Lithuania to Build Leopard 2A8 Production and Maintenance FacilityLithuanian construction company YIT Lietuva has secured a contract worth about €30 million to build a Leopard 2A8 production and maintenance facility in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone. Awarded by Lithuania Defence Services, the project will support the assembly and maintenance of Leopard tanks and other heavy military equipment used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces.Construction is scheduled to begin in August and conclude by November 2027. The nearly 10-hectare site is expected to create up to 100 jobs, including production and administrative positions. The first Leopard 2A8 assembled at the facility is planned for late 2028.The facility is being developed by Lithuania Defence Services, a joint venture between KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme established to create a regional maintenance and logistics hub for NATO vehicles.Lithuania ordered 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks from KNDS Deutschland under a €950 million contract signed in 2024. The new facility will support the country’s armored-force expansion while strengthening regional NATO maintenance and logistics capabilities.