“Building on an initial agreement reached in September 2024, Lithuania and Northrop Grumman have signed a memorandum of understanding to increase the co-production of medium-caliber ammunition.”
Under the terms of the agreement, which was signed at the NATO Industry Summit in The Hague, the US contractor Northrop and the Norwegian defense company Nammo will provide Lithuania’s state-owned Giraitės Ginkluotės Gamykla (Giraitė Armaments Plant) with technology and support for 35mm ammunition production.
Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Defense, Loreta Maskaliovienė, stated, “This will allow us to better equip our armed forces and help Lithuania become an important link in international supply chains.”
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė described the collaboration as “essential for the development of the national (military) division by 2030,” emphasizing that it enhances strategic autonomy in defense.
The Baltic nation declared in January that it would aim to invest five to six percent of its GDP in defense from 2026 to 2030 in order to purchase tanks and tracked infantry fighting vehicles.
Additionally, Šakalienė highlighted how the broadened agreement with Northrop improves cooperation with NATO partners like the US and Norway, as well as providing support for the military of Ukraine during its conflict with Russia.
In the meantime, Steve O’Bryan, Northrop’s corporate vice president and head of global business development, said that the partnership “expedites delivery of a critical defense need and delivers sustained industrial benefits to the United States and Lithuania.”
Reinforcing the urgency for dependable and diversified defense production, the agreement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s previous cautioning this week of a resurgence of Russian military activity in Europe.
