On June 11 Lithuania will for the first time host a landing operation involving naval and air assets and military personnel from 7 countries - Lithuania, Estonia, USA, Latvia, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany.
"For the first time in the history of Lithuania US marines and Lithuanian troops will land from Polish ships on the Baltic seacoast of Lithuania," highlighted Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė.
BALTOPS 2012 is conducted simultaneously in four countries - Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Germany.
"As a host country of the Exercise we not only take the challenge to render expedient Host Nation Support for the allied forces deployed on the Exercise but also receive an opportunity to combine our capabilities", commented Chief of Defence Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius on the significance of the Exercise.
Chief of Defence also accentuated that the Exercise contributes to the enhancement of confidence and interoperability among all the participant countries.
The debarkation operation will be observed by such distinguished guests as HE Dalia Grybauskaitė President of the Republic of Lithuania, Minister of National Defence R. Juknevičienė, members of the Parliament, Chief of Defence Lt Gen A. Pocius, high-ranking UK officer who has held a position of authority in Operation Unified Protector in Libya, Deputy Commander Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), Rear Admiral Russ Harding, Rear Admiral Ann Claire Phillips, Commander of the Expeditionary Strike Group Two, foreign ambassadors in Lithuania, high- ranking Lithuanian and foreign officers, and other guests.
According to the scenario of the landing operation in Nemirseta (Palangos Distr.) personnel of the Combat Divers Service of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Diving Unit of the Lithuanian Navy survey sublitoral zone and reconnoitre seafloor of the Baltic Sea together with the personnel of the Diving and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Reconnaissance Unit of the Motorised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" will conduct rope-landing from two Mi-8 helicopters of the Lithuanian Air Force to ensure security of the Baltic coastline.
Approximately 100 US marines and troops of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion will land from Polish "Lublin" class landing ships by swimming tracked amphibians. After the debarkation US and Lithuania military personnel will dislocate in the concentration area and prepare for the execution of the following task.
Two strategic US B-52 bombers will fly in Lithuania's airspace over the operation area for the first time in the history of Lithuania. At the same time two PA-200 „Tornado" fighter-jets of the German Air Force will ensure security of the airspace. Throughout the operation troops of the Tactical Air Assault Group of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces will ensure combat air support.
From the beginning of the operation „USS Normandy" deployed in the territorial waters of Lithuania of the Baltic Sea for the Exercise period is in charge of commanding the maritime contingent including both Polish landing ships and 5 vessels of the Baltic mine countermeasures squadron BALTRON.
BALTOPS 2012 which will conclude on June 16 involves 12 countries - USA, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, France, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Georgia, Russia, and Sweden. The Exercise is held in the territorial waters of Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia in the Baltic Sea.
In total 27 warships, 30 aircrafts, and components of ground forces conduct operations in BALTOPS 2012.
Multinational cooperation in case of a crisis in the region is enhanced and security in the Baltic Sea region fostered in BALTOPS 2012. During the Exercise military forces will conduct joint maritime operations from manoeuvring and patrolling to joint operations with other forces - air and land.
USA first organised the naval exercise BALTOPS in 1972. Since 1993 the series has been held under the Partnership for Peace program. Over four decades BALTOPS grew both in number of participating forces and in magnitude becoming one of the largest training events in the Baltic Region. Lithuania has been sending naval assets to take part in BALTOPS since 1994.
For more information about BALTOPS 2012 contact Capt Artūras Milkintis, cell phone 00370 682 53358, email arturas.milkintis@mil.lt .
For the Media:
Media representatives who wish to observe the main debarkation operation of the multinational maritime Exercise BALTOPS 2012 on June 11, Monday, are invited to register before June 10, Sunday, at phone no. +370 616 26 944 or email laimonas.brazaitis@kam.lt. Registered media representatives are to arrive at the Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Motorised Infantry Battalion (Liepojos str. 5, Klaipėda) on June 11 at 12.45hrs.
Program of BALTOPS 2012 debarkation operation, June 11
12.45 hrs. Arrival at the Dragoon Battalion. Introduction to the Media (Liepojos str. 5, Klaipėda);
13.30 hrs. Departure for the debarkation site, Nemirseta, by provided transport;
14.20 hrs. Beginning of the debarkation operation;
15.40-16.10 hrs. Interview opportunity with participants and guests of the Exercise;
16.10 hrs. Departure.
Information on BALTOPS 2012:
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012.html
BALTOPS 2012 News
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012/baltops_2012_naujienos.html
BALTOPS 2012 Photo gallery:
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012/fotogalerija_3578.html
BALTOPS 2012 Video gallery:
http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/baltops_2012/vaizdo_medziaga/baltops_2012.html
