Lithuania to allocate €2 billion for the purchase of tanks
25 July, 2023 Leopard 2 tank. Photo credits: Christian Charisius/Global Look Press Lithuania plans to purchase dozens of main battle tanks.
About EUR2 billion will be allocated for this. Kestutis Budrys, Defense Adviser to the President of Lithuania, announced this, the Delfi portal reports. The planned purchase of tanks will be the country's largest defense purchase.
"This will be one of Lithuania's largest purchases - not only for the military but also for the country as a whole. This would be about EUR2 billion. This amount includes not only the cost of tanks, but also the supply of ammunition, logistics, and supplies.
This is a big acquisition," Budrys said. Arvydas Anusauskas, Minister of National Defense, shared on Monday after a meeting of the State Defense Council of Lithuania that a letter of intent to purchase German Leopard 2 tanks will be signed in the near future.
Leopard 2A7 tank. Photo from open sources
"This week, we will sign a letter of intent with German manufacturers," the Minister said.
When asked why the German tank was chosen, Minister Anusauskas said that he would not elaborate, because "military advice precedes a political decision." However, Budrys noted on Tuesday that the final decision on the purchase of tanks from a specific buyer has not yet been made. Lithuania plans to purchase tanks for a new division that will be created to strengthen the country's Armed Forces.
The plan for its creation was revealed in March of this year.
Military servicemen of the Armed Forces of Lithuania.
At the beginning of May, the State Defense Council of Lithuania approved the proposal to create such a military unit. Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas reported in March that the creation of the division would be a ten-year project. The country's Ministry of Defense has estimated that the cost of creating the connection will be an average of EUR200 million annually.
Vilkas infantry fighting vehicle of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Lithuania.
According to the Commander of the Armed Forces of Lithuania, Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupsys, the future division will be formed on the basis of the Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade. It can consist of two existing brigades and one that is in the process of formation. It will also include the Light Infantry Brigade "Zhemaytia" and a new brigade formed on the basis of the Motorized Infantry Battalion of the headquarters reserve - in total, approximately 17.5 thousand soldiers.
PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer of the Armed Forces of Lithuania.
Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Lithuania.
The newly created division will include the already existing artillery divisions on the PzH2000 self-propelled howitzers, one more artillery division will have to be created.
It is also provided that the division will be armed with tanks.
Previously, the maximum requirement is 54 such combat vehicles.