Lithuania is preparing to sign a contract to purchase the Switchblade 600 loitering munitions.

Arvydas Anušauskas, Minister of Defense of Lithuania, announced this, the publication LRT writes.

Therefore, Lithuania will become the first country after the United States to operate Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones.

“Yes, in the coming days, another contract with the manufacturer will be signed, in this case for the Switchblade 600. These are combat drones with an operational range of 40 km. And we will be the first country in the world (except the United States) to acquire them next year,” he said.

The Switchblade 600 has a powerful warhead similar to the American-made Javelin anti-tank missile, which allows it to destroy heavy armored vehicles, particularly tanks. This loitering munition, with a weight of 23 kg, is able to destroy targets through the top attack.

The drone can stay in the air for 40 minutes and travel 40 km during this time, as well as barrage in the air. The maximum flight speed is 185 km/h.

In addition, Lithuania acquired eight M142 HIMARS from the United States.

HIMARS for Lithuania will be delivered together with several types of missiles, including M57 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, which can reach targets at a distance of 300 kilometers.

The preliminary contract value is approximately $495 million. The American company Lockheed Martin will manufacture weapons for exports.

Lithuania also signed a contract to purchase 18 French Caesar Mk II 155mm self-propelled howitzers.

It is now the third country after France and Belgium to order a howitzer manufactured by Nexter in the Caesar Mk II modification.