Offset versus off-the-shelf in arms procurement: the Boxer infantry fighting vehicle in Lithuania as a case study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to discuss offset versus off-the-shelf options for arms procurement in Lithuania between 2014 and 2022, including the acquisition of the Boxer infantry fighting vehicle. Content, quantitative, and qualitative comparative analyses are used to interpret accessible data. Lithuania, as an off-the-shelf buyer, achieved a median price for the Boxer in a short-term perspective, while countries/manufacturers or technology-acceptors gained economic advantages and beneficial prices. Upcoming arms procurements in Lithuania could anticipate and even shape the position of the government toward offset implementation in arms acquisition.

KEYWORDS:

• Indigenous defense industry
• armament acquisition
• Lithuanian armed forces
• defense spending
• code of conduct on offsets

Acknowledgments

I would like to extend my warm thanks to Dr Alisa Palavenienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania) and Lieutenant Colonel Alan Sweeney (UK) for their advice, proofing remarks, and overall encouragement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Currency rates were used to reflect prices in one currency and used as follows: €1 = $1.12 = £0.90.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Donatas Palavenis

Major Donatas Palavenis is a Lithuanian army officer currently serving at the TRADOC Institute of Military Studies and at the same time PhD candidate at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania in the Research Project Support Section. His research interests include the defense industry, defense policy, political economy, and defense economics.