The Lithuanian Armed Forces now operates 500 cutting-edge Joint Light Tactical Vehicles JLTV

The Ministry of National Defence has completed one of the major recent upgrading projects: two final U.S.-made Joint Light Tactical Vehicles JLTV were delivered to Lithuania in mid-February. The Lithuanian Armed Forces now operates 500 advanced armored vehicles of this class which makes it the largest user worldwide.

The JLTV acquisition project was launched in 2019 when the Ministry of National Defence signed the procurement contract with the U.S. Government. The equipment manufactured by the U.S. defence industry company Oshkosh Defense was delivered in two stages, 200 vehicles in the first stage and 300 in the second.

"We have finalized a strategic stage of Lithuanian Armed Forces capability enhancement which significantly supports development of the national division and deterrence. The Lithuanian Armed Forces currently has 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with high crew safety and mobility features at its disposal. The armored vehicles will support reconnaissance, fire support and command operations. As air defence remains our top priority, part of the purchased vehicles are RBS70 NG short-range air defence system-capable," said Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas and noted it was a result of a long-standing and trusted partnership with the U.S.

According to U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald, with the delivery of 500 JLTVs complete, Lithuania becomes the largest JLTV operator outside of the United States. "This is a historical achievement which reflects the mastery of the American engineering and the strength of Lithuania's, one of the leading defence spender's NATO-wide, commitment. The JLTV will boost Lithuania's rapid response capability and improve its interoperability with the Allies. This is why our bilateral partnership is so important. It is an example of a meaningful burden-sharing that once again underlines the strength of the bond between Lithuania and the United States," the Ambassador says.

The JLTVs feature excellent crew security, mobility and versatility which make them an efficient choice for complex operations. The platform supports reconnaissance, fire support, operational command and other tasks. A part of the purchase vehicles are compatible with the RBS70 NG short-range air defence system.

The JLTV project is one of the largest and most consistent of the recent Lithuanian Armed Forces upgrading projects. It is particularly important in the context of the planned full development of the national division by 2030and stronger comprehensive deterrence. The Lithuanian Armed Forces is consistently modernized with more planning to be done in the coming year. In total, approx. 60% of defence budget is earmarked for the modernization this year thus ensuring a faster development of defence capabilities that respond to regional security challenges and meet NATO standards.