EU to finance purchase of Polish short-range SAMs by four countries
Photo: The EU will finance the purchase of Polish short-range SAMs by four countries (Getty Images)
The European Union will fund a joint purchase of the Piorun short-range mobile air defense systems by Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, and Norway, according to the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania.
"Lithuania has signed a key agreement together with Poland, Estonia and Norway," the statement reads.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense clarified that the purchase concerns short-range mobile air defense systems (Piorun), produced by the Mesko company, which is part of Poland's state-owned defense conglomerate PGZ.
"The anticipated acquisition of the short-range man-portable missile system would be paid for through the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA). Common procurement of weaponry are vital for, among other things, integration within the EU and standardization of weaponry, as well as cost-effectiveness and strengthening defense capabilities," the ministry noted.
Earlier, we reported that the European Commission approved, for the first time in history, the financing of joint arms procurement by EU member states, including missiles and ammunition. Some of these will go to aid Ukraine.
