Earlier this month, the Lithuanian Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence (DMA) announced it signed a contract with KNDS Deutschland for forty-four Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks (MBTs) to equip a Lithuanian Army armored unit. Valued at €950 million ($988 million), this is the largest defense deal ever made by this Baltic nation and NATO member.

“The agreement on Leopard acquisition is the largest contract Lithuania has ever signed. It is a pivotal stage of modernizing our armed forces and strengthening the regional security,” Minister of National Defence Dovil Šakalien said in a statement. “The new tanks will facilitate integration and interoperability of [the] Lithuanian and German militaries.”

Lithuania, which shares a border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad as well as a border with Russian ally Belarus, will become the first nation to acquire the German-made MBT as part of Germany’s Common Procurement Agreement, which has aimed to improve Europe’s common defense capabilities. 

Lithuania will receive the most advanced version of the Leopard 2. The MBT is equipped with the Rafael-designed Trophy APS (active protection system) and a better all-around (360-degree) awareness system. The upgraded variant also features the newest generation of passive multi-layer composite modular armor, which is made up of steel, tungsten, composite filler, and even ceramics.

The Leopard In The Crosshairs

The 28A model is equipped with a three-man turret containing the main 120mm L55 smoothbore gun manufactured by Rheinmetall AG. This is an improved iteration of the L44 gun that previous models of the Leopard 2 hosted. The L55 is over a meter longer than its predecessor, giving it higher muzzle velocities. It has greater accuracy, range, and penetration and can fire a wide array of ordnance, including APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank), and multipurpose ammunition.

The overall layout of the modernized tanks is similar to other models. They are powered by an upgraded 1,600 hp engine that allows the Leopard 2A8 to reach speeds of over seventy kilometers per hour (forty-four miles per hour).

Well Above 2 Percent

During a recent visit to Germany, Šakalien had further pledged that Vilnius would remain committed to hosting a Bundeswehr military brigade near the border of Belarus, Breaking Defense reported.

Last week, Lithuania also passed its 2025 state budget, which will allocate 4 percent of its GDP (gross domestic product) to defense—double NATO’s 2 percent defense expenditure guidelines.

“We’ve essentially budgeted 4 percent of GDP for defence, but some of that money has to be borrowed,” said Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda.

NATO Ammo Plant to be Built in Lithuania

Earlier this month, the German-based Rheinmetall also announced it had begun construction of an artillery ammunition plant in the Lithuanian city of Baisogala, in the center of the country. The plant is on track to begin producing 155mm rounds—the NATO standard ordnance for weapons, including the M777 towed howitzer and numerous self-propelled artillery platforms—by the middle of 2026. Tens of thousands of artillery shells will be manufactured annually.

The facility will not only bring around 150 jobs to the Lithuanian city but also help NATO replenish its stockpiles of the much-needed 155mm ordnance.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites, with over 3,200 published pieces and over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

Image: Arnoldas Vitkus / Shutterstock.com.