“Indicatively, the acquisition itself will take place in 2027… Or perhaps earlier. It is still too early to talk about very specific terms,” the minister told BNS by phone from Paris on Monday.
On Monday, Anusauskas signed a letter of intent on purchasing 18-wheeled self-propelled howitzers with newly appointed French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecorn.
Under the document, Lithuania will also join the development program of the CAESAR Mark II new generation artillery system being implemented by the Procurement Agency of the French Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry of Defense plans to earmark approximately 110–150 million euros for the entire project on the purchase of artillery systems.
“We would like to get a new modification, which would be finalized in France in 2024. It would have ballistic protection, many other things that are important for a self-propelled artillery system,” the Lithuanian minister said.
The purchase of howitzers was one of those acquisitions that were being accelerated due to Russia’s threat to the region and the war in Ukraine, he stressed.
“What had to take place in approximately 2030 and later, will take place, for instance, in 2027,” Anusauskas said.
He added that he had also discussed “the outlook for further development of our military cooperation” with his French counterpart.
“There are areas where European countries could make increased efforts,” he said.