VILNIUS (dpa-AFX) - The Lithuanian army is set to upgrade its fleet with military vehicles from Germany. To bolster its defense capabilities, the armed forces of the Baltic EU and NATO member state will acquire specialized trucks from Daimler Truck and off-road vehicles from Mercedes-Benz in a deal valued at approximately one billion euros. According to the Ministry of Defense in Vilnius, an agreement has been signed with the local representative of the German automakers.
Deliveries of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class vehicles, as well as the Zetros, Arocs, and Unimog military truck models from Daimler Truck, are scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2032. The procurement will be partially financed through a defense loan from the EU's so-called Safe program, the statement noted.
According to ministry data, the acquisition represents 'one of the largest investments in the logistics of the Lithuanian Armed Forces'. The vehicles are intended to ensure the efficient transport of troops, weaponry, and supplies, while strengthening the army's operational readiness.
Lithuania shares borders with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia's ally, Belarus. The war in Ukraine is perceived in the Baltic state as a direct threat to national security. Consequently, the government in Vilnius has increased military spending and is undergoing a massive rearmament of its forces./awe/DP/stw
