Lithuania received its first two Boxer infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) on 25 June, its Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 1 July. Following a year of trials in training areas and testing centres in Germany and the Netherlands, production of the vehicles, designated as Vilkas (‘Wolf’) by Lithuania, has begun, the ministry added.
Lithuania received its first two Vilkas on 25 June and production of the Baltic country’s IFVs has begun. (Lithuanian MoD/ARTEC)
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann-Rheinmetall joint venture ARTEC is producing the IFVs according to the requirements of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, with Orbital ATK Armament Systems’ MK44 30 mm cannons and Spike Long-Range (LR) anti-tank missiles installed in Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Samson Mk II remote weapon stations, plus other specialised equipment and electronics.
The MoD said 15 Vilkas would be delivered to Lithuania in 2019 and all 89 vehicles would be delivered by the end of 2021.
Lithuania signed a EUR385.6 million (USD435.4 million) contract with ARTEC and the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) in 2016 for 89 Vilkas IFVs.
The vehicles will replace M113s in the Lithuanian Army’s Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade’s Grand Duke Algirdas and Grand Duchess Birute Uhlan battalions starting this year. The Lithuanian MoD told Jane’s on 3 July that the units would train on the IFVs in 2019–20. Drivers have already been training on two Boxer driver training versions (DTVs) since 2017.
The first two Vilkas are scheduled to be officially handed over to the Lithuanian Armed Forces on 9 July.
This article, first published 3 July 2019, is subject to a correction and has been amended.
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