Vilnius, Lithuania – Lithuanian army commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras announced that the United States has indefinitely postponed the delivery of HIMARS rocket systems to his country, a development occurring amid reports of accelerating depletion in US weapons and ammunition stockpiles due to warfare in the Middle East.
Speaking to the Lithuanian National Radio and Television, Vaikšnoras stated that the dispatch of HIMARS systems was delayed, clarifying that setting a new delivery schedule depends entirely on the US side and may be linked to American defense industrial capacity.
Delay in HIMARS Rocket Delivery
The Lithuanian military chief noted that his country’s crews completed their operational training on the systems, emphasizing there is no cause for immediate concern due to an arrangement with the Michigan National Guard for the temporary deployment of similar units in Lithuania.
Vilnius contracted in 2022 to purchase eight HIMARS launchers valued at $495 million, before securing an additional $280 million agreement in April 2026. Previous timelines had indicated receiving the systems by the end of this year.
Accelerating Depletion of US Stockpiles
The delay coincides with US reports highlighting severe pressure on arms and munitions stocks, with CBS reporting that military and intelligence officials expressed concern over the rate of ammunition consumption in the Middle East.
The network cited officials stating that the US defense industrial base lacks sufficient manufacturing capacity to produce missiles at the speed required to replenish Central Command stockpiles.
Patriot and THAAD Among Depleted Systems
According to the report, the US arsenal faces constraints in ATACMS systems and HIMARS munitions, while substantial quantities of Patriot and THAAD interceptors, alongside drones, have been consumed at rates outpacing US industrial replenishment capabilities.
These developments raise questions regarding Washington’s capacity to meet allies’ needs while simultaneous military operations in the Middle East demand vast quantities of advanced munitions, potentially impacting weapon delivery schedules for nations including Lithuania.
