air defence system - the missile successfully destroyed a drone

The Lithuanian Air Force conducted live launches from NASAMS III surface-to-air missile systems. Despite the fact that Lithuania received the system in 2020, this was the first time such an event took place.

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The launches were carried out as part of the Silver Arrow 2023 military exercise in Norway. The event took place at the Nordmela missile range, supported by an air defence battalion from Ørland base.

During Silver Arrow 2023, the Norwegian Air Defence Battalion, together with the Lithuanian Air Force, practised the deployment and integration of the two countries' NASAMS III systems and joint operations. The Norwegian Armed Forces reported that the air defence missile system successfully hit an aerial target in the form of an unmanned aerial vehicle.

NASAMS III was unveiled in the spring of 2019. It can use a wide range of missiles, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM-ER and AIM-9X Sidewinder, and is compatible with Germany's IRIS-T air defence system.

Source: Janes