On June 5 the United States Marine Corps and the Rocket Artillery Battery, Lithuanian Land Force, conducted a live-fire training with the HIMARS and targets positioned in the Baltic Sea. Joint training is essential for integration of the HIMARS in the Lithuanian Armed Forces up ahead.
“The HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System will improve the effective range in the disposition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the impact behind the potential enemy lines. The training with the U.S. partners improves our HIMARS operation efficiency and proper personnel readiness ahead of the HIMARS delivery. The exercise also stands as a clear example of U.S.-Lithuania partnership and a demonstration of our strategic unity and high readiness for homeland defence,” Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaikšnoras said about the exercise.
The live-fire training event conducted at the Brigadier General Povilas Plechavičius Training Area on June 5–6 is one of the elements of the multinational Operation BALTOPS 2025. The Lithuanian Navy ships N42 Jotvingis (command and supply), M54 Kuršis (MCM) and P12 Dzūkas (patrol) are also training in Baltic Operations 2025 running on June 3 through 20. According to the exercise scenario, the HIMARS is deployed in Lithuania to provide indirect fire support to assets deployed as part of BALTOPS 25.
The HIMARS missiles fired during the training crossed over the Curonian Lagoon and the Curonian Spit and hit the Baltic Sea surface approx. 15 km away from the firing position. Danger Area was introduced and controlled on site by the LNS Sėlis (P-15) and a Harbour Protection and Coastal Defence Service speed boat in the Baltic Sea and by the Military Police on land. Land traffic, navigation, airspace in the Curonian Spit and access to the Kairiai Training area were restricted for the duration of the training.
This was the second HIMARS live-fire training with the U.S. held in Lithuania so that the Rocket Artillery Battery of the Lithuanian Land Force can practice HIMARS preparation for live fire and observe execution of fire tasks. The training event has also honed their HIMARS operation, maintenance and diagnosing skills and transferred command and control expertise.
The European HIMARS Initiative established by the United States incorporates HIMARS-operating nations or wannabes to learn from the U.S. experience of system operation, maintenance and combat training. Lithuania. Alongside Latvia and Estonia, is an active beneficiary in the initiative seeking a quick and effective preparation for the Full Operational Capability.
