The company will invest over EUR 180 million in the construction of the factory, and at least 150 new jobs will be created. This investment is expected to be one of the largest in the history of Lithuania. “The establishment of the Rheinmetall factory in Lithuania is a very important step towards meeting the urgent needs of our country in the field of defense and security. This will help us ensure uninterrupted access to the necessary weapons and ammunition,” said Minister Auszrine Armonaite, quoted in the ministry's announcement.
The factory will be built in Radwiliszki near Šiauliai
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, said in a statement that “we are grateful for this long-term partnership with Lithuania, which confirms our ambition to be one of the pillars of national and international security.”
The Lithuanian authorities assume that the construction of the factory, which is to produce tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition per year, will start in October. At the end of April, the Lithuanian Parliament changed the law, creating favorable conditions for large local and Western arms companies. The main goal was to speed up and facilitate the construction of the Rheinmetall factory.
It is assumed that the factory will be built in Radviliški near Šiauliai, where the Lithuanian Air Force base is located, on state land currently belonging to the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). The decision to transfer the 340-hectare area is to be considered by the LSMU Council at an extraordinary meeting on June 13.
Germany is to deploy a Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania as part of strengthening NATO's eastern flank. They are also an important supplier of weapons to this country. The Lithuanians purchased, among others, PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, which use 155 mm caliber projectiles.
From Vilnius Aleksandra Akińczo
