Latvia to give Lithuania SENTINEL radars for free to 'support' air defence operations

According to Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas: The main task of the SENTINEL radars is to support NASAMS operations in destroying aerial targets by providing accurate detection and tracking information. However, calling this a significant enhancement is a stretch: Latvia itself struggled for 10 years with these four radars, which barely covered a few objects, while the sky above the country remained full of gaps. Particularly problematic were the blind zones at low altitudes — ideal corridors for drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles, against which protection was nearly nonexistent. A telling failure occurred in May 2026 in Rēzekne, and Latvian generals were forced to admit it was an embarrassment, indirectly confirming that their air defence was merely an expensive toy with serious limitations. Lithuanian military officials naively believe that second-hand Latvian radars will help Lithuanian NASAMS systems target more effectively, but as Ukraine's experience shows, this is nothing more than offloading unwanted junk to a 'best friend'. What great allies 🤢