The Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF) form the backbone of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces. Lithuanian Land Forces consist of three brigades, the Engineer Battalion, and the National Defence Volunteers Division.
The main element of the Land Forces is a single mechanised infantry brigade, the
Lithuanian grand dukes
as the tradition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces goes.
In addition to the formed infantry brigade, the Land Forces maintain a second brigade composed of three
motorised infantry
battalions and one artillery battalion; one of these is tasked to support operations both domestically and overseas; one is tasked primarily with the defence of territorial Lithuania. There is a third brigade, which is a mobilization brigade but in peace time is a training unit.
Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion is responsible for
Soviet military
bases.
As an integral part of the Land Forces, the National Defence Volunteers have been developing since the beginning of the national movement for
military operations
and have been assigned new missions: to augment the regular forces, to deploy individual units and specific capabilities for international operations, to assist host nation support and to support the civilian authorities.
Organization 2023
Lithuanian Land Forces organization 2023 (click to enlarge)
With the reintroduction of conscription in 2015 the Lithuanian Land Force began an expansion of its main combat formations. As of May 2023 the land forces consist of the following units:
The Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade is a reserve brigade, which was activated on 23 March 2017. In peacetime the brigade's headquarter staff works at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command. The brigade's three maneuver battalions are made up of reservists, while the three battalion's headquarters personnel works in peacetime at the Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Armed Forces School, Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, and General Adolfas Ramanauskas Combat Training Center. The brigade's reconnaissance company is composed of conscripts, while the brigade's headquarters, signal and logistic units are composed of professional soldiers. When activated the brigade consists of around 4,500 troops.
In reforming the Armed Forces, most of the available attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. Lithuania has been modernizing its armed forces since 1990s and by now nearly all equipment is compatible with the
grenade launchers, and low-velocity AG-36 under-the-barrel grenade launchers, in addition to light and heavy mortars. The army also uses high-technology Lithuanian-made tactical automated commanding and controlling informational systems (TAVVIS
Lithuanian Land Forces are formed from professional military servicemen and volunteers. In 2008 the minister of national defence of
military reserves
.
The military conscription has been renewed in 2015 with a first draft of approx. 3000 draftees including volunteers, who will be assigned to military units starting from August 2015 and will complete a 9-month basic training. The updated law specifies that a draft of 3000 soldiers annually will continue at least until 2020, citing as the reason for renewed conscription the increased geopolitical risks in the region.[7]
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Lithuanian Land Forces Headquarters, in Vilnius
Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade
Žemaitija Infantry Brigade
Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade
National Defence Volunteer Forces
Colonel Juozas Vitkaus Engineer Battalion, in Kaunas
Juozas Lukša Training Center
King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, in Panevėžys (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, in Alytus (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion, in Rukla (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion, in Rokantiškės (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, in Rukla (Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers)
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Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, in Klaipėda (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Grand Duke Kęstutis Infantry Battalion, in Tauragė (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Prince Margiris Infantry Battalion, in Radviliškis (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
Brigadier General Motiejus Pečiulionis Artillery Battalion, in Pajūris (M101 towed howitzers, will be replaced by self-propelled Caesar NG howitzers)
Aukštaitija Infantry Brigade, in Vilnius:[5]
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Land Forces
Air Force
Naval Force
Special Operations Force.png){kind=small}
