Lithuania procures Leopard 2 MBTs, tracked IFVs, and more Boxer vehicles

Lithuania is procuring a battalion of Leopard 2A8 MBTs. (Dutch MoD)

Lithuania's State Defence Council (VGT) decided during a meeting on 22 October to procure Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs) and tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), the country's Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on its website on the same day. The decisions followed the signing of a contract amendment earlier in October by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on behalf of Lithuania with Rheinmetall-KNDS joint venture Artec for more Boxer vehicles for the Baltic country.

During the VGT meeting on 22 October, Lithuanian Armed Forces General Raimundas Vaikšnors presented a progress report on the development of the Lithuanian division and proposals for the formation's heavy equipment. Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas said Lithuania had received information on the preliminary cost of Leopard 2 tanks, with an agreement on the formation of a tank battalion in the near future. Lithuania plans to acquire the tanks in phases so it can procure air-defence systems more quickly, according to the Lithuanian MND.

After the VGT meeting received Gen Vaikšnoras's military advice on alternatives for the procurement of IFVs and his presentation of the political, economic (industrial), and financial evaluation of alternatives prepared by his ministry, the CV90 was proposed. Planning calls for tracked IFVs to equip two army battalions. The VGT tasked Kasčiūnas with initiating the procurement of CV90s with the involvement of the Lithuanian defence industry. The VGT will take a final decision after Kasčiūnas receives industry proposals and presents them to council members. A Lithuanian MND spokesperson told Janes on 23 October that the CV90 has been selected as an alternative for further negotiations, after which the final decision will be made on the tracked IFV.