The US State Department has authorized two Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreements covering missile procurements and related support for Lithuania and the Netherlands, aimed at bolstering NATO’s collective defense in Europe.
Under the approvals, Lithuania will receive 168 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles in a $214 million package led by RTX Corporation. Meanwhile, the Netherlands has requested 530 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles manufactured by Lockheed Martin, with an estimated value of $200 million.
US officials noted that the sales are designed to strengthen allied military capabilities while aligning with American strategic and security interests.
Lithuania’s request also covers 152 additional Sidewinder missiles, eight tactical guidance units, six training missiles, and comprehensive support services, building on an earlier $19.5 million FMS package.
While primarily used on aircraft, the AIM-9X has been adapted for ground-based systems such as NASAMS deployed in Vilnius. Several NATO eastern flank nations, including Poland and Romania, also field the missile.
The Netherlands’ Hellfire package includes technical and logistical support from US Army entities. These missiles are commonly integrated on platforms like the AH-64 Apache and MQ-9A Reaper operated by Dutch forces, with the latest order supplementing previous procurements.
