| Abstract [eng] |
When the independence of the Republic of Lithuania was restored in 1990, the recovery of all necessary institutions ensuring statehood, including the National Defence System, began. As there were no national military units in the Soviet Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces could not take over Lithuanian servicemen and weapons. Consequently, the Lithuanian military faced serious challenges in developing an organizational system, appointing staff and providing it with equipment, armament and materiel. Purchasing weapons in the black market through intermediaries, payments in cash and transferring them among institutions facilitated the abuse and plundering of weapons. The following non-military institutions also participated in the procurement of weapons for the National Defence System: Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the Security Division of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas. The support of weapons and military equipment received from foreign countries was of particular importance. The article analyzes the needs and acquisition of armament made by the National Defence System in the period from 1990 to 2004, i.e. from the very beginning of its establishment to joining the NATO Alliance and key factors of the process, encountered problems and peculiarities. The study aims to evaluate the amount and type of weapons in the independent Lithuania and opportunities for their disposal in the restoration of the National Defence System; to distinguish the stages of armament acquisition, the factors defining them and significant political events and decisions; to examine the main cases of the armament acquisition and to evaluate quantitative and qualitative indicators. |
