Lithuania has taken delivery of 500 US-made Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) as part of a foreign military sale with the US in 2019.
Vilnius confirmed the milestone after receiving the final two units in mid-February from American automotive company Oshkosh Defense.
With the full fleet in service, the Baltic state is now the largest JLTV operator outside the US.
Shipment of the vehicles was carried out in two phases, with 200 platforms in the first and 300 in the second.
US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald said the completion “is a historical achievement which reflects the mastery of American engineering and the strength of Lithuania’s, one of the leading defence spender’s NATO-wide, commitment.”
“The JLTV will boost Lithuania’s rapid response capability and improve its interoperability with the Allies,” she added.
NATO-Aligned Modernization
The breakthrough comes as Riga prepares to increase defense spending from 5 to 6 percent of GDP between 2026 and 2030.
Part of that widescale initiative is the development of a full national division aligned with NATO standards, as threats loom on the eastern European flank.
“We have finalized a strategic stage of Lithuanian Armed Forces capability enhancement which significantly supports development of the national division and deterrence,” Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas stated.
“The armored vehicles will support reconnaissance, fire support and command operations. As air defence remains our top priority, part of the purchased vehicles are RBS70 NG short-range air defence system-capable.”
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
The 21-foot (6-meter) JLTV is designed as a successor to the US military’s proven High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, also known as the Humvee.
The new platform’s chassis has a 4×4 drive configuration, a payload capacity of 5,100 pounds (2,313 kilograms), and can carry up to five passengers.
It is equipped with an Allison six-speed automatic transmission as well as a 400-horsepower Gale Banks Engine based on the General Motors Duramax V8 engine.
The JLTV has a range of 300 miles (483 kilometers) and a top speed of 70 miles (113 kilometers) per hour.
For different mission profiles, the system can be fitted with various armor standards and mounted weapons, such as automatic grenade launchers, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles.
