Lithuania Advances with Acquisition of Tracked Combat Vehicles.

Lithuania is set to enhance its military capabilities by purchasing tracked combat vehicles as part of the second phase of its infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) procurement initiative. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas announced last week that the decision had been made to acquire these vehicles, aiming to form a tank battalion. Speaking in Alytus, Kasčiūnas explained that the tank battalion would be formed gradually, creating one company at a time. The first tanks are expected to arrive in Lithuania by 2027.
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Originally, a variant of the M1A2 Abrams was at the top of the list of competitors for the supply of 54 tanks to the Lithuanian army (Image source: U.S. DoD)

The minister emphasized that the decision would be finalized if conditions and price were favorable, with the approval of the State Defence Council expected in the autumn. The phased approach remains the strategic framework for the acquisition of the tank battalion.

In January 2024, the Lithuanian National Security Council tasked the Ministry of Defence to open negotiations with Germany to acquire enough Leopard 2 tanks to form a battalion, totaling at least 54 units. However, in light of the experience from Ukraine, Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas considered canceling the additional purchase of Boxer IFVs in favor of acquiring tracked IFVs like the Rheinmetall KF-41 Lynx. Regarding the Leopard 2 tanks, Kasčiūnas recommended acquiring only enough to form a squadron, around a dozen, to free up funds for strengthening Lithuania's air defense capabilities. It seems that Lithuania has now decided to revert to acquiring tracked combat vehicles.

Kasčiūnas emphasized the critical importance of having tracked infantry fighting vehicles, noting that the goal is to create one or two battalions depending on budget constraints. The Ministry of Defence is currently in the analysis and negotiation phase regarding the acquisition of these vehicles. In 2016, Lithuania signed a contract for 88 Boxer IFVs, with plans announced two years ago to purchase an additional 120 units. The Lithuanian government is also allocating funds for medium and short-range air defense systems as part of the defense enhancement plan.

This year, the government approved an additional €136 million for defense funding, including €51 million for advance payments on medium-range air defense systems, €45 million for mobile short-range air defense systems, and €40 million for IFVs. These investments align with the government's plan to increase military spending to 3% of GDP, with contracts expected to be concluded by the end of the year. Vilnius primarily relies on NATO to bolster its air defense, with the Netherlands announcing the upcoming deployment of a Patriot battery in Lithuania. To further strengthen its air defense, Lithuania could acquire more NASAMS batteries or collaborate with Estonia and Latvia under NATO's European missile shield project, which includes the purchase of German IRIS-T SLM systems.