On May 13 international NATO Special Operations Forces training event, Exercise Flaming Sword 2024 kicked off in Lithuania. The drills challenges Lithuanian and Allied special forces troops to execute special forces operations in response to a range of different threats in the Baltic states’ airspace, land and territorial sea, as well as cyber and information space, quickly and effectively as a coalition.
“The scope, number of participant countries and military personnel of this special forces exercise is the largest the Baltic states have ever seen as it deepens cooperation with the Allies and opens new opportunities to utilize the different weaponry platforms – aircraft, RHIB boats, submarines, helicopters – across land, air, maritime and cyber domains. This exercise showcases battlefield compatibility which is the ability of the different weaponry systems and platforms to be combined to achieve objectives,” said Chief of Defence General Valdemaras Rupšys who observed the exercise.
On May 28 members of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces conducted a dynamic display of tactical actions with an object housing a hostile command post and logistical base according to the exercise scenario in the Elektrėnai Power Plant. Lithuanian and Allied troops demonstrated object blockage and land, water and air infiltration, neutralization of hostile forces and set the scene for follow-on combined operations of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Allies.
“We are training join actions with the Allies with plenty of different water, air, and land-borne platforms, which enables to execute special operations tasks as it pertains: unpredictably and rapidly,” said Commander of the Special Operations Forces Col Darius Milašius.
The largest special operations forces exercise to take place in the Baltic region includes over 1,600 participants from 14 NATO member states and is supported by Lithuanian public institutions: State Security Department, Lithuanian Police, ARAS Anti-terrorist Operations Unit, State Border Security Service, Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, National Ambulance Service.
Organized in Lithuania annually for over a decade, Exercise Flaming Sword strengthens special operations capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and Allied special forces capabilities, improves interoperability and enhances readiness. Flaming Sward 2024 will wrap on May 31.
Photo credits: SSgt Spc Ieva Budzeikaitė | Lithuanian Armed Forces
