VILNIUS – Lithuania has signed a memorandum of understanding with Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) for the development of an ammunition plant in the Baltic country that could also benefit Ukraine, the government and U.S. arms maker said in a joint statement on Monday.
The collaboration would boost Lithuania’s domestic defense industry and minimize the reliance on long supply chains, the government said, without giving any details of locations, time scales, or financing.
“We hope that the cooperation with our American allies will strengthen the country’s security and preparedness, while also benefiting the wider region, including Ukraine,” Lithuanian Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said in a statement.
Steve O’Bryan, corporate vice president and global business development officer of Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) said the collaboration was in keeping with the company’s commitment to “supporting U.S. and allied countries through industry partnerships across the globe”.
The project, to be developed with state-owned ammunition manufacturer Giraite Armaments Plant, is expected to produce middle-caliber ammunition, according to the statement.
(Source: Reuters)
Mary Lee is a freelance writer and journalist based in Toronto, Canada. She holds an M.S. degree in business and economic journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York and a certificate in digital marketing from the University of Toronto.