The Ministry of the National Defense Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos krašto apsaugos ministerija) reported that the last shipment of Spike LR anti-tank missiles for the Lithuanian Armed Forces Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) was delivered to Lithuania in the end of June. The Spike LR anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) acquisition contract was completed and implemented by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) through cooperation with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) that executed the project.
The Vilkas is the designation for the ARTEC Boxer 8×8 multirole armoured fighting vehicle in Lithuania. In order to keep the link with the history of Lithuania and traditions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, it was agreed by the IFV manufacturer and Lithuania that the IFVs produced according to Lithuania’s requirements would be called “Vilkas” instead of “Boxer”. The Infantry Fighting Vehicles are manufactured according to the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ requirements by the German consortium ARTEC.
The infantry fighting vehicle is a unique version for the Lithuanian Army and is equipped with a RCWS (Remote Controlled Weapon Station) Samson MK II and a Spike LR Anti-tank missile station. The armament is completed with a 7.62mm machine gun and MK44S 30mm chain gun. Lithuania is a member of the NSPA Boxer maintenance and supply programme: its ensures a proper logistical provision for the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ Vilkas IFVs – access to collective stocks of IFV spares and central warehouses, main equipment maintenance capabilities, technical and engineer support.
The SPIKE LR2 is a 5th generation precision guided missile system with multiplatform, multipurpose capabilities including F&F / Fire, observe and update capabilities. Eurospike GmbH is responsible for the marketing of the missiles of the SPIKE family in Europe. The production of the missiles (SR, LR2) is carried out at several sites in Germany. Commonalities between the missiles of the SPIKE family ensure a cost advantage in the production and consequently in the purchase, maintenance and training in the use of specific missiles.
