Lithuania has signed a contract with the military industry giant Rheinmetall to construct a weapons manufacturing plant in the country, according to the Ministry of Economy of Lithuania.
"Rheinmetall establishing operations in Lithuania is a significant step towards meeting our country’s immediate defense and security needs. It will help us to ensure uninterrupted access to essential weapons and ammunition, as the products that European defense needs will be produced on Lithuanian soil," stated Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė.
According to her, the investment of over 180 million euros will also create at least 150 new jobs at the new plant.
The location of the investment project is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Additionally, the plant will produce tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition per year
Lithuania's agreement with Rheinmetall
In April, the Lithuanian Seimas approved legislative changes to accelerate the implementation of defense projects in the country. This step is aimed at facilitating market entry for companies such as the German conglomerate Rheinmetall.
Rheinmetall has already announced plans to build a plant in Lithuania for the production of 155mm artillery ammunition. The plant is expected to become one of the largest investment projects in Lithuania's history and significantly strengthen the country's defense capabilities.
The construction of the plant is planned to begin shortly. It is expected to start operations by the end of 2025 and produce tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition per year.
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