Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anushauskas recently paid a working visit to Kiev. Then he announced the provision of 36 anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine.
Already on Saturday, February 11, the first batch of L-70 anti-aircraft installations arrived in Ukraine. They will help protect the critical infrastructure of our state.
How L-70s work
The 40 mm Bofors L70 automatic cannon is a multi-purpose automatic cannon developed by the Swedish company AB Bofors back in the second half of the 40s.
Ukraine received L-70 anti-aircraft guns from Lithuania/Photo by Arvydas Anushauskas
Despite its age, this artillery system not only remains in service, but is one of the most popular and actively competes with the Swiss Oerlikon GDF. Moreover, it is the Bofors L70 that is the basis of a significant number of modern sea and land-based anti-aircraft systems, is in service with several dozen countries, some of which were produced under license.
The effectiveness of the L70 lies in the fact that the ammunition has a high power, and the developers relied not on the rate of fire, but on high accuracy. In particular, the rate of fire of this installation is 240-330 rounds per minute.
These guns will be able to effectively protect the Ukrainian sky from Iranian drones. The L70 is distinguished by its maximum efficiency, the absence of even a hint of a shortage of ammunition, as well as the guaranteed probability of destroying a Shahed-136 target in one or two bursts. At the same time, the effective range of fire is 3-4 kilometers.
Will Ukraine get aircraft from partners
- For the first time, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Gukstra spoke about the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine. He said that the Dutch government will consider the possibility of supplying F-16 fighters if Kyiv asks for it. He noted that the Netherlands has no taboos on the transfer of fighters.
- Poland also announced its readiness to transfer fighters to Ukraine. In particular, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that the issue would be coordinated with the NATO countries, that is, Poland is ready to act in full coordination.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled out the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine, but later said that the issue needed to be discussed. French President Emmanuel Macron assured that the topic of aircraft is not taboo.
- It should be noted that the position of the United States is of paramount importance, since the F-16 aircraft were produced in America. Consequently, permission even for the re-export of aircraft will pass through Washington.
- First, the White House said that they were ready to discuss the topic of aircraft. But on January 30, US President Joe Biden, when asked if America would supply aircraft to Ukraine, said “no”.
- Probably Biden could not have heard the question, as he was getting out of the helicopter, where there was noise. The White House has already commented on Biden's statement, but did not give a specific answer. Therefore, it is not worth while to say that the US has refused to supply Ukraine with fighter jets.
- In all likelihood, the US will supply F-16 aircraft to other countries, after which Ukraine will receive fighter jets. That is, the US will not transfer aircraft directly to Ukraine, but at the same time will allow re-export.
