On July 2 Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas toured the infrastructure developed at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion in Alytus: refurbished barracks and the new IFV repair facility.
“Today we have yet another opportunity to witness the growing investment in Lithuania’s defence become a real practical boost to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, it is a comprehensive effort which encompasses approx. 200 ongoing investment projects of different scopes in the National Defence System. Smaller and larger projects, from improvement of service conditions to infrastructure development, it all creates armor of resilience which we continue to strengthen – so that no one comes up with an idea to test it,” said Prime Minister I. Šimonytė.
“The Lithuanian Armed Forces have become more resilient than ever over the past four years with a significant increase in land maneuver and combat power, indirect fire support capabilities, new infrastructure developed. The additional EUR 136 million allocated this year for defence will kick off mid and short-range air defence acquisition procedures and allow to finalize the IFV phase. I am grateful to Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė for being a leader who brings us together for a better defence,” said Minister of National Defence L. Kasčiūnas.
The repair facility introduced Tuesday is a 6 million euro investment. It accommodates concurrent repair of 8 vehicles and is staffed by up to 60 people. Spread out across 1.5 thousand square meters, it will ensure maintenance for infantry fighting vehicles, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles and other types of military transport. The facility is furnished with full building services engineering (air conditioning, heating, cooling, etc.).
The refurbished barracks is an investment of approx. EUR 5.5 million. The premises are suitable for up to 700 servicemembers. The infrastructure will be taken care of by a staff of over 50 individuals. The entire area of the barracks amounts to nearly 2.9 square meters. Most of the buildings in the area of the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion dated back to pre-World War I times and could not meet the requirements of modern-day barracks.
The new IFV maintenance facility and refurbished barracks add up to the other latest military infrastructure projects implemented across Lithuania: military campuses in Rokantiškės, Pajūrys and Šiauliai completed this year and the ongoing development at Rūdninkai. Also, the State Defence Council has greenlighted establishment of two more military training areas in Šilalė and Tauragė districts.
Lithuania’s defence spending will reach 3% of GDP this year after the Seimas approved the Government’s Defence Fund Package in June and the Government has approved additional funds for defence budget. The increased and sustainable defence spending allows to improve service conditions for the Lithuanian military, as well as to develop a modern infrastructure that meet the needs of Lithuanian and NATO troops, and to provide the most advanced weaponry to the armed forces.
The additional EUR 136 million allocated in 2024 has allowed to accelerate the most important weaponry projects of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, medium-range and mobile short range air defence systems for air defence enabling in the national division and recovery IFV acquisition which will allow to complete the quality part of NATO requirements, by at least a year.
