After the United States allowed Lithuania to purchase eight missile artillery HIMARS systems with missiles for an estimated amount of almost half a billion euros, BNS reviews the ten largest purchases of armaments and military equipment in the last decade.
Purchases are given at current prices. Military purchases are provided based on public sources.
HIMARS systems. The contract for the eight rocket artillery systems has not yet been signed, but the estimated value of the deal with Lockheed Martin is $495 million. dollars (approx 493 million euros). At the same time, Lithuania buys various HIMARS-adapted missiles, including the so-called ATACMS, their firing range reaches 300 kilometers.
Armored men. The contract for the purchase of 88 armored vehicles was signed in August 2016, its value is 386 million euros. About half of these armored vehicles have already reached Lithuania, the rest should be delivered in the middle of next year. Due to various shortcomings, the delivery of these armored vehicles, called "Wolves" in Lithuania, was repeatedly delayed, and in the summer it became clear that the military equipment delivered to the country could not be used for its intended purpose due to deficiencies related to the software. Finally, the bug is removed. Among other things, Lithuania aims to acquire another 120 such armored vehicles. The combat turret for infantry fighting vehicles was manufactured by an Israeli company, and the armored vehicle itself was manufactured by a German consortium.
Armored SUVs. Due to the purchase of 200 American armored all-terrain vehicles JLTV for 145 million. Lithuania signed the contract in November 2019, but renewed it in October of this year, increasing the number of machines purchased from Oshkosh Defense to 500. Therefore, the final value of the transaction is approx. 334 million euros, of which about 5 percent funds will be allocated from JAV support funds. This amount includes all-terrain vehicles, weapons, communications, surveillance equipment, personnel training, tools, and a two-year spare parts package. Available SUVs are turreted and armed with 12,7mm M2 QCB machine guns.
Helicopters I. In November 2020, Lithuania signed an agreement with the United States for the purchase of four Black Hawk military helicopters. The transaction value was 181 million euros, the USA allocated 26 million for this purchase. euro support. The first helicopters should reach Lithuania at the end of 2024. According to the army, the new helicopters will enable the Lithuanian army to carry out military training more effectively, to use them to provide aerial support to infantrymen, to quickly transfer small military units, as well as for medical evacuation and other tasks.
Anti-tank systems. At the end of last year, Lithuania and the USA agreed for 86 million. EUR to purchase 230 additional Javelin anti-tank missile systems. They consist of 230 missiles, 20 launchers, other system equipment. These stocks will be transferred to the Lithuanian army in parts from 2024 to 2028. Before the addition of the contract, the USA was supposed to deliver 2024 missiles, ten launchers for 111 million to Lithuania by 25. euros. The total value of the updated transaction is 111 million euros. During the decade, various additional acquisitions of this weaponry were announced several more times - amounts ranging from several to several tens of millions.
Air defense systems I. Anti-aircraft defense systems were purchased in October 2017 from the Norwegian company "Kongsberg" for 110 million euros. The missiles can fly tens of kilometers and shoot down targets at an altitude of 15 kilometers. NASAMS is the most widely used medium-range air defense system NATO states, it is also used to protect the White House. Lithuania is currently considering purchasing more of these systems.
Trucks. Lithuania signed the contract with the German company "Daimler AG" at the end of 2015. According to it, 2020 Unimog U340 trucks will be delivered to Lithuania by the end of 5000. Later, the contract was extended, and in 2021 another 42 such trucks were delivered to the country. The total value of the transaction is approx 80 millioneuros. The new trucks are for Lithuanian army for the ground forces in order to renew the fleet of trucks.
Howitzers. In September 2015, Lithuania signed a contract with the German Ministry of Defense for the purchase of 18 self-propelled howitzers "PzH2000" ("Panzerhaubitze 2000"). The first howitzers reached the Lithuanian army in 2018, the last ones in the spring of this year. As part of the PzH2000 acquisition project, the Artillery Battalion also previously received M577 armored personnel carriers that were repaired and adapted to the function of fire control centers, BPz2 modernized repair and evacuation tanks, forward observers and air attack control, and other military equipment. The project value of this project is 58,3 million euros.
Helicopters II. Lithuania signed the contract for three AS 365 "Dauphin" helicopters in October 2013. The price of the equipment reached 180 million. litas (more than 52 million euros), it was bought from the then French company Eurocopter. Part of the cost of purchasing the helicopters was covered by the support funds of the European Union. They are used to perform search and rescue functions.
Air defense systems II. The contract for the purchase of these systems was signed with the Polish company "Mesko" in September 2014. The quantity of weapons purchased is undisclosed, and the contract value is approx 34 million euros. GROM can destroy a target at a distance of 400 meters to 5,5 kilometers and at an altitude of ten meters to 3,5 kilometers.
Authors: Augustas Stankevičius, Saulius Jakučionis
