Lithuania Receives Its Fourth Batch of Oshkosh JLTV Multi-Role Armored Vehicles
The Lithuanian Armed Forces have received the fourth batch of JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicles) armored vehicles manufactured in the United States. The cargo ship Regina Seaways delivered the final shipment of 50 JLTVs to the port of Klaipėda on Lithuania’s Baltic Sea coast on December 30. From here the vehicles set out to be allocated to the sub-battalions of the Geležinis Vilkas and Žemaitija Brigades.
Arvydas Anušauskas, the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence, commented on the delivery of these vehicles, saying:
“Procurement of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles from the United States is one of the most vital steps in Lithuanian Armed Forces upgrade. We are glad the supplier took its commitment seriously: despite the agreement to deliver the last JLTV batch of the first contract in 2024, the equipment was made and delivered ahead of schedule as requested by the Ministry of National Defence.”
With this delivery, the first phase of the 2019 contract worth 145 million euros for the acquisition of 200 JLTV armored vehicles has been successfully completed. August of 2021 saw the delivery of the first 50 JLTVs to Lithuania. Following that, in November 2022 and May 2023, respectively, the second and third batches—each containing the same number of vehicles as the initial delivery—arrived in Lithuania.
In October 2022, in addition to the initial procurement of 200 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) from Oshkosh Defense, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense signed a second contract with the US government to acquire 300 more JLTVs. Under this second contract, Oshkosh Defense is scheduled to begin deliveries of JLTV armored vehicles to Lithuania this year. All vehicles are projected to be delivered to Lithuania by 2026, according to the manufacturer’s current delivery schedule. With the completion of the additional JLTV deliveries, the Lithuanian Armed Forces will have a total fleet of 500 JLTVs.
These Oshkosh JLTV armored vehicles will take the place of the M113 armored personnel carriers that Lithuania had previously given to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Improved capabilities in intelligence, artillery, and offensive air support operations are the primary objectives of this transition, along with increased safety for the nation’s mechanized infantry brigades’ troops. The procurement also improves interoperability between the Lithuanian and US Forces while strengthening the Lithuanian Armed Forces.