After Lithuania's planned withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention at the end of 2025, the country intends to equip its military with a variety of landmines. A total of €800 million is expected to be allocated over the next ten years — likely €500 million for anti-tank mines and €300 million for anti-personnel mines.
According to LRT, anti-personnel mine procurement is expected to begin six months after the official withdrawal, possibly in the summer of 2026.
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The country aims to purchase tens of thousands of mines, but no manufacturer has been selected yet. Lithuania prefers domestic producers, as this would be a major boost for its defense industry and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
However, as local companies have noted, the technical requirements outlined in the tender appear to favor existing Polish designs. As a result, Lithuanian firms may be forced to redesign their mines to match Polish models just to participate, prompting some to hesitate.
adds that it's unclear exactly what requirements were imposed and how closely they resemble Polish specifications. Poland currently produces only anti-tank mines, and even then with limited variety.
Thus, its likely the issue lies specifically with the anti-tank mine tender. If Lithuania ultimately opts for Polish models, domestic manufacturers may still receive orders for anti-personnel mines — which are likely to be in high demand abroad as well, given that several Eastern European countries have exited the Ottawa Convention.
Like other nations bordering russia, Lithuania now faces a growing need for both anti-tank and especially anti-personnel mines.
With around 3,000 km of borders needing fortification — and lacking stockpiles, experience, or production due to the Convention — companies able to deliver solutions and scale up production quickly will see substantial demand.
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