Angola’s military has taken delivery of upgraded SA-6 surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems from Lithuania.
Two batteries, comprising 16 launchers, were exported from Lithuania in 2018, according to the Ukrainian Military Portal.
The exported hardware comprised 2K12M1-2L systems, which are modernised versions of the 2K12 (SA-6 Gainful) SAMs. The upgrade enhances the system’s overall combat performance, with new software for target processing and display.
Lithuania’s LiTak-Tak facility performed the upgrade work. The company states the upgrade to 2K12-ML standard restores the service life of the SAM by replacing 99% of old components and improves combat performance, allowing the system to operate in complex jamming environments. The system can apparently target small and low-flying targets such as cruise missiles.
The upgrade was apparently developed by the Ukraine’s Aerotechnica-MLT, which supplied upgrade kits to Lithuania. It appears the missile and radar vehicles were acquired from Poland and the Ukraine.
In 2016, it was reported that Litak-Tak had upgraded Angola’s S-125 (SA-3 Goa) surface-to-air missiles and supplied three P-180ML and three Mars-L radars. The P-180ML radar is an upgrade of the S-125’s radar, whilst the Mars-L is a new radar that can be used for air traffic control, surveillance and target acquisition.
Earlier this year Angola was reported to be in discussions with Belarus over the acquisition of air defence systems worth $200 million.
