Lithuania makes history with first armored vehicle Taurus 4-1.

Lithuania has unveiled its first domestically built armored vehicle, the Taurus 4-1, a 4x4 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle produced by Aurida Engineering.

As reported by LRT on September 21, 2025, Lithuania has completed the production of its first domestically manufactured armored vehicle, the Taurus 4-1, at Aurida Engineering Company’s facility in Panevėžys. The prototype was built within five months and presented publicly in September 2025 after its international debut at the MSPO defense exhibition in Poland. The factory is organized to sustain an annual capacity of up to 120 vehicles and to provide maintenance, spare parts, and technical servicing locally.
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The Taurus family includes the Taurus 4-1, a modular armored transporter; the Taurus 4-2, an infantry support vehicle; the Taurus 4-3, a tactical support vehicle; the Taurus 6, a heavy logistics carrier; and the Taurus 8, a universal combat platform. (Picture source: Aurida Engineering)

The reported price of the prototype exceeds €500,000, which aligns with the cost bracket of similar vehicles in its category. The program was initiated with the stated intention of strengthening Lithuania’s defense capabilities in current conditions while also positioning the vehicle for exports to European and NATO partner states. Company management has stressed that supply chain reliability is secured by maintaining production and servicing in Panevėžys, ensuring faster responsiveness to operational demands.

Aurida states that up to 80 percent of machining, armored steel hull production, and final assembly take place in Lithuania, securing high levels of local content and industrial contribution. The suspension system is specified as independent with hydropneumatic shock absorbers, and power transmission pairings include Cummins engines and Allison gearboxes, chosen to maintain performance in difficult operating conditions. Program documentation notes that warranty coverage, parts supply, and local service support will be provided entirely within the country, aiming to minimize maintenance delays. The company asserts that with its industrial infrastructure, it can rapidly adapt to individual technical requirements. In addition, the design’s modularity is cited as a way to simplify integration of specialized mission equipment and weapon systems, including remote weapon stations, automatic cannons, anti-tank guided missile units, short-range air defense modules, and counter-drone systems.

The Taurus 4-1 is a 4×4 mine-resistant ambush-protected armored vehicle built on a modular platform architecture that can be adapted for varied mission profiles. The prototype is powered by a 6.7-liter diesel engine rated at 285–360 hp, although other reporting references a 6.7-liter Cummins engine delivering up to 480 hp, paired with a ZF gearbox and military-adapted axles from Axle (Excels) and Meritor, suggesting flexibility in configurations. The vehicle has a gross weight of 13,500 kg, a payload capacity of 2,500 kg, and can carry a crew of 2+1+7, providing seating for seven dismounts. Protection standards comply with STANAG 4569 Level 3, which includes resistance against 7.62×51 mm armor-piercing ammunition, the blast effects of 8 kg TNT detonated under the hull or wheel, and the side-blast impact of 50 kg TNT. The manufacturer indicates that the design enables modular roles, including medical evacuation, command-post functions, and infantry or anti-armor support.

These include the 4-2, described as a 4×4 infantry support variant with an 8.9-liter 450 hp engine, a payload of 2,000 kg, and STANAG 4569 Level 4A/4B protection against a 10 kg TNT blast; and the 4-3, a lighter tactical support vehicle with Level 3 protection, listed in some data as a 2+8 configuration with an 8.9-liter engine and in other materials as a 2+6 layout with a 6.7-liter 340 hp engine. Heavier members of the family, the Taurus 6 and Taurus 8, are described with gross weights of 17,300 kg and 22,000 kg, respectively, payloads of 6,000 kg, and compliance with Level 4A/4B protection standards, including resistance to 10 kg TNT under the chassis and 50 kg TNT side blasts.

The name Taurus is derived from the Lithuanian word for aurochs, symbolizing the strength of the animal, and has been adopted in English in a similar form. Following its MSPO presentation, the vehicle was shown to members of the Panevėžys Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts. Company officials and local industry representatives have pointed out that the vehicle’s composition from numerous components creates opportunities for Lithuanian firms to participate in the supply chain by manufacturing parts, which could strengthen the defense sector, create employment, and form a broader industrial network around Aurida Engineering. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda has expressed interest in the project, though orders remain absent at this stage. The Panevėžys Chamber of Commerce described foreign negotiations as underway but domestic interest as cautious, with Lithuanian institutions preferring to observe, test, and deliberate before committing.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.