Lithuania signed a 386 million Euro deal with Germany for the procurement of the Boxer infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). The procurement of new IFV’s is part of Lithuania’s further attempts to form a modern mechanized infantry brigade that will form the core unit of the Land Forces. Delivery of these IFV’s is expected at the beginning of 2017.
The Boxer IFV
Globally, the BOXER is one of the best-protected 8x8 wheeled vehicles. It offers its crews maximum protection from mines, IEDs and direct fire, and is characterized by high mobility, both on roads and in the roughest terrain. The concept of drive and mission modules provides high flexibility and a diversity of variants covering an spectrum of capabilities.
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| BOXER Infantry Fighting Vehicle |
ARTEC, a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, will deliver the vehicles with medium-calibre weaponry in a remote-controlled turret. Consequently, the BOXER family is now extended by the Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant. Production will be carried out by ARTEC's two parent companies. 53 vehicles will be manufactured by KMW and 35 by Rheinmetall.
Lithuania’s mechanisation
Lithuania plans to buy a total of 88 Boxer IFV. 84 of these vehicles will serve in the Land Forces with the remaining four to be used for training purposes. The 84 Boxer IFV’s will be used to equip a total of two battalions according to statements made in December 2015. This procurement of 88 BOXER IFV's will replace an earlier intention to buy 84 Stryker IFV's from the United States
The procurement is the continuation of Lithuania’s attempts to create a mechanized unit in its land forces. In the past Lithuania already bought several 21 155mm PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers in order to provide a mobile artillery support for its troops these vehicles will be delivered between 2016 and 2019.
Lithuania is looking eastwards and its most likely opponent will be the Russian Armed Forces in the event of a conflict. It is expected that Russia will use mechanized spearheads at the beginning of such a conflict. These mechanized spearheads will be the size of a battalion and will be created by the best units of their parent division. These spearheads will make the initial contact with the rest of the parent division following up to widen the gaps and sustain the advance.
It is impossible for the Lithuanian Armed Forces to create a large enough military to take on all the Russian units but a mechanized unit capable on blocking and defeating these Russian battalion sized spearheads might slow a possible Russian offensive and allow Lithuania’s allies to mobilize and bring in more troops to defeat a Russian incursion.
The geography of Lithuania is well suited for the conduct of mobile operations with mechanized forces. Transforming their army from a slow moving infantry to a mobile army will increase the conventional military capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
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