The government on Wednesday gave the green light for purchasing 155mm artillery shells for the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ German-made PzH 2000 and French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzers from the German defence company Rheinmetall without public procurement procedures.
The cabinet adopted the draft resolution as Rheinmetall prepares to manufacture ammunition of this caliber in Lithuania and as the country seeks to ensure the factory also produces shells needed for its Armed Forces’ artillery systems.
The resolution allows bypassing the tender process to purchase the ammunition from local manufacturers, and, in their absence, from Rheinmetall or its subsidiaries in other countries.
The German defence giant plans to build a 155mm artillery ammunition factory in the northern Lithuanian district of Radviliškis, with over 180 million euros to be invested in the project, which is expected to create at least 150 new jobs.
“If artillery shells were produced in Lithuania, it would reduce the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ dependence on external factors, as well as help ensure production control and supply within the shortest possible time, avoiding disruptions that could arise from purchasing equipment from foreign countries,” the Defence Ministry said.
Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas has said that this was one of the conditions in the agreement with Rheinmetall.
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