Lithuania has taken another step towards acquiring CV90 combat vehicles from BAE Systems Hägglunds. During the EU defense ministers' meeting in Brussels on November 19, Lithuania's Minister of Defense Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Sweden's Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) signed a letter of intent for deepened defense cooperation, including opportunities for joint procurement of the CV90, together with "Sweden and potentially additional partners."

Lithuania's Ministry of Defense has previously announced that the country plans to equip two battalions with the CV90, and the country will now begin the procurement process and collaborate with the local defense industry, as FSN previously reported.

– The letter of intent with Sweden strengthens Lithuania's defense capability and demonstrates our joint solidarity in facing security challenges. We plan to purchase combat vehicles from Sweden and are discussing opportunities to include Swedish air defense systems in the rotational NATO air defense model, said Laurynas Kasčiūnas in a statement from Lithuania's Ministry of Defense.

In addition to the negotiations on the CV90, the recently signed letter of intent opens the door for broader cooperation between the countries. Lithuania and Sweden are discussing, among other things, the possibilities for Swedish air defense systems to be stationed in Lithuania, as well as joint initiatives to strengthen port and coastal defense in the Baltic Sea region. Sweden and Lithuania emphasize the importance of promoting regional solidarity and cooperation within NATO and the EU to meet common security challenges in the Baltic Sea area.

– The Lithuanian interest in the CV90 is positive and comes with opportunities for joint procurement with Sweden and potentially additional partners. Such joint procurement provides economies of scale for the involved countries and strengthens the production capacity of the industry. This is positive for supply security in the combat vehicle sector for all users of the system, said Pål Jonson in a press release from the Ministry of Defense.

In an interview with Breaking Defense on October 16, Swedish Army Chief Jonny Lindfors stated that Sweden, together with Finland, Norway, and Denmark, is exploring the possibilities for joint procurement of future combat vehicles.

– We aim for joint development, joint purchases, and joint usage. This allows us to simplify supply chains and ensure that we can maintain the vehicles. We will operate in the same region, so we see the benefits of a common strategy, said Lindfors.