EPSO-G Invest, KNDS Deutschland, and Rheinmetall Landsysteme have officially signed a shareholders’ agreement establishing the principles of cooperation among the shareholders of Lithuania Defense Services and agreeing on the future acquisition of shares. Lithuania Defense Services has already begun construction of a Leopard 2A8 tank assembly plant and an armored vehicle maintenance center in the Kaunas LEZ.
The agreement was signed during the groundbreaking ceremony for the plant and the armored vehicle maintenance center. The event was attended by Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania; Lukas Savickas, Minister of Energy; Robertas Kaunas, Minister of National Defense; and Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
The agreement stipulates that 25.1 percent of Lithuania Defense Services shares will be held by EPSO-G Invest, while KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme will each hold 37.45 percent. It details the cooperation for which the parties signed a memorandum in December 2025.
“We are consistently contributing to the strengthening of the defense industry in Lithuania. We are already participating in the implementation of the 155 mm artillery ammunition factory project in Baisogala. The partnership for the assembly and maintenance of ‘Leopard 2A8’ tanks is the next concrete step. It will help build the capabilities in Lithuania needed not only to assemble tanks but also to maintain their technical readiness over the long term,” says Tomas Varneckas, CEO of EPSO-G Invest.
A plant covering nearly 13,000 square meters is planned for the Kaunas LEZ. It will become one of the most important parts of Lithuania’s defense industry infrastructure – the most modern Leopard 2A8 tanks and other heavy equipment of the Lithuanian Armed Forces will be assembled and serviced here. Lithuania Defense Services will also carry out long-term maintenance and repairs of the equipment. It is expected that in the future, the company will be able to provide services to the German brigade stationed in Lithuania and maintain a broader fleet of armored vehicles from other countries.
The value of the factory’s design and construction project amounts to approximately 29 million euros. YIT Lietuva will carry out this work under a contract with “Lithuania Defense Services.” Construction is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2027. The plant is expected to create up to 100 jobs, of which about 70 will be for production specialists. The first tank assembled in Lithuania is scheduled to roll off the assembly line at the end of 2028.
EPSO-G Invest is a subsidiary of the new energy group EPSO-G in which the Group holds a 51 percent stake, while the remaining 49 percent is held by the state investment company Valstybės investicinis kapitalas.