On July 19 a new campus will be officially inaugurated Šiauliai, the infrastructure is dedicated for Duke Margiris Infantry Battalion and the 6th Territorial Unit of the Resurrection Military District of the National Defence Volunteer Force. This marks the third infrastructure site of such proportions built since regaining independence of the country. Covering the area of 7.8 ha, the Šiauliai campus comprises yet largest barracks and headquarters if compared to the campuses in Pajūris and Rokantiškės unveiled in February. All three facilities accommodate up to 2.4 thousand military and civilian National Defence System personnel in total.
Two-way benefits and importance
Brand new, excellently developed military campuses offer a standing physical infrastructure for basing combat capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, present a d upgrade to service conditions and combat equipment maintenance in Lithuania, and raises the quality level of military infrastructure available for individual training of servicemembers. Side by side with excellent conditions for conscript and battalion personnel training new jobs for civilians will be created along with opportunities for local businesses.
The projects bring economic benefits to the whole of Lithuania since infrastructure development includes Lithuanian companies: over 62 % of national defence budget spending stays in Lithuanian economy, including the funds returning to the national budget in the form of taxes.
New infrastructure and highest NATO standards
Military campuses in Rokantiškės, Pajūris and Šiauliai have been designed and constructed with full infrastructure required for a battalion-sided unit, tailored specifically to the needs of a modern military. The Šiauliai campus has been equipped with administrative and special-purpose buildings: barracks, mess-hall, headquarters, medical facility, sports facility and training grounds. The infrastructure also includes technical buildings: warehouses, garages, gas station, carwash and equipment shed. There are parade and equipment grounds and parking lots, including for electric cars and the disabled.
Amount invested in national defence
Constructions projects of military campuses are implemented by means of Public-Private Partnership and cover not only construction of intrastate sites but also maintenance and services for the span of 12.5 years. The total values of the three campuses in terms on constructions, maintenance and services amounts to approx. EUR 231 million (VAT included). The Ministry of National Defence signed a contract for building the campus in Šiauliai 2021 with Lithuanian companies Partnerystės projektai keturi UAB and Samogitia miestelis UAB, subsidiaries of Eika UAB.
