Lithuanian construction company YIT Lietuva has received a contract worth about €30 million to build a Leopard 2A8 tank production and maintenance facility in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone. Awarded by Lithuania Defence Services, the project will support the assembly and servicing of Leopard 2A8 tanks and other heavy military equipment for Lithuania’s armed forces. Construction is scheduled to begin in August and finish by November 2027, with the first locally assembled Leopard 2A8 expected in late 2028. The nearly 10-hectare facility is expected to create up to 100 jobs. Lithuania Defence Services was established by KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme to develop a regional maintenance and logistics hub for NATO military vehicles. Lithuania ordered 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks under a €950 million contract signed in 2024. The acquisition is intended to support new armored battalions and improve interoperability with NATO forces. The 1,500-horsepower Leopard 2A8 can reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour and incorporates advanced sensors, protection systems, and a 120 mm main gun.
