Lithuania is preparing to establish a major armored vehicle production and maintenance hub with the construction of a new Leopard 2A8 facility in Kaunas. YIT Lietuva has received a contract worth around €30 million from Lithuania Defence Services to design and build the site, with construction expected to run from August until November 2027. The facility will cover nearly 10 hectares and is expected to support the assembly and maintenance of Leopard 2A8 tanks and other heavy military equipment. The first Lithuanian-assembled Leopard 2A8 is scheduled to be completed in late 2028, while the project could generate up to 100 jobs. Lithuania acquired 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks from KNDS Deutschland under a €950 million contract signed in 2024. The acquisition is intended to strengthen the country’s armored forces and improve interoperability with NATO allies. Equipped with a 120mm gun, advanced targeting sensors, thermal imaging, and modern protection systems, the Leopard 2A8 provides a significant enhancement to Lithuania’s land warfare capabilities.
