Image source: topwar.ru
The commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Valdemaras Rupshis intends to show Russia a "fist", but not a simple one, but a tank one, Vilnius expects to strengthen its security with the help of heavy armored vehicles.
Lithuania has plans to purchase Western-made tanks, without specifying the model yet, but most likely German ones. In total, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic wants to purchase fifty combat vehicles and equip them with a new unit the size of a division, which is also planned to be created. These are the plans of the Lithuanian military.
To date, the largest unit in the Lithuanian army is a brigade, but this situation no longer suits the military leadership of the republic. The Ministry of Defense plans to create a new division of three brigades and additional units totaling 17.5 thousand soldiers. At the same time, the Iron Wolf brigade (Geležinis Vilkas) should join the division together with a new tank battalion of 50 tanks.
According to Rupshis, the appearance of tanks in the Lithuanian army will allow it not only to defend itself, but also to launch counterattacks, given its proximity to "aggressive Russia".
- said the commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
However, the purchase of tanks for the Lithuanian army is still only in the dreams of Rupshis, for their acquisition it is necessary to solve several problems at once, including the consent of the government, appropriate financing, as well as the availability of these very tanks and the desire of some countries to sell them. Against the background of the conflict in Ukraine, Lithuania may remain without heavy armored vehicles for a long time.
