Top commander says Lithuania considering Patriot missiles
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A high-ranking Lithuanian military commander says long-range Patriot missiles could be placed in the Baltic country as part of a multinational NATO battalion next year.
Major General Vitalijus Vaiksnoras told reporters in Vilnius on Thursday the proposed deployment is under discussion, but no agreement has been reached.
The Patriot surface-to-air system was designed to defend against aircraft as well as ballistic missiles. It's used by the United States, Greece, Japan, Egypt and several other countries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NATO decided in July to deploy four multinational battalions in Poland and in the three Baltic states next year as a response to growing Russian military activity in the region.
Vaiksnoras says the first troops in Lithuania will start arriving in March "and we will have a fully operational unit by July."