November 4, Lithuania's military leadership together with NATO's and allies' top officials observed a combined allied operation performed by land and air components training in Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 in San Gregorio Training Area in Spain.
The delegation headed by Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas and Vice Minister of National Defence AntanasValys also met with Lithuanian soldiers training in Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 as part of the Baltic Battalion and had been deployed to the exercise of the land component in Spain for the first time.
"Participation in this NATO exercise in southern Europe is essential for the Baltic Battalion, from the planning, redeployment of military equipment to honing interaction with allied forces and preparations for the standby for the NATO Response Force in 2016", Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen J. V. Žukas said after the dynamic display of the exercise. Roughly 1000 troops from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with roughly 250 units of military equipment are taking part in Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 in San Gregorio Training Area as part of the Baltic Battalion. .
The live demonstration at San Gregorio Training Area involved over 2 000 troops from 12 NATO allies completing a mock attack to engage a fictitious enemy. The offensive operation was carried out by a joint land-air component of Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 using support from fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks and combat engineers. Roughly 500 U.S. paratroops flew direct from their home base in Fort Bragg, N.C. (U.S.A.), by C-17 transport aircraft and jumped onto San Gregorio Training Area.
On November 5 maritime component of Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 will be presented in the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.
Active phase of Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 began in Italy, Portugal and Spain on October 21 and will run until November 6. The exercise scenario involves over 36 thousand troops from over 30 NATO and partner countries completing land, maritime and air operations. Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 will train and certify NATO Response Force for 2016.
Over 200 soldiers with Lithuanian Land Force assigned to the Baltic Battalion, LNS Skalvis (M53), mine counter-measures vessel of the Lithuanian Navy, logistics specialists, military policemen and military medics are taking art in Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 of Lithuania's behalf. The Lithuanian military are deployed to exercise locations in Portugal and Spain.
More information on Trident Juncture 2015: http://www.jfcbs.nato.int/trident-juncture.aspx
