Lithuania announces plans to purchase infantry fighting vehicles

Defense Minister Laurinas Kasciunas said that Vilnius will purchase tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) as part of the second phase of procurement of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).

This was reported by LRT.

He said that the Ministry of Defense is at the stage of analysis and negotiations on the purchase of tracked infantry fighting vehicles.

"We have progressed with the tracked vehicles because we will create a tank battalion," Kasciunas said.

According to him, it has been decided that the tank battalion will be created in stages, one company at a time, and the first tanks should arrive in Lithuania in 2027.

"Since there is progress with tanks... it is very important to have tracked infantry fighting vehicles. Depending on budgetary possibilities, either one battalion or two battalions," he said.

Lithuania also plans to use additional funds allocated by the government for defense to purchase medium- and short-range air defense systems and to complete the first phase of infantry fighting vehicles.

Author - Olena Madiak, 02/07/2024