On June 3 through 20 the Lithuanian Navy was taking part in one of the key multinational maritime exercises, Baltic Operations 25 (BALTOPS). Organized for the 54th time, the annual NATO maritime drills is centered on strengthening Allied operational partnership, rehearsing execution of different military tasks in peacetime, crisis or conflict, and supporting the principles of collective defence in the region.
This year the exercise was uniquely focussed on advance technology extensively utilizing integrated unmanned surface and subsurface platforms across the operational spectrum, from reconnaissance to mine neutralization. BALTOPS 25 was scheduled by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, conducted by the U.S. 6th Fleet leadership and directed by the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) leadership. The general coordination of the exercise was in the responsibility of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM).
BALTOPS 25 involved over 50 warships, more than 25 aircraft and approx. 9000 troops from across NATO – Denmark, Estonia, Italy, U.S., Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, France, Finland, Sweden, Türkiye and Germany. The Allies rehearsed response to realistic emergency scenarios while acting in multinational formations and thus advancing collective readiness for collective defence. During the first phase of the exercise, the Navies were enhancing their combat capabilities and integration elements of MCM forces. Units of the Lithuanian Navy joined the Allies in executing ship maneuvers, preparation for mine hunting and sweeping, search and rescue, damage control, replenishment, and other components of the integration exercise, as well as a complex firing event at the Denmark’s Multifunctional Maritime Range training fire precision with stationary, moving and remote control targets. The LNS Kuršis (M54) MCM ship successfully executed a mine neutralization task, one of the main tasks of an MCM capability, with assistance of the EOD diving team of the Harbor Protection and Coastal Defence Service.
Lithuania contributes three Navy ships to BaltOps 25 this year: LNS Jotvingis (N42) supply and flagship, LNS Kuršis (M54) mine countermeasures ship, and LNS Dzūkas (P12) patrol ship. The Baltic Naval Squadron, BALTRON, also played a significant part in BaltOps 25. The international Lithuanian-Latvian unit, with attached other countries’ naval assets, conducts coordination of MCM operations in the Baltic Sea. Besides the operational role, the BALTRON HQ also serves as a training platform. This year it hosted the final stage of the NICSC course during BaltOps 25 where the students were certified in a realistic command-post exercise.
Photo credits: BaltOps 25 participants
