Lithuania seeks local final assembly for planned CV90 purchase

Lithuania wants the final assembly of CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as some component production, to take place in the country, LRT reports. The government approved a resolution setting out the approach on Wednesday.

The Ministry of National Defence says the purchase contract would include requirements for local companies to assemble or manufacture selected components. This would avoid the need for a separate industrial cooperation agreement with the vehicle manufacturer and help maintain a short, secure and reliable supply chain, which the ministry says would be especially important in a crisis.

Major components, including the chassis, hull and turret, would be made outside Lithuania. The ministry says work carried out in Lithuania could include producing composite-material tracks, maintaining engines, making spare parts and additional armour, and manufacturing and integrating electro-optical systems. Other possible work includes treating coatings, producing complex structures and processing metal parts.

Lithuanian defence-industry companies would be named in the purchase contract as subcontractors responsible for specified parts of the work. The resolution also allows companies in the supply chain to be selected without a public tender. The ministry says the work can be done only by subcontractors approved by the manufacturer.

The ministry argues that requiring a separate industrial cooperation process could limit the Defence Resources Agency’s negotiating position and hinder agreements needed to protect essential national security interests. It says an exception is permitted under the EU treaty provision allowing member states to take measures they consider necessary to protect vital security interests related to the production or trade of arms, ammunition and military materials.

Lithuania plans to purchase 100 Swedish-made CV90 vehicles together with five other NATO countries. The State Defence Council has instructed officials to give particular attention to producing components and servicing the vehicles in Lithuania.