Rheinmetall and KMW Establish Joint Venture for NATO Vehicle Servicing in Baltic States
Defense manufacturers Rheinmetall and KMW have formed a joint venture in Lithuania to provide logistical support for NATO vehicles operating in the Baltic region.
Rheinmetall AG and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) have established a joint venture in Lithuania, named Lithuania Defense Services, to offer comprehensive logistical support for combat vehicles. This includes vehicles belonging to the Lithuanian armed forces and those of other NATO nations stationed in the Baltic States.
The joint venture, equally owned by both German manufacturers, aims to leverage synergies and enhance interoperability among NATO member states' armed forces and defense sectors. The new maintenance and logistics center is strategically located in Jonava, near Rukla, Lithuania’s largest military base and home to the NATO Battlegroup Lithuania. The facility spans approximately 12,000 square meters and benefits from a direct rail link.
A primary task for the company will be the servicing of Lithuania’s "Vilkas" armored vehicles, a variant of the Boxer multirole armored vehicle. The center will also maintain other combat vehicles operated by Baltic states and NATO forces deployed in the region during rotations, such as various Boxer systems, Puma infantry fighting vehicles, Bergepanzer 3 Büffel armored recovery vehicles, Leopard 2 main battle tanks, and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. As the original equipment manufacturers, Rheinmetall and KMW possess extensive expertise in these platforms.
The presence of the joint venture in the region is expected to reduce reaction times and improve supply chains for NATO units, thereby ensuring higher operational readiness. This initiative strengthens regional defense capabilities and cooperation within the NATO alliance.