APRIL 2021. NO 4 (35) NEWS MEETING WITH COMMANDER OF THE NATO SHAPE GERMANY SHELVES NEW ANTI-MISSILE WEAPON AND TURNS TO DRONE DEFENSE Over M72 LAW light NATO'S PRESENCE LT COL HEBISCH: "I THINK WE anti-tank weapons ARE DOING OUR JOB RIGHT" APRIL 14 WAS A HISTORICAL DAY IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DONATED TO LITHUANIA M72 LAW LIGHT ANTI-TANK WEAPONS WHICH WILL BE USED TO ARM THE NATIONAL DEFENCE VOLUNTEER FORCE OF THE LITHUANIAN ARMED FORCES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE UNITED STATES BOOSTS OUR DEFENCE BY INVESTING SEVERAL TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR WEAPONRY. he donation was handed over to the defence policy priority," stated Minister of National Defence System at a cere- National Defence A. Anušauskas at the cere- mony held at the Lithuanian Grand mony. TDuke Gediminas Headquarters Battalion in "The Lithuanian Armed Forces will be as Vilnius. The event was attended by Minister strong as each of Lithuanian soldiers is. Not of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas, just physically or of a strong morale — it is SPECIAL U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania HE Robert also important to be provided with proper S. Gilchrist, Chief of Defence of Lithuania weaponry. The U.S. donation of the light LONG AND INTENSIVE: Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys, rep- anti-tank weapons has made our territorial ITALIAN MISSION IN THE resentatives of the Ministry of National De- defence units significantly stronger, their fence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces. combat capability and warfighting power BALTIC SKIES "I am highly pleased to be here today has been boosted and a surefire, resolute at the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas and effective territorial defence has been Headquarters Battalion side by side with U.S. enabled. The U.S. assistance strengthens the Ambassador, Chief of Defence of Lithuania ranks of our Volunteer Force, Land Force, and Lithuanian soldiers. I thank the United and the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and thus States, Lithuania’s strategic partner, for the as- guarantees an even more effective defence sistance in developing capabilities of the Lith- and deterrence against aggression," Chief of uanian Armed Forces. The U.S. investments Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen V. Rupšys said to strengthen our capabilities show that the at the hand-over ceremony. United States sees Lithuania as an important See page 2 Content Over M72 LAW light NEWS OVER M72 LAW LIGHT ANTI-TANK anti-tank weapons WEAPONS..................................................................1,2 MEETING WITH COMMANDER OF THE NATO SHAPE................................................................3 MEETING WITH MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF GEORGIA................................................................4 RUSSIAN MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE ARCTIC...........................................................................5 GERMANY SHELVES NEW ANTI-MISSILE WEAPON AND TURNS TO DRONE DEFENSE........................................................................6 PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM DISINFORMATION..................................................7 From page 1 IN SHORT The M72 LAWs will supplement the current arsenal of Swedish Carl- Gustav and single-shot AT-4 anti-tank weapons used by the Lithuanian BRG. GEN. ANTANAS GUSTAITIS — Armed Forces infantry. The M72 LAW light anti-tank weapons are of A DESIGNER OF THE LITHUANIAN a smaller calibre the present Lithuanian Armed Forces stock and their MILITARY AIRPLANES ANBO.............................8 effective firing range is shorter, however, the M72 LAW is significantly EXERCISE "CRYSTAL ARROW 2021" IN lighter and more compact and these characteristics are particularly rele- vant to the National Defence Volunteer Force battlefield tactics. LATVIA: THE BEST MOMENTS.......................10 "The new weaponry donated by our American allies will greatly enhance the firepower of the volunteer force — light infantry squads. Penetration power of the presented anti-armour weapons is signifi- NATO'S PRESENCE cant enough to effectively destroy armoured or not armoured vehicles, LT COL HEBISCH: "I THINK WE ARE bunkers and other field engineering fortifications within the range of DOING OUR JOB RIGHT"..................................12 200–300 meters. The weapon is convenient because it is lightweight and simple to prepare for use, one soldier can carry more than one M72 LAW. We will equip infantry and reconnaissance squads with the new SPECIAL weapons," said Commander of the National Defence Volunteer Force LONG AND INTENSIVE: ITALIAN MISSION Col Dainius Pašvenskas. According to the National Defence Volunteer Force Commander, his IN THE BALTIC SKIES...........................................18 force trains military personnel for armed defence of the land territory of the Republic of Lithuania, therefore it is very important for its military personnel to get efficient weaponry and versatile training. The United States is providing assistance to the force not only in the form of M72 LAW anti-armour weaponry but also theoretical knowledge and practi- Military Press Office of Lithuanian Armed Forces cal skills — which stands out as an excellent example of mutual coopera- Totorių str. 25, LT-01121, Vilnius; tion and strength building. Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 86 94458; fax (370 5) 273 5550; The M72 LAWs have been combat-tested by U.S. and allied forces Email [email protected] in the operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in other conflicts. Roughly Publisher — Lithuanian Armed Forces. The opinion of editorial office does not necessarily coin- cide with the opinion of the authors. Pictures, manuscripts are not returned and reviewed. Cir- 40 countries worldwide, including the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, culation is 300 copies. Printed by the Cartography Center of Lithuanian Military, Muitinės str.4, Belgium, Israel, Denmark, Finland, etc., equip their militaries with the Domeikava, LT-54359 Kaunas dist. Order GL-170. M72 LAW. MoD information Photo credits: A. Pliadis/MoD 2 Lithuanian Military Digest News Meeting with Commander of the NATO SHAPE n March 31 Chief of Defence Lieu- tenant General Valdemaras Rupšys had a meeting with Commander of Othe NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Po- wers Europe United States Air Force General Tod Wolters in Vilnius. Generals discussed NATO measures of deterrence, regional secu- rity, as well as activities and defence tasks of the NATO military units in Lithuania. "NATO enhanced Forward Presence in the eastern flank of the Alliance is very effective. We are sustaining four battalion-sized battle- groups in the Baltic Sea region. Manned from across the Alliance, the allied forces are com- pleting tasks along with host forces and de- monstrate real Alliance solidarity and collec- tive defence commitment," said Commander of the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe United States Air Force Ge- neral Tod Wolters. Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Valde- maras Rupšys thanked Gen T. Wolters for re- armed forces that are manned, have a high mo- lities contributes by allies and advises NATO’s specting the commitments of NATO and the rale and maintain high readiness — and able to military and political leadership on a range of allies, for the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mis- defend from an aggressor, alone or with allies. military topics. sion, NATO Force Integration Unit, NATO NATO has been securing Lithuania the chance SHAPE, NATO’s main headquarters coor- enhanced Forward Presence, and for excellent to develop as a state for 17 years now by sharing dinates Alliance missions worldwide, it is based cohesion with the Lithuanian Armed Forces. defence tasks in the spirit of solidarity and by in Mons, Belgium, while the Allied Joint Force NATO forces in Lithuania ensure a reliable helping fill capability gaps," Lt Gen Valdemaras Command (JFC) Brunssum, the Netherlands, deterrence and allow the Lithuanian Armed Rupšys said. is responsible for Central Europe. Forces to learn and improve. SHAPE is in charge for NATO force gene- Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence "The Lithuanian NATO membership is pri- ration, operational planning and execution. It Maj Tomas Balkus marily a commitment of our country to have also provides command and control to capabi- Photo credits: Sgt Spc 1st Class Ieva Budzeikaitė World’s largest cyber defence exercise n April 13-16 the largest and most simulated for the exercise and critical infra- complex international cyber de- structure. fence live-fire exercise in the world, Exercise organisers will test the cyber inci- OLocked Shields 2021, is held by the NATO Co- dent management protocols (covering strate- operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence gic and operational level decision-making, and (CCDCOE) in Tallinn (Estonia). A joint team defence of civilian and military infrastructure formed by the Lithuanian Ministry of National and capabilities) used by the Blue Teams with Defence, National Cyber Security Centre, a range of technical and strategic simulations. Lithuanian Armed Forces, Lithuanian Crimi- The exercise is based on a scenario accor- nal Police Bureau, representatives of energy ding to which a fictional island country Berylia and private sectors is training in the exercise on undergoes a deteriorating security situation Lithuania’s behalf. and coordinated cyber attacks against its main This year the exercise highlights coordina- military and civilian IT systems. tion across cyber defence and strategic deci- This year the exercise iteration is held re- sion-makers and their understanding of inter- motely: not only