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LRT © 2016
Lithuania on Monday signed the biggest contract in its history to purchase German Boxer infantry fighting vehicles.
The price of the contract is nearly 386 million Euros which is the most expensive acquisition in the history of Lithuania.
'This is a sign that Lithuania is taking care of its defense by investing in it', said Minister of Defense Juozas Olekas.
After Crimea annexation Lithuanian political leaders agreed to rise defense expenditures to 2 percent of GDP as soon as possible with the aim to reach the target in 2018.
The decision to buy Boxer vehicles was taken in the end of last year. 88 units will be delivered from 2017 to 2021.
According to Lithuanian Minister of Defense, 'it will strengthen not only Lithuanian army, but the whole NATO alliance.' Lithuania is among few NATO countries such as Germany and Netherlands to field Boxers.
'With its remarkable protection, mobility and capacity and its flexibility to switch between mission modules, the boxer is unique in its class', said Tim Rowntree who is a director of European intergovernmental Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation.
This organization together with German company Artec are the main providers in the contract.
New vehicles will be used by two Lithuanian battalions called Algirdas and Birute.
'These units were chosen because they are the background of national rapid reaction force', explained chief of Lithuania army Vytautas Jonas Zukas.
Lithuania has created its own rapid reaction forces after concerns that Russia might repeat its Eastern Ukraine hybrid warfare scenario in the Baltics. NATO Alliance has also created 'the spearhead' rapid reaction forces consisted of member armed forces.
After NATO decision to place four battalions in Poland and Baltic states, Germany agreed to lead the one in Lithuania.
SHOTLIST
Start of the presser
Sound bite (Lithuanian), JUOZAS OLEKAS, Lithuanian Minister of Defense: We need to understand that this is a long term investment into the defense and a sign that Lithuania is taking care of its defense by investing in it.
Cutaway
Sound bite (Lithuanian), JUOZAS OLEKAS, Lithuanian Minister of Defense: It will be used at least for three decades in ensuring Lithuanian security and it will strengthen not only Lithuanian army, but the whole NATO alliance.
Cutaway
Sound bite (English), TIM ROWNTREE, Director of OCCAR (European intergovernmental Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation): With its remarkable protection, mobility and capacity and its flexibility to switch between mission modules, the boxer is unique in its class. I am very honored and proud to deliver this important capability to the Lithuanian army.
Some shots of boxer model
Sound bite (Lithuanian), VYTAUTAS JONAS ZUKAS, Chief of Lithuanian Army: We plan to equip two battalions of Iron Wolf brigade. One called Algirdas in Rukla and the other one called Birute in Alytus. These units were chosen because they are the background of national rapid reaction force.
Vs of Boxer being tested during drills in Lithuania, recent
