Lithuanian construction company YIT Lietuva has secured a contract worth approximately €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 the Lithuanian 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 ordered 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks from KNDS Deutschland under a €950 million agreement signed in 2024. The procurement supports the creation of new armored units and stronger interoperability with NATO forces. The Leopard 2A8 is equipped with a 120mm main gun, advanced sensors, thermal imaging, and protection systems, and is powered by a 1,500-horsepower engine. The new facility will strengthen Lithuania’s domestic armored vehicle support infrastructure.
