The Lithuanian deal for GROM MANPADS, which strengthen the idea of regional air defense, was won by Poland’s MESKO S.A. With a clear emphasis on short-range air defense capabilities, Lithuania has increased its military modernization effort as regional security concerns continue along NATO’s eastern border. The €28M deal for GROM missiles is a strategic move to increase national and regional deterrence rather than merely another acquisition. According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, this most recent acquisition demonstrates Lithuania’s resolve to close gaps in its layered air defense system. The GROM system, created by Poland’s MESKO S.A., is a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) designed to combat low-flying threats like helicopters, drones, and close air support aircraft. The GROM missile, according to Army Recognition, uses a single-stage 72 mm solid-fuel rocket motor and an infrared homing seeker to lock onto targets, reaching speeds of up to 650 m/s. With a 1.35 kg high-explosive warhead built to accurately counter aerial threats, its operational envelope covers a range of 5.5 kilometers and an altitude of 3.5 kilometers.
