Lithuania - small multi-purpose combat boats for the Baltic States

Lithuania procures Jehu-class combat boats - NATO cooperation in the Baltic region strengthens maritime security

To strengthen regional maritime security, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania signed a technical agreement in 2024: the "Common Future Multipurpose Attack Craft" (CFMAC). This joint procurement programme for small combat boats is also open to other NATO members with comparable equipment requirements.

Finland already operates a fleet of twelve boats of this type as Jehu class in. At the beginning of April, Vilnius, together with the Finnish shipyard Marine Alutech announced that Lithuania has now ordered two of these multi-purpose boats. The boats based on the model Watercat M18 based units are intended for the Lithuanian Navy and will be assigned to the Coastal defence battalion be assigned.

The boats are 20 metres long, displace 32 tonnes and reach speeds of up to 45 knots. They are equipped with remote-controlled heavy machine guns and Spike NLOS-It is equipped with a guided missile - a precision missile with a range of up to 32 kilometres. The crew consists of six people; an additional 25 fully equipped marines can be taken on board for landing operations.

Also Latvia has officially expressed interest in a procurement, but has not yet signed a contract.