JANUARY 2019. NO 1 (8). NEWS "THE MARINE KNOTS" AWARDS FOR THE STRONGEST BOND WITH SOCIETY FIRST UPGRADED PZH2000 HOWITZERS DELIVERED TO THE ARTILLERY BATTALION MOST ADVANCED MILITARY RADARS IN THE REGION credit: KotrynaPhoto Gurevičiūtė ENTER SERVICE IN LITHUANIA "Iron Wolf 2018" — Combative Faces THE LAST AUTUMN MONTH IN LITHUANIA WAS MARKED BY IMPRESSIVE COLOURS — THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS CARRYING FLAGS OF SIXTEEN WORLD COUNTRIES STEPPED INTO THE BATTLE. NEVER SEEN BEFORE MILITARY CONVOY, CATERPILLAR TRACKS SPECIAL PRESSURING OUR LANDS, AND FIERCE FIGHTERS IN THE WOODS. THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL EXERCISE "IRON WOLF 2018" HELD IN HOW LONG DOES OUR COUNTRY, WHICH REMINDED HOSTILE FORCES OF NATO'S "ETERNAL" PEACE LAST? DETERMINATION AND DEFENCIVE CAPABILITIES. bout 3,500 troops from sixteen BG) from Germany, Belgium, the Czech Re- NATO countries participated in public, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and two-weeks training exercise which Norway. As a hostile forces, two light infantry Atook place in Gaižiūnai and General Silves- companies from United Kingdom (UK) and tras Žukauskas Training Areas, civilian ter- Estonia joined the Grand Duchess Birutė Uh- ritories and their surroundings. Apart from lan Battalion. Troops from such countries as approximately one thousand Lithuanians the United States of America (USA), Poland, who organized the exercise, the most part of France, Slovenia, as well as Italian soldiers of the participants were soldiers of NATO en- NATO eFP BG in Latvia with the intelligence hanced Forward Presence BattleGroup (eFP See page 10 Dear readers of the "Lithuanian Military Digest", Content It is our pleasure to step into the new year alongside our part- NEWS ners, brothers-in-arms. There are no doubts that 2019 will bring new common challenges as well as splendid results which will al- "THE MARINE KNOTS" AWARDS FOR THE low us to reach the top of combat readiness. STRONGEST BOND WITH SOCIETY........................................3 With the first issue of 2019 we mostly want to express the ap- preciation for all the soldiers who participated in various exercise FIRST UPGRADEDPZH2000 HOWITZERS last year for the great contribution into all of our safety. In the DELIVERED TO THE ARTILLERY second part of autumn troops of the Lithuanian Armed Forces BATTALION.............................................................................................4 and NATO enhanced Forward Presence BattleGroup in Lithu- ania, as well as our allies, demonstrated their robust power which MOST ADVANCED MILITARY RADARS causes great gratitude for the achieved goals. In order to ensure IN THE REGION....................................................................................5 that NATO forces are trained, able to operate together, and ready to respond to any threat from any direction a number of military MEETING WITH COMMANDER OF THE U.S. ARMY trainings took place in allied lands. EUROPE....................................................................................................6 Allied countries’ capacities was firstly showcased to hostile forces by the multinational exercise "Maple Arch 2018". Troops there per- ONE MORE TRAINING SITE WAS OPENED..........................6 fected skills and knowledge of military operational planning proce- dures, decision-making, situational response and operational control. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE BUNDESWEHR Another exercise which happened to be just extraordinary was held GENERAL EBERHARD ZORN CONDUCTED A VISIT in Norway on October 25–November 7. "Trident Juncture 2018" IN LITHUANIA......................................................................................7 was the largest of its kind in this country since the 1980s: 65 warships operated in the water areas of the exercise, over 250 military aircraft GENERAL ALEŠ OPATA HAD A VISIT IN RUKLA.................7 in its airspace, over 10,000 military vehicles were deployed, and in total, over 50,000 military personnel trained across all domains. In 10-YEAR PLAN OF NDS DEVELOPMENT parallel, in the period of November 26–December 14 over 5,500 sol- APPROVED.............................................................................................8 diers from 16 NATO Allies and partners rehearsed defensive opera- tions together in international exercise "Combined Resolve XI". In NATO SOLDIERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE addition, it is a must to remember once again Lithuania‘s recent pride ANNUAL RUNNING............................................................................9 which played the role of Iron Wolf. During two intense and yet fas- cinating weeks thousands of soldiers carrying flags of sixteen world countries