Lithuania is postponing the acquisition of new military transport aircraft, officials announced on Tuesday after a meeting of the State Defense Council (SDC).
"The acquisition of new military transport aircraft is being postponed," said the president's chief advisor on national security, Deividas Matulionis, to journalists at the Presidential Palace.
"This does not mean that the previously made decision is being canceled; it is just that the acquisition is being postponed due to the need to focus on new priorities," he added.
As reported by BNS, last June, Lithuania announced a plan to acquire three new Embraer C-390 transport aircraft. They were supposed to replace the currently used Spartan aircraft.
According to Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas, a decision has been made to modernize the currently used Spartan aircraft to extend their service life until 2036. The cost of this work will be about 150 million euros.
It is estimated that the new aircraft could cost 700–800 million euros.
"SAVING WHERE WE CAN SAVE"
Negotiations for the purchase of new aircraft will begin in 2030.
According to Kaunas, it is currently planned to return to negotiations for the purchase of Embraer aircraft, but it is also possible that new offers will appear on the market in four years.
The president's advisor and the defense minister noted that the purchase of Embraer aircraft could currently take place if additional funding were allocated; however, at present, it is more reasonable to direct funds towards the development of military infrastructure, the creation of an army division, and the development of an integrated air defense system.
The latter was announced last year, already after decisions were made to allocate 5–6% of gross domestic product (GDP) for defense by 2030. Over three years, about 500 million euros is planned for strengthening air defense.
Unplanned funds will also be needed for the creation of a training ground in Kapčiamiestis.
"We do not have new (financial - BNS) injections. This means we are saving where we can save, where the issues are not a priority," said Kaunas.
INVESTIGATION BY SSI DID NOT AFFECT
Earlier, officials stated that the acquisition of Embraer aircraft, which have greater flight range and better technical characteristics, is necessary to fulfill new tasks formulated for Lithuania within NATO.
Matulionis confirmed that NATO's goals for developing defense capabilities include strengthening military transport aviation; however, the currently planned modernization of Spartan and, in the long term, the acquisition of Embraer, align with these goals.
The opposition in the Seimas expressed doubts about why Embraer aircraft were specifically chosen for acquisition last year.
The Special Investigation Service (SIS), after a request from members of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defense Gediminas Jakavicius and Laurynas Kasciunas, initiated a pre-trial investigation to determine whether a corruption crime was committed in the selection of Embraer aircraft.
Leave a comment