| Military of Lithuania |
| Military manpower |
| Military age |
18 years of age |
| Availability |
males age 15–49: 925,551 (2000 est.) |
| Fit for military service |
males age 15–49: 727,609 (2000 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually |
males: 27,259 (2000 est.) |
| Active troops |
|
| Military expenditures |
| Amount |
$181 million (FY99) |
| Percent of GDP |
1.5% (FY99) |
The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of 16000 personnel in uniform.
Lithuania's defense system is based on the concept of "total and unconditional defense" mandated by Lithuania's national security strategy. The goal of Lithuania's defense policy is to prepare their society for general defense and to integrate Lithuania into Western security and defense structures. The defense 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 jets are involved in the patrolling and protection of Lithuanian air space. Each contributing nation deploys aircraft for a period of six months to the former Soviet air base Siauliai. As of January 2006 air force teams from United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, the United States and Poland were on duty in Lithuania.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), and National Guard (Skat).
Organisation
Lithuanian Army
The Army has 14786 personnel. The core of the Lithuanian force structure is the 'Iron Wolf' Rapid Reaction Brigade (fully operational in 2005) consisting of two mechanised battalions, one motorised battalion, one artillery battalion, logistics and support battalions. An additional three battalions are located in the western military district. The National Volunteer Defense Forces (home guard) consist of one battalion-sized unit in each of Lithuania's 10 districts.
Starting in the summer of 2005 Lithuania has been part of the International Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF), leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the town of Chaghcharan in the province of Ghor. The PRT includes personnel from Denmark, Iceland and USA.
Equipment:
Lithuanian Navy
The Navy has 644 personnel. The Navy structure consists of naval headquarters, Sea Coastal Surveillance System (SCSS), mine coutermeasures, frigates, patrol ships and small boat squadrons. The current Commander in Chief of the Lithuanian Navy is Rear Admiral (l.h.) Kestutis Macijauskas. The main Naval base and headquarters are located in the city of Klaipeda. The Navy uses patrol boats and former Russian corvettes for coastal surveillance. The vessels are organized into a Combat Ship Squadron and a Patrol Boat Squadron.
Lithuanian Air Force
The Air Force has 940 personnel and operates 27 planes, including L-39ZA and L-39C armed trainers, and 10 helicopters (Mi-8 and Mi-2), used mostly for reconnaissance and border patrol. Two military command centers in Šiauliai (Zokniai airport) and Panevėžys (Pajuostis airport), with a third planned in Kazlų Rūda. Due to NATO advice, it is planned to leave only one base at Šiauliai, and also the airspace protected by other NATO members. Therefore, L-39s might be retired over time. The base at Šiauliai is also where the NATO jets (today - polish MiG-29) devoted to patrolling of Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian air space are based.
References and links
External links
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Lithuania under GFDL
