DOPPELADLER.COM

VILNIUS, Nov 22, BNS - The planned acquisition of US-made armored all-terrain vehicles will cost Lithuania around 100 million euros, with a contract expected to be signed in 2020 at the latest, Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis said on Thursday.

"The (technical) specifications are being finalized now. We plan to move toward final decisions next year or in 2020," the minister told reporters.

"About 100 million euros have been earmarked," he added.

Lithuania is planning to buy up to 200 Light Combat Tactical All-terrain Vehicles (L-ATV) from Oshkosh Defense.

The vehicles would be distributed across the Lithuanian Armed Forces to fill a shortage due to "normal wear and tear" of equipment and increased demand, the Defense Ministry has said.

Currently, the Lithuanian Armed Forces use HMMWV and Toyota Land Cruiser 200 armored all-terrain vehicles.

The Ministry of Defense is hoping to sign a contract with the United States for roughly 200 JLTVs by the end of the year, an official said.

Lithuania is considering a follow-on purchase of additional JLTVs — possibly up to 300 more — after the first lot is under contract.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 27, 2019.

The Government of Lithuania has requested to buy five hundred Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, M1278A1 Heavy Guns Carriers. Also included are Baseline Integration Kits; Ballistic Kits Armor; Explosive Formed Protection Kit; Shot Detection Boomerang Kits; Shot Detection, Boomerang III; GPS Stand Alone kits; Network Switch - 8 port; M153 Common Remote Weapon Stations (CROWS); CROWS Baseline v2 Integration Kit; MK-93 Weapons Mounts; M2 QCB .50 CAL Machine Guns; M230 TAC-FLIR Systems; Opaque Armor (windows); Basic Issue Item Kits; Winch Kits; Flat Tow Kits; Run-Flat Kits; Spare Tire Kits; Combat Bumper Kits; Duramax Turbo Engine with Allison 6 speed automatic transmission and 4x4 TAK-4i Independent suspension systems; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $170.8 million.

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On November 21 the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence and the U.S. Department of Defence signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance concerning procurement of 200 units of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).

The new JLTVs will be equipped with turrets and 12. 7 mm M2 QCB machine-guns and given to battalions of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf and the Motorised Infantry Brigade Griffin while prioritising the national rapid response forces. The first all-terrain vehicles are planned to be delivered to Lithuania in late 2021.

The Ministry of National Defence will allocate about EUR 145 million for the acquisition of JLTVs, equipment and weaponry complements, personnel training, spare parts, and sustainment in 2020-2024.

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Although the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has forced European militaries to consider cancelling or delaying their acquisition programmes, both Slovenia and Lithuania have confirmed that initial deliveries of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) will take place as scheduled in 2021.

As for Lithuania, a defence ministry source told Shephard that the Baltic republic anticipates no changes to the procurement and delivery schedule, adding: ‘We expect that the original plans will be maintained, and the first batch of the vehicles will be delivered to the Lithuanian Armed Forces at the end of 2021.'

In November 2019, Lithuania signed a contract for 200 vehicles. Earmarked for the Lithuanian Army and SF, the JLTVs will be delivered between late 2021 and 2024 in more than ten different configurations.

Under this deal, Lithuania can opt to procure an additional 300 vehicles, a decision on which is expected to be made in 2024.

Additional 300 JLTVs (Joint Light Tactical Vehicles) have been acquired for the Lithuanian Armed Forces according to a contract signed by the Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence with the United States Government earlier this week.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces will receive the total of 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, the current amount and the 200 items contracted for with the U.S. Government in 2019.

According to Vice Minister Vilius Semeška, since Lithuania has negotiated the JLTV delivery ahead of the planned schedule, according to the new contract, the first vehicles will reach Lithuania in 2023 and all the remaining amount – gradually through 2024.

The acquired vehicles are manufactured by U.S. Oshkosh Defense, have additional turrets, are armed with 12.7 mm M2 QCB machine-gun, accommodate the crew of 5 and arms.

The first shipment including 50 JLTVs arrived in Lithuania last summer and is now successfully used by the Lithuanian military. The next batch of 50 will be delivered in a month or two this year, and another 100 – in 2023, with the remaining to come gradually as well.

The JLTVs will be assigned to battalions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Iron Wolf and Griffin Brigades, and to the national Rapid Response Force in order of priority.

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