YIT Awarded €30 Million Contract for Leopard 2A8 Assembly and Support Facility in Lithuania

Finnish construction group YIT has been selected to design and build a Leopard 2A8 tank assembly and maintenance facility in Lithuania under a contract valued at approximately €30 million. The project will be delivered for UAB Lithuania Defence Services at the Kaunas Free Economic Zone and represents another step in Lithuania's effort to establish domestic support capabilities for its future armored fleet. 

Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2026, with completion planned for November 2027. YIT's Lithuanian subsidiary will carry out both the design and construction work under a Design Build contract, according to the company. 

The new complex will occupy nearly 10 hectares and will include a main production building along with supporting infrastructure. Once operational, the facility will provide assembly and maintenance services for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks while also supporting the long term technical readiness of the Lithuanian Armed Forces' heavy equipment. 

According to project information released by the companies involved, the facility is designed to meet high energy efficiency standards and will incorporate Building Information Modelling technology throughout construction to improve project coordination and management. 

The project forms part of Lithuania's broader defense modernization program following its decision to procure Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks. In addition to supporting vehicle assembly, the facility is intended to establish an in country maintenance capability, reducing reliance on external support throughout the fleet's service life. Previous project plans indicate the site is expected to create around 100 jobs and support future industrial cooperation in Lithuania's growing defense sector.