On March 21 Vice Minister of National Defence Greta Monika Tučkutė had a meeting with Director of the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) James Hursch on the Lithuanian and U.S. acquisitions, as well as possibilities for defence industry development.
At the meeting the officials underscored the growth of Lithuania’s defence spending and the importance of the Lithuanian Armed Forces modernization. Vice Minister thanked the United States for the leadership in increasing of the capacity of NATO Allies’ defence capability industry. According to G. M. Tučkutė, the overriding running tasks are implementation of the NATO Defence Production Action Plan agreed to at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, strengthening of the defence industry, and continuation of the U.S.-Lithuanian defence procurement.
“The U.S. is one of the centerpiece Allies for Baltic region security, as well as one of Lithuania’s main partners in defence acquisition. Lithuania is also the top customer among the Baltic states in arms procurement from the United States. We can see a significant requirement for cooperation in the defence industry area between the United States and Lithuania and for drawing investment to Lithuania. We are drafting a new Law on Defence Industry to open wider cooperation opportunity in the area,” said Greta Monika Tučkutė.
The average planned value of Lithuanian weaponry acquisitions from the U.S. over the average period amounts to approx. EUR 1.3 billion, i.e. 20% of all the projected National Defence System acquisitions.
In the recent years agreements have been signed on bilateral defence acquisitions and defence product and service security with the U.S.: the HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System procurement was agreed to in 2023, earlier contracts were signed or updated regarding 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles JLTV, four Black Hawk helicopters, Switchblade loitering ammunition. Lithuania has also been buying from the U.S. the Javelin anti-tank missile systems and different communications equipment for years. .
Last fall the U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency also greenlighted sales of the advanced AMRAAM AIM-120C-8 mid-range missiles to Lithuania. The contract is planned to be signed by the end of the year. The AMRAAM missiles used for the NASAMS mid-range Air defence system will not only improve the Lithuanian Armed Forces defence capability but will also increase interoperability with the U.S and other NATO Allies who use it.
The U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency promotes the U.S defence and foreign policy interests by strengthening capabilities of the U.S. Allies and Partners to respond to mutual challenges. The Agency oversees security and cooperation programs: foreign sales of military equipment, foreign military financing, international military personnel education and training, and the humanitarian assistance rendered by the U.S. Department of Defence.
Photo credit: MoD / A. Pliadis
