Lithuania completes first phase of JLTV procurement

The Lithuanian MND has completed the first phase of the procurement of JLTVs, with the delivery on 29 December 2023 of the last 50 of the first 200 vehicles ordered in 2019. (Lithuanian MND)

The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on 30 December 2023 that it had completed the first phase of the procurement of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), with the delivery of the last 50 of the first 200 vehicles the day before.

The ministry signed a first contract with the US government for 200 JLTVs in 2019 and a second one for 300 vehicles in 2022. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the certification notifying Congress of the possible Foreign Military Sales of 500 M1278A1 JLTV Heavy Gun Carriers for an estimated cost of USD170.8 billion to Lithuania on 27 August 2019. The Lithuanian government's request included baseline integration kits; ballistic armour kits; explosive formed protection kits; Boomerang shot detection system kits; Boomerang III shot detection system kits; Global Positioning System (GPS) standalone kits; Network Switch 8 ports; M153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS); CROWS baseline v2 Integration Kits; MK93 weapon mounts; M2 QCB 50 calibre machine guns; M230 TacFLIR multisensor systems; opaque armour (windows); basic issue item kits; winch kits; flat tow kits; run-flat kits; spare tyre kits; combat bumper kits; Duramax turbo engines with Allison six-speed automatic transmissions and 4×4 TAK-4i independent suspension systems; personnel training and training equipment; US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related logistical and programme support elements.

The first 50 JLTVs were delivered to the Lithuanian Army in mid-2021, when driver and maintenance training began. Another 50 vehicles were delivered in 2022, followed by the last two batches of 50 JLTVs each in 2023.