Lithuania to Build CAESAR Maintenance and Repair Center

Lithuania will establish a center for the maintenance and repair of French CAESAR self-propelled howitzers.

To that end, Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense has signed an agreement with French defense company KNDS France, LRT reported.

Investment in the new infrastructure and the purchase of specialized equipment will amount to €12 million.

Lithuania will become the first country in the world to receive technological expertise from France to repair the electronic and hydraulic components of CAESAR self-propelled howitzers.

This will allow Lithuania’s defense industry to maintain the artillery systems independently instead of sending them to France for repairs.

Lithuania signed a contract to purchase the French artillery systems in December 2022. The agreement provided for the purchase of 18 CAESAR Mark II 6×6 wheeled self-propelled howitzers.

Under the contract, the first howitzers are scheduled to be delivered to the Lithuanian military in 2026, with the full order to be completed by 2027.

The Lithuanian Army has not yet received any CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, as the systems are still undergoing production and testing.

All 18 CAESAR Mark II howitzers ordered will eventually become part of the artillery battalion of the Žemaitija Infantry Brigade, replacing the outdated 105 mm M101 towed howitzers.

In August 2025, Estonia received six French 155 mm CAESAR self-propelled howitzers. The Baltic states are seeking to standardize their artillery systems to reduce maintenance and repair costs.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces have also deployed medium-range NASAMS air defense systems on the approaches to Vilnius.

Lithuania currently has two batteries of these air defense systems, with a third scheduled to arrive in the country in 2028.