Military of Lithuania

Infobox National Military
country= Lithuania
name= Lithuanian Armed Forces


caption= Insignia of the Lithuanian Armed Forces
minister=Juozas Olekas
minister title=Minister of National Defence
commander=Lieutenant General Valdas Tutkus
age=18
conscription=19
manpower_age=15–49
manpower_data=2000 est.
available=1,105,900
fit=970,609
reaching=27,259
active= 17,000
reserve= 309,200
amount=$621 million (FY2007)
percent_GDP=1.15% (FY2008)

The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of 17,000 personnel in uniform and are supported by 309,200 reserve force.

Lithuania's defence system is based on the concept of "total and unconditional defence" mandated by Lithuania's national security strategy. The goal of Lithuania's defence policy is to prepare their society for general defence and to integrate Lithuania into Western security and defence structures. The defence ministry is responsible for combat forces, search/rescue, and intelligence operations. There is a mandatory 1-year conscription, with alternative service available for conscientious objectors.

The 5,400 border guards fall under the Interior Ministry's supervision and are responsible for border protection, passport and customs duties, and share responsibility with the navy for smuggling/drug trafficking interdiction. A special security department handles VIP protection and communications security.

Lithuania cooperates with Estonia and Latvia in the joint infantry battalion BALTBAT and naval squadron BALTRON as well as with Poland in the LITPOLBAT, all of which are available for peacekeeping operations.

NATO fighter aircraft are involved in the patrolling and protection of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian air space (see Baltic Air Policing). No threat is perceived, however the NATO treaty requires air defence patrols of partner countries' airspace. Each contributing nation deploys (usually four) aircraft for a period of four months to the air base Siauliai.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defence Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), and Voluntary National Defence Forces (KASP).

Organisation

* Lithuanian Army
* Lithuanian Navy
* Lithuanian Air Force

Flag Officers (OF 10 - 6) and Officers (5 - 1)

Lithuanian Army

The core of the Lithuanian force structure is the Geležinis Vilkas ('Iron Wolf' Mechanised Infantry Brigade - fully operational in 2005) consisting of four Mechanized Infantry battalions, one artillery battalion and logistics and support units. The National Volunteer Defense Forces consist of one battalion-sized unit in each of Lithuania's 10 districts.

Since the summer of 2005 Lithuania has been part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF), leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the town of Chaghcharan in the province of Ghor. Currently, there are 130 soldiers stationed in Ghor. The PRT includes personnel from Denmark, Iceland and USA. There are also special operation forces "Aitvaras" in Afghanistan.

Equipment:
*Handguns:
**Flagicon|Austria Glock-17
**Flagicon|Germany HK USP
*Automatic Assault Rifles:
** Flagicon|Germany G36 (Lithuanian made version G36KA4)
** Flagicon|Sweden AK4 (Swedish version of German G3) (replacing with G-36)
** Flagicon|USA M16
*Submachine guns:
** Flagicon|Germany Heckler & Koch MP5
*MG's:
** Flagicon|Germany MG-3
** Flagicon|Belgium FN MAG
** Flagicon|USA M2 Browning
*Sniper rifles
** Flagicon|Germany FR F-2
** Flagicon|Germany H&K MSG-90A1
** Flagicon|USA BARRETT M82A1
*Armoured personnel carriers:
** Flagicon|USA M113 (many variants - command, medical, logistics, mortair, firefighting, etc)
** Flagicon|USSR BTR-60 (BTR-60PB ir MTP-60 versions)
** Flagicon|USSR BRDM-2
*Vehicles:
** Flagicon|USA HMMWV
** BV-206
** Flagicon|USSR MT-LB
** Flagicon|Japan Toyota Land Cruiser in PRT (Afganistan)
** Flagicon|Germany Mercedes-Benz G-class
** Flagicon|Germany Mercedes-Benz Unimog
** Flagicon|Finland Sisu 8x8 high mobility tactical vehicle
** Flagicon|UK Land rover defender (models - 90, 110, etc)
** Flagicon|Germany MAN
*Artilery and mortars:
*Light mortars 60 mm:
** M19 Mortar
** LM 60
*Heavy mortars 120 mm:
** M41D
** M 1982
** M38/43
** 2B11
** Flagicon|Germany MRS 120-2ZUB „Tampella“
*Artillery:
** Flagicon|UK M119 105 mm Howitzer
** Flagicon|USAM101 105 mm Howitzer (being recpaled with M119)
*AntiTank guns:
** Flagicon|Sweden Carl Gustav recoilless rifle
** Flagicon|USA Javelin anti-tank missile
** Bill ATGW
** Flagicon|Sweden AT-4
** Flagicon|USSR RPG-7
** Flagicon|Germany HK GMG 40 mm
** Flagicon|Sweden PV-1110
*Anti Aircraft:
** Flagicon|USA Stinger anti-aircraft missile (Upgraded to Dual Mount Stinger)
** Flagicon|Sweden RBS-70 anti-aircraft missile
** Flagicon|Sweden M/48 system (Bofors 40 mm L/70)
** Flagicon|USA M1097 Avenger Received in 2007
*Engineering
** PTS-M amphibious, tracked
** PMP ponton bridge system

Lithuanian Navy

The Navy has 700 personnel. The Navy structure consists of naval headquarters, Sea Coastal Surveillance System (SCSS), mine coutermeasures, corvettes, fast patrol boats and small boat squadrons, Underwater warfare team/EOD Diving unit. The current Commander in Chief of the Lithuanian Navy is Rear Admiral (l.h.) Kęstutis Macijauskas. The Naval base and Headquarters are located in the city of Klaipėda. The Navy uses fast patrol boats and former Russian corvettes for coastal surveillance. The ships are organized into a Combat Ship Squadron (F), Patrol Boat Squadron (P) and Mine Countermeasures Squadron (M).

