Lithuania’s State Defence Council has approved the acquisition of 100 CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles, marking a decisive shift toward heavier tracked combat formations and deeper NATO interoperability. The procurement will be carried out under a six-nation joint framework alongside Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands, with first deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028, according to Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence.
Officials emphasized that the decision extends beyond the platform itself, highlighting a strong focus on industrial participation and sustainment autonomy. Lithuania is seeking to include local production of selected technical components and the establishment of a domestic CV90 MkIV maintenance and lifecycle support capability. These provisions are expected to be embedded in follow-on agreements as the program advances toward a main production contract anticipated in early 2026.
The State Defence Council’s approval confirms Lithuania’s commitment to the fifth-generation CV90 MkIV, which is expected to become the backbone of the country’s future mechanized brigades. Defense officials involved in the process stressed the importance of building long-term national resilience through localized sustainment infrastructure, reducing reliance on external support during high-intensity operations.
Lithuania’s participation forms part of the broader Nordic-Baltic CV90 MkIV program, which was politically launched in June through a Statement of Intent and formalized with a binding technical agreement signed in Helsinki in late November. The agreement defined common technical standards, industrial cooperation principles, and an acquisition roadmap, reinforcing NATO’s efforts to standardize armored capabilities across northern Europe.
