September 23,Vice Minister of National Defence Vilius Semeška and a team of Defence Materiel Agency under the Lithuanian MoD experts met with representatives of U.S. defence companies – Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Oshkosh, and Raytheon – to discuss the Lithuanian Armed Forces projects currently underway and planned acquisitions. The largest U.S. defence companies manufacture military equipment that the Lithuanian Armed Forces is acquiring: Javelin anti-tank systems, Black Hawk helicopters, weaponry for the Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles.
V. Semeška underscored Lithuania’s ambition to operate the most modern military equipment, such as our closest allies, the strategic partners U.S. and Germany do.
According to Vice Minister, one of Lithuania’s most prominent defence priorities is air defence which vitally requires assistance from our allies. The U.S. assistance funds are used for strengthening the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ priority capabilities by procuring Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, UAV systems, communications and surveillance equipment, anti-tank weapons and missiles, helicopters, cybersecurity equipment, maritime surveillance systems. The Unite States have been providing assistance to Lithuania in the form of different defence equipment since the re-establishment of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The equipment is bought from manufacturers, the Foreign Military Funds, European Reassurance Initiative and other funds provided by the U.S. Government are also used.
The following major acquisitions will begin in 2022-2023 in the effort to update he Lithuanian Armed Forces: 155 mm Howitzers, 120 mm mortars, mid-rage radars, assault rifles, sniper rifles, machine-guns, automatic grenade launchers.
Photo credits: A. Pliadis
