On May 6 the multinational exercise Brave Griffin 26/II conducted by Lithuania, Polish and Portuguese forces in the vicinity of the Suwalki Corridor (approx. 7 km away from the Lithuanian-Polish border) came to a conclusion. For a week since April 30 military units of Lithuania and Poland alongside the Portuguese military servicemembers deployed in Lithuania were drilling swift and coordinated response to potential threats in the strategic land area building incompatibility.
The exercise culminated in a DV Day which was attended by President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Poland Karol Nawrocki, Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas, and Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaikšnoras. The distinguished visitors were debriefed on the exercise scenario, tactical equipment and weapons, and the ultimate results while highlighting the importance and effectiveness of integrated defence efforts.
The Suwalki Gap, as well as readiness to act in the region and defend it effectively, is in the focus of attention of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Allies. Military training events take place in the area on an annual basis to rehearse operational planning and execution in order to ensure interoperability with the Allies are a testament to NATO commitment and real capability to defend every inch of the Alliance. The joint Lithuanian-Polish military exercise and contributing U.S. and Portuguese Allies send a clear message: NATO unity stands strong and Allied commitment to collective security remains unchanged,” said Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.
The exercise organised by the Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevicius Infantry Brigade Griffin was centred around readiness to act in the face of threats, quick reorganisation and moving to the area of operation, offensive planning and execution, building stronger procedures and interoperability cohesion.
“Such exercise is a clear signal that Lithuania and Poland are able to act together with NATO Allies, taking decisions and defending strategic territories in real life. The Suwalki Gap defence is not just a theory, we are rehearsing it consistently with the Allies on the ground, in the air and increasing wider multinational format. This is exactly the type of exercise that builds a stronger deterrence, interoperability and readiness to act immediately if needed,” said Chief of Defence General R. Vaikšnoras underscoring the importance of the exercise.
Exercise Brave Griffin 26/II is an element of coherent military readiness schedule of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and our Allies that ensures unit readiness, operation compatibility and ability to act in a collective defence scenario. The exercise covered force movement, manoeuvre, reconnaissance, defensive operations and combat support. The Air Defence Battalion provided airspace control, the Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) coordinated sorties of the French Rafale and Romanian F-16 aircraft, the Polish ensured fire support with the ROSOMAK Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Dauphin and Black Hawk helicopters of the Lithuanian Air Force airlifted forces, engineers executed demolition tasks, Lithuanian and Portuguese military personnel carried out an offensive, casualties were recovered with an M113, the Logistics Battalion transported cargo with drones. A strike UAS operation was the highlight of the exercise.
After the conclusion of the exercise, on MAY 6-7, an intensified movement of military vehicles will be seen from Kalvarijos Municipality to the regular deployment sites.
Photo credits: Sgt Spc Karolis Kavolėlis.
