New Lithuanian Plant to Support Leopard 2A8 Assembly and SustainmentLithuania is moving to strengthen its armored-vehicle infrastructure with a new Leopard 2A8 production and maintenance plant in Kaunas. YIT Lietuva has received a contract worth approximately €30 million from Lithuania Defence Services to design and construct the facility inside the Kaunas Free Economic Zone.Work is expected to begin in August, with construction scheduled for completion by November 2027. The site will cover nearly 10 hectares and could generate up to 100 jobs. The first Leopard 2A8 assembled locally is expected to leave the production line in late 2028.Lithuania Defence Services, a joint venture between KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme, is developing the facility as part of a wider effort to establish a regional maintenance, repair, and logistics hub for NATO military vehicles.The project follows Lithuania’s €950 million procurement of 44 Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks. Equipped with a 120mm main gun, advanced sensors, and a 1,500-horsepower engine, the Leopard 2A8 will form an important part of Lithuania’s expanding armored forces and NATO interoperability efforts.