Lithuanian Army gets 125 second-hand Mercedes-Benz GD 290s from Dutch army.

The MoD of Lithuania on December 17 announced that, back in November, the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence signed a contract for the acquisition of 356 second-hand military transport vehicles from The Netherlands, among which 125 Mercedes-Benz GD 290s having to be delivered before the end of 2021. Most of the shipment is assigned to National Defence Volunteer Force territorial units to patrol in the border area with Belarus starting on December 20.

125 Mercedes-Benz GD 290s are being delivered, most of them being assigned to National Defence Volunteer Force territorial units to patrol in the border area with Belarus. (Picture source: Lithuanian MoD)

“Our cooperation with the Netherland Armed Forces is a long-standing and meaningful one. This contract will not only expand general-purpose Lithuanian Armed Forces capabilities but will also add efficiency to the patrols on the border area and response to the hybrid activity. At the same time, we are getting the equipment for the minimum price,” says Lithuanian Vice Minister of National Defence Vilius Semeška.

For the total sum of approx. EUR 6 million, the Netherlands Armed Forces will hand over the already used Mercedes-Benz GD 290 all-terrain vehicles, DAF trucks, and trailers. The remaining part of the purchase - 165 Mercedes-Benz GD 290, 25 items of various DAF modifications, other equipment – will reach the Lithuanian Armed Forces in two parts in spring and autumn 2022.

The Mercedes-Benz GD 290s were first used in the Netherlands Armed Forces but are in good technical condition. The Lithuanian Armed Forces already operate 400 items of such vehicles, purchased from the Netherlands as well, so the equipment has been tested in training and in domestic support operations already.

The Netherlands Armed Forces sold pre-used equipment, approx. 400 ATVs and approx. 200 DAF trucks, to Lithuania in the past as well.

The Mercedes-Benz GD 290s were first used in the Netherlands Armed Forces but are in good technical condition. The Lithuanian Armed Forces already operate 400 items of such vehicles, purchased from the Netherlands as well, so the equipment has been tested in training and in domestic support operations already. (Picture source: Lithuanian MoD)