stepped into the battle on the ground of Lithuania. How- NATO'S PRESENCE ever, those who are wondering how troops succeeded in the brigade "IRON WOLF 2018" — level training conducting tasks according the "force against force" COMBATIVE FACES.....................................................................1,10 principle are welcome to have a look on the article in this issue. All of these and not mentioned exercises improved NATO readiness to SPECIAL respond to any aggressor in the event of a need, therefore makes our Alliance even stronger than before. HOW LONG DOES We wish you a pleasant reading, "ETERNAL" PEACE LAST?.............................................................18 Team of the "Lithuanian Military Digest" Military Press Office of Lithuanian Armed Forces Totorių str. 25, LT-01121, Vilnius; Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 28 75851; fax (370 5) 273 5550; Kotryna Gurevičiūtė Correspondent Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 28 75851; fax (370 5) 273 5550; Email [email protected] 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- culation is 300 copies. Printed by the Cartography Center of Lithuanian Military, Muitinės str.4, Domeikava, LT-54359 Kaunas dist. Order GL-639. Photo credit: Christian Valverde, Standing NATO Maritime Group One Group Maritime NATO Standing credit: Christian Valverde, Photo 2 Lithuanian Military Digest News "The Marine Knots" Awards for the Strongest Bond with Society n December 10 Chief of De- fence of the Republic of Lithu- ania, Lieutenant General Jonas OVytautas Žukas and Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis, presented the national defence system awards "The Marine Knots" to the soldiers and civilians who achieved the most in the field of public relations as well as to the most active units of the system. According to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania, professional and creative public relations specialists who contribute by their activity to the common goals are very valu- able to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, as well as to other modern organizations. Among the others, a stylized 105 mm Budzeikaitė Ieva Sgt. Spc. credits: Photo shell of a howitzer for development of ties with the local community was also presented to the troops of the German- led NATO enhanced Forward Presence BattleGroup deployed in Rukla. Almost since the very first days of deployment in Lithuania, soldiers from the Netherlands who serve in this battle group have estab- lished close ties with the municipality of Švenčionys district and local community. Together with Lithuanian troops they pre- pared and continue to successfully develop various social projects. In addition, the soldiers and civilians who have successfully integrated into the communication of national defence system were also awarded the traditional special prizes — coins of the Minister of National Defence and the Chief of Defence of the Re- public of Lithuanian. Through their enthu- siasm, initiative and creativity, these people have contributed to increasing the visibility of the national defence system in society as well as in social and traditional media. The tradition to present "The Marine Knot" award in the national defence system has been existing already for the second decade since 2000 on the initiative of then Chief of Defence Major Jonas Kronkaitis. The marine knot is chosen as a symbol in order to visualize the work of public rela- tions — the different fields of the armed forces, specialties, combining various activi- ties into a one, harmonious, strong knot — the image of the armed forces in society. January 2019. No 1. 3 News First Upgraded PzH2000 Howitzers Delivered to the Artillery Battalion Photo credit: Corporal Vaiga Zalatoriūtė Vaiga credit: Corporal Photo n December 14 first two upgraded livered to Lithuania as agreed by the contract. fective fire range of the Gen. R. Giedraitis heavy self-propelled artillery sys- "This is the best Christmas present the Ar- Battalion based in Rukla. Before the current tems, PzH2000 (Panzerhaubitze tillery Battalion could get. Such gifts will in- procurement, the most powerful equipment 2000)O howitzers bought from the German crease the Battalion personnel’s motivation to the Battalion is armed with was the 105 mm Armed Forces were delivered to the Lithuanian seek the status of the biggest firepower status howitzers with effective fire range of roughly Armed Forces General Romualdas Giedraitis in the Lithuanian Armed Forces even more. Of 11 kilometres. The new equipment has in- Artillery Battalion. course, the gifts have arrived along with new creased the Battalion’s effective fire range to 40 "A modern military conflict, as we can responsibility. Troops have to reach set goals, kilometres. see from the military actions