“The delay with the acquisition of new military transport aircraft does not mean that the previous decision [to buy them] has been cancelled. The delay is due to the need to focus on new priorities,” says Deividas Matulionis, president’s chief adviser on national security.
According to the adviser, the priorities include development of air defence capabilities for EUR 500 million and creation of the national division.
Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas said, “we will resume the acquisition of new aircraft in 2030. We are simply postponing it. Today, all funds are allocated for air defence, the [national] division, the German brigade, the development of new military infrastructure, [and] the Armed Forces’ needs that are the most relevant today.”
He said other acquisitions would not be delayed and the decision on planes does not affect NATO’s defence plans.
According to the minister, by postponing the purchase Lithuania is withdrawing from the Dutch-led joint procurement programme of Embraer C-390 planes but intends to continue negotiations.
The Lithuanian Air Force currently operates three Alenia C-27J Spartan transport planes and plans to have them modernised.
The defence minister says the modernised planes could operate until 2036 and this would cost the state around EUR 150 million, which has been foreseen in the state budget.
In September 2025, the Special Investigation Service (STT) decided to probe circumstances behind the decision to purchase three Brazilian-made Embraer planes. MPs Giedrimas Jeglinskas and Laurynas Kasčiūnas had addressed the anti-corruption agency asking to investigate the matter.
The defence minister and the president’s adviser said Tuesday that the decision to postpone the purchase was not related to the probe conducted by the STT.
Social Democratic leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius earlier said that the final decision on new planes should be made only after the agency provides its findings.