The decision to postpone the aircraft purchase was made "due to the need to focus on new priorities."
Lithuania is postponing the acquisition of new military transport aircraft, officials said 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.
According to the advisor, the decision to postpone the aircraft purchase was made "due to the need to focus on new priorities."
As reported by the media, 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 Italian C-27J Spartan aircraft to extend their service life until 2036. The cost of this work will be about €150 million.
It is estimated that the new aircraft could cost €700–800 million.
"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.
"All options are possible, (...) but the goal is not to lose the groundwork that has already been done at this point," said the minister.
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