Lithuania approves plan to purchase over 900 armored vehicles from Finland.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. Photo: LRT.

This decision aims to modernize the army and enhance the combat readiness of the Baltic nation in the context of a complex regional security situation.

Speaking to the press on May 28, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced that the country's military plans to receive a total of 936 new-generation Patria 6x6 armored combat vehicles from the Finnish manufacturer. The official contract is expected to be signed in 2027. This new vehicle will completely replace the existing fleet of used M113 armored personnel carriers in Lithuania's inventory.

According to Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas, the Patria 6x6 is a versatile chassis system that allows for flexible integration of air defense systems and heavy weapons, while also effectively serving logistical and medical missions. The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense emphasized that the core criteria leading to this selection included: full compatibility with NATO standards, strict delivery schedules, competitive pricing, and, in particular, opportunities for industrial cooperation for domestic companies.

By choosing this platform, Lithuania is aiming to join the Common Armored Vehicle System (CAVS) program – an international military cooperation project currently involving Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Lithuania approves plan to purchase over 900 armored vehicles from Finland.

Finland unveils the new generation Patria 6x6 armored combat vehicle. Photo: Patria Group.

This deal is part of Vilnius' overall strategy to disburse approximately €6.4 billion (equivalent to $7.5 billion) from the EU's Security for Europe (SAFE) concessional loan to purchase new weapons, equipment, and ammunition. Simultaneously, the Lithuanian government is stepping up efforts to attract investment from foreign defense corporations, aiming to integrate domestic businesses more deeply into the international military supply chain and ensure that a portion of the procurement budget is reinvested directly into the domestic economy .

Thanh Giang

Source: Defensenews.

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