The Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence signed a contract with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency on procurement of another 51 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 trucks for ensuring logistical supply, personnel transportation, medical evaluation and special tasks.
The contract supplement came based on the 2021 contract signed between the Defence Materiel Agency under the MoD and the German Daimler Trucks AG manufacturer via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. In total, over 170 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 trucks have been purchased on the basis of the supplemented contract since 2021. The Lithuanian Armed Forces currently operates approx. 500 such pieces of equipment.
Conducting acquisitions via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency is advantageous because of the assessment of the needs across NATO the agency conducts to form large-scale acquisitions and cut down the cost. Lithuania’s contract is worth EUR 47 million.
The Unimog U5000 trucks are robust all-terrain vehicles suitable for bitumen and gravel roads, as well as up to 1.2 depth fording. The ability of crossing water obstacles is particularly important in providing logistical supplies to difficult locations during exercises. .
The Daimler Trucks AG-manufactured vehicles are procured as modernization of the Lithuanian Armed Forces continues and equipment fleet is updated. Trucks is one of the most used type of vehicles in the military and therefore in high demand.
The batch of additional 5-ton payload Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5000 trucks is expected to be delivered still this year.