*F11 "Žemaitis" - Flagicon|USSR Grisha-3 class corvette
*F12 "Aukštaitis" - Flagicon|USSR Grisha-3 class corvette
*M51 "Kuršis" - Flagicon|West Germany Lindau class mine hunter
*M52 "Sūduvis" - Flagicon|West Germany Lindau class mine hunter
*P11 - Flagicon|Denmark Flyvefisken class patrol vessel
*P31 "Dzūkas" - Flagicon|Norway Storm class Fast Patrol boats
*P32 "Sėlis" - Flagicon|Norway Storm class Fast Patrol boats
*P33 "Skalvis" - Flagicon|Norway Storm class Fast Patrol boats
*N42 "Jotvingis" Flagicon|Norway - Command and Support Ship

Lithuanian Air Force

The military command center is located in Šiauliai (Zokniai Airport), and known as the 1st aviation base. Lithuanian Air Force has started a modernisation programme to bring their hardware closer to NATO standards and therefore are gradually withdrawing from use a number of former Russian aircraft and helicopters, the replacement of which is now starting. It is also planned that by the 2011/2012 timeframe the Baltic States will be able to provide their own air-cover with a fighter type yet to be selected and acquired.

Other bases used by the Lithuanian Air Force (LAF) are [http://commi.narod.ru/txt/2002/0605.htm in Russian] :
*Klaipėda (providing basing for sea search and rescue detachment)
*Kaunas (LTAF Headquarters and the Air Space Surveillance and Control Command)
*Karmėlava (Air Space Control Centre)
*Šiauliai (LATF Air Base and Air Force Armament and Equipment Repair Depot)

The initial formation of the LAF was the 2nd transport squadron with the transfer of 20 An-2 aircraft from civilian to military use, with initial basing at the Barushai air base on the 27 April 1992. These were joined by four L-39C Albatros aircraft purchased from Kazakhstan as part of the intended 16 to be used by the 1st fighter (training) squadron.

The aircraft stationed at Zokniai belong to the 11th and 12th aviation squadrons, while that at the Payustis is known as the 22nd squadron.

New Lithuanian aircraft arrived on 22 December 2006 when the first of three state of the art Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan tactical transport was delivered at Siauliai airbase ensuring interoperability with its NATO partners. Two out of the three Antonov An-26 transport aircraft will be kept in service during the transition period. Air space will be patrolled by jet fighters from other NATO members, which are based out of the Šiauliai air base .

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions [ [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/lith/lithaf2.htm Lithuanian Air Force ] ] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
-----
Aero L-39 Albatros
CZS
jet trainer/light-attack aircraft
L-39C/L-39ZA
4/2
-----
Alenia C-27 Spartan
ITA
tactical transport
C-27J
3
-----
Antonov An-26 Curl
USSR
transport
An-26B
3
-----
Let L-410 Turbolet
CZS
transport
L-410UVP
2
-----
Antonov An-2 Colt
POL
transport
An-2
4
-----
Mil Mi-8 Hip
USSR
Transport helicopter
Mi-8MTV/Mi-8T/Mi-8PS
5/3/1

The Lithuanian Air Force also operates RBS 70 anti-aircraft defence cannon systems.

The helicopters of the LAF serve as part of the 23rd squadron, but are dispersed among several facilities. The Mi-2 aircraft have been transferred to the Lithuanian police forces. [http://commi.narod.ru/txt/2002/0605.htm in Russian]

The Krašto apsaugos savanorių pajėgos (KASP, en|National Defence Volunteer Forces or "NDVF") is operating from two main bases; Šilutė in the southwest and Kyviškės in the northeastern part of the country. KASP use JAK-52's, AN-2's, Wilga's and other aircraft.

A very interesting part of the Lithuanian Air Arms is the Aviation Squadron of the Lithuanian Border Guard. It has received new aircraft to patrol the EU external border (with Kaliningrad and Belarus).

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions [ [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/lith/lithaf2.htm Lithuanian Air Force ] ] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
-----
Eurocopter EC120 Colibri
EUR
single-engine helicopter
EC 120B
5
-----
Eurocopter EC 135
EUR
light-twin engine helicopters
EC 135 T1
2
-----
Eurocopter EC 145
EUR
light-twin engine helicopters
EC 145
2
-----

"See also " List of airports in Lithuania".

References

External links and Further Reading

* [http://www.kam.lt/index.php/en/ Lithuanian Ministry of Defence site]
*Stefan Marx, 'Lithuania's Defence Structure,' Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1993, p.407-409