Lithuania to buy 936 Finnish-made Patria armoured vehicles

Lithuania will purchase 936 Patria armoured vehicles from Finland under a decision approved by the State Defence Council on Wednesday.

President Gitanas Nausėda said 300 of the vehicles are expected to be acquired by 2030.

He added that one of Lithuania’s requirements is for part of the production process to take place inside the country.

“We could integrate into the production chain of these armoured vehicles,” the president said.

The Patria armoured vehicles are intended to strengthen Lithuania’s military capabilities as the country continues to increase defence spending and expand its armed forces in response to regional security concerns.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas noted that the new vehicles will not replace the existing Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles or the CV90s currently being purchased.

“This is an addition; it is what the military needs so that 20,000 or more troops can be safely transported to and from the frontline. This includes medical, air defence and engineering capabilities,” Kaunas said.

“It is a multifunctional platform of a different nature; MSHORAD systems can be mounted on it, meaning it can also be used for air defence,” he added.

According to the minister, proposals from numerous manufacturers were evaluated before selecting the Patria model as the optimal choice. Negotiations regarding local production in Lithuania are ongoing.

The project is estimated to cost approximately 1.5 billion euros through 2036. However, no additional funding or budget reallocation will be required as it is already included in the division’s development plan.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces’ First Division was established last year, with full operational capability planned by 2030. This year’s defence budget stands at approximately 4.8 billion euros (5.38 percent of GDP).