Turnkey Tank Construction: Leopard 2A8 Assembly Plant to Be Built in Lithuania

An enterprise will be built in Lithuania to assemble the ordered Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks.

This was reported in a press release by the KNDS consortium.

The plant will be located in Kaunas, and Lithuania Defense Services (LDS), a joint venture between KNDS and Rheinmetall, will act as a subcontractor.

The construction agreement provides for the training of qualified personnel for production and maintenance work, as well as logistics support for five years, starting from the delivery of the first tank.

The company is expected to build up to 41 tanks, after which it will likely focus on their maintenance and repair. In general, LDS was created as an element of the local infrastructure for the maintenance and repair of NATO military equipment.

Lithuania’s intention to assemble the ordered tanks on its own became known in the summer. According to the initial agreement, the first tank company is to arrive in the country in 2029, and a full-fledged tank battalion is planned to be formed in 2034.

According to the minister, an advance payment for the equipment will be made in the coming months, which will speed up its delivery.

The government is seeking to shorten delivery times as it aims to create its own army division by 2030.

In November, KNDS presented the Leopard 2A8 in Germany, the first tank built from scratch for the Bundeswehr in more than 30 years.

Its basic design includes an upgraded armor pod, enhanced mine resistance, and new dynamic and passive protection modules.

The vehicle is equipped with a modern active defense system and an expanded sensor package to detect and counter threats.

The Leopard 2A8 has a new electronic architecture, digital communication systems and updated fire control systems that increase its effectiveness on the battlefield.