Lithuania is buying 210 million euros worth of bridge systems for tanks and other combat vehicles as part of its military modernisation, the Defence Ministry said Wednesday.
The Leopard 2 A8 Leguan bridge-laying systems will be purchased from Germany’s KNDS Deutschland. The contract also includes spare parts kits, training for operators and mechanics, simulators, trainers and technical documentation, the ministry said.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the systems would significantly improve the Lithuanian military’s mobility and tactical flexibility.
“If necessary, armoured vehicles will be able to quickly overcome natural and man-made obstacles, which is critically important in modern warfare,” Kaunas said in a statement. He added that the purchase would strengthen Lithuania’s defence capabilities and NATO’s eastern flank.
According to the ministry, the Leopard 2 A8 Leguan is a modern, automated mobile bridge system mounted on an armoured Leopard 2 A8 tank chassis. The system can deploy bridges in less than six minutes over obstacles up to 25 meters wide that are otherwise impassable for military vehicles.
The ministry said the system’s high level of automation and video surveillance allows it to operate around the clock, with the crew fully protected by armour. It is typically operated by a two-person crew but can be run by a single driver if needed.
The Leguan system can be mounted on various tracked and wheeled platforms and is already in use or being acquired by the armed forces of 22 countries, the ministry said.
Lithuania is also moving ahead with plans to acquire 44 Leopard 2 A8 main battle tanks as part of the development of an army division. Late last year, the Defence Ministry signed a memorandum with KNDS Deutschland, Rheinmetall Landsysteme and representatives of Lithuania’s state-owned energy group EPSO-G on industrial cooperation related to the assembly and maintenance of the tanks in Lithuania.
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