The most extensive cooperation Lithuania has in the effort to modernize our Armed Forces and in armament and equipment acquisitions are our strategic partners, Germany and the United States of America. Such acquisitions over the past several years amount to EUR 0.5 billion with the U.S. and nearly EUR 1 billion with Germany. The war Russia launched against Ukraine changed the geopolitical situation and Lithuania’s defence budget was increased to 2.52 percent of GDP, which, in turn, accelerated the process of national defence acquisitions. Contracts are planned to be signed and procurement procedures begun shortly for the worth of over EUR 1 billion with each of the mentioned strategic partners, the completion deadline being 2027.
“When the national defence modernization program is completed, or even still while it is underway, the capability of the Lithuanian Armed Forces will be increasingly enhanced, and so will the country’s defensibility. Doubtlessly, the Allied presence in the country will be increased in parallel with that. Concert decisions will be taken in the months to come,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
The equipment acquired form the strategic partners forms the core of the Lithuanian Armed Forces modernization effort: military maneuver, firepower, air defence, airspace surveillance, anti-tank, military intelligence, logistical and paramedical capabilities are strengthen.
Lithuania procures equipment from Germany to implement the central priority of the modernization: enhancement of Land Force maneuver and firepower capability. The procured equipment is the Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles and the PzH2000 self-propelled howitzers.
On top of the IFV project underway, two Land Force battalions will be equipped with German armored platforms additionally.
Germany remains the main partner in strengthening logistical capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces through acquisition of the needed transportation platforms. A new 10 ton truck procurement project will begin shortly.
Lithuania’s anti-armor capabilities will be enhanced with the Switchblade tactical drones to be procured from the U.S. The equipment destroys armored equipment of the adversary at a distance of up to 40 kilometers away. The U.S. will also sell to Lithuania additional Javelin medium-range (2.5 km) antitank systems which have earned praise in Ukraine. Other projects are acquisition of new radars, ongoing procurement of four UH-60M utility helicopters, acquisition of armored ATVs and UAVs.
Other vital partners in Lithuanian Armed Forces modernization are the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, France, Italy, and other NATO and EU members. Air defence system is developed on the basis of NASAMS mid-range air defence system bought from Norway. The system, its integration and further development of the capability is central to the air defence capacity.
