Lithuania’s Armed Forces have initiated significant international field training exercises against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, positioning NATO’s eastern flank at the forefront of military readiness. The comprehensive drills will involve approximately 8,000 local and allied troops, more than a thousand tactical vehicles, and considerable aerial and naval assets, including dozens of aircraft and ships.
The main focus of the exercises will be on the planning and execution of both defensive and offensive military operations. Local residents will have the opportunity to observe some of the training activities, highlighting the transparency and engagement of the Lithuanian military with the public.
Support for these maneuvers will come from the German Air Force, which plans to deploy 30 helicopters, including Tigers, CH-53 Sea Stallions, NH90s, and EC135s, at various exercise sites and along border areas. Highlighting the scale and importance of the exercises, Lithuanian Chief of Defence Gen. Raimundas Vaikšnoras emphasized that this initiative represents a significant joint training effort, showcasing the readiness and unity of NATO Allies to defend every inch of its territory.
Over the month of May, several key exercises will unfold, including Iron Wolf 2025, Swift Response 2025, Strong Shield 5, and Thunder Fortress 2025. Each exercise will focus on distinct strategies essential for securing the eastern flank and surrounding regions. Notably, Iron Wolf 2025 will deploy around 3,700 troops and 700 vehicles from the Lithuanian Army’s Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, a crucial mechanized unit based in Rukla.
Beginning mid-May, Swift Response 2025 will simulate an airborne assault executed by the US Air Force’s 173rd Air Assault Brigade, along with airlift drills involving 1,700 US troops stationed in France and Italy. Following this will be Strong Shield 5, coordinated by the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force and incorporating 1,000 soldiers from Lithuania, Latvia, and Portugal. This exercise will evaluate effective interoperability between primary and supporting units operating in the same geographical areas.
Concurrently, Thunder Fortress will focus on distilling lessons from operational orders based on the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ actual plans. The series of exercises will culminate in Thunder Strike, which will assess the collective tactical learnings and maneuvers of allied forces across various locations in Lithuania.
Additionally, several specialized exercises will be conducted, such as Storm Defence in Klaipėda and Neringa, focusing on port operations during crises alongside the Lithuanian Harbor Protection and Coastal Defence Service, as well as Portuguese specialists and other organizations. Running until May 23, the Open Spirit/EODEX exercise in Klaipėda will see 13 ships and explosive ordnance device divers from 14 allied nations engage in minehunting and neutralization operations. The Amber Arrow exercise will see the Lithuanian Air Force’s Air Defence Battalion conduct live-fire training against airborne targets.
All these activities will be rounded off with a final exercise involving the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) air defense systems, showcasing the collaborative capabilities of the Lithuanian and US Armies in modern warfare scenarios.
