On November 21 Vice Minister of National Defence Eimutis Misiūnas met with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology) Jeffrey S. White who is in Lithuania for signature of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance concerning Lithuania’s procurement of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) from the U.S. J. White congratulated Lithuania on the acquisition of the U.S.-manufactured JLTVs which will be a particular amplification of Lithuanian Armed Forces capabilities, increase mobility, personnel protection, and combat readiness. Vice Minister and the U.S. colleague discussed main priorities of Lithuania’s capability development and the need of U.S. assistance in their development, addressed bilateral projects and procurements in order to further strengthen the interoperability of Lithuanian and U.S. forces.
“I wish to thank the U.S. for the support to our country. You are not only our strategic partner and one of the most important NATO allies for the security of our region but also one of the most advanced manufacturers of military technology in the world,” Vice Minister of National Defence E. Misiūnas said.
200 units of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle were bought from the U.S. Government for the Lithuanian Armed Forces by signing a contract signed earlier in the day. The new procurement is aimed at strengthening the existing capabilities and ensuring mobility of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The first JLTVs are planned to be delivered to Lithuania in the end of 2021.
Another important project Lithuania is developing with the U.S. is Lithuania’s plans to procure six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. Government. Lithuania is developing the project in order to stop using Soviet-made helicopters and move on to a Western platform. Negotiations on the procurement with the U.S. Government will start in the nearest while with the signing of the contract planned no later than by the end of 2020. The new utility helicopters would be used for search and rescue missions and tasks of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group.
The United States is Lithuania’s strategic partner and key ally in ensuring security of the Baltic region. The countries cooperate across different areas, including procurements. In its turn, the U.S. is implementing security assistance programmes in Lithuania, has made significant investments in military training areas and other infrastructure, and military personnel training, etc., in Lithuania. Lithuania and the United States signed a cooperation plan in the beginning of this year in order to ensure the continuity of efforts and an appropriate financing of long-term projects.
Photo credits: Giedrė Maksimovicz /MoD
