Lithuania signed a contract with France for the purchase of howitzers worth 252,000,000 euros 0 14

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has signed a contract for the purchase of Caesar Mk II self-propelled howitzers.

As reported by the Ministry of Defense on Wednesday, the contract with the French defense company KNDS France is valued at 252 million euros, marking the second procurement of these systems and the largest purchase Lithuania has made from France.

"These fire support systems will enhance the combat power and mobility of the Lithuanian Armed Forces on the battlefield. The modernized platform, in the development of which Lithuania also participated, features an enhanced armored cabin, a more powerful engine, advanced control systems, and greater resilience in challenging combat conditions," the statement said.

According to the ministry, the new generation of 155-mm Caesar Mk II howitzers with a 6×6 wheel configuration is considered one of the most modern artillery platforms in the world, having been tested in real combat conditions in Ukraine.

"The choice of Caesar Mk II is an important step in enhancing Lithuania's defense capabilities and a clear signal of expanding cooperation with France. These modern systems will provide the Lithuanian army with greater mobility and firepower, while closer partnership with the French defense sector will strengthen our ties with an important ally," said Minister Robertas Kaunas in the statement.

According to the agreement reached, Lithuania will receive not only the artillery systems themselves but also a full package of logistical and integration solutions: training, simulators, and spare parts.

A contract for industrial cooperation was also signed, under which KNDS France will invest 12 million euros in the construction and equipping of repair workshops in Lithuania. With the acquisition of the second batch of Caesar Mk II, Lithuania will become the second country with the largest number of such systems after France.

The project is included in the SAFE investment plan. From 2027, 155-mm ammunition produced in Lithuania will be fully compatible with the new armament. Caesar is one of the few wheeled 155-mm self-propelled artillery systems produced by NATO and the European Union that have undergone practical battlefield testing. This system is already in use or planned for procurement by other NATO allies: Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Estonia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Portugal.

As reported by BNS, the government has planned to allocate 4.8 billion euros for defense in the budget project for the next year, which is 5.38 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

From 2027, 155-mm ammunition produced in Lithuania will be fully compatible with the new armament.