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Air defence battalion (Lithuania)
Encyclopedia
While developing and strengthening air defence capabilities of the Lithuanian Air Force (LTAF), focus was also paid on organisation of air defence by establishing an Air defence battalion.
Česlovas Braziulis. That same year, Swedish Defence officials offered to donate weaponry, technical documentation and training programmes to for a battalion. At this time, the idea of establishing the battalion started to become a reality.
From 1999 to 2000 a group of LTAF troops took studies in military training institutions units in Sweden
, where they received theoretical knowledge and practical experience working with battalion weaponry.
In July 2000, the LTAF established the Air Defence Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel
Remigijus Daujotis was appointed as Commander of the Battalion.
In September 2000, the Battalion received the first consignment of combat equipment from Sweden
. Another shipment of combat equipment and ammunition arrived at the end of 2000.
According to the bilateral agreement with Sweden
, Swedish advisers who help Lithuanians adapt to the battalion’s equipment presently work in the Air Defence Battalion.
Development of infrastructure is one key missions of the Air Defence Battalion currently in the stage of development.
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Sample photo
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Origin
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Units
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-----
| FIM-92 Stinger
|
|
United States
| Man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile
| 8
| Acquired in 2007 "Dual Mount Stinger" modification with 54 missiles, 9 trainers, 6 test missiles, 2 MPQ-64 Sentinel
radars, tactical control centres and Humvee trucks for transportation.
|-----
| RBS-70
|
|
Sweden
| Short-range man-portable air-defence system
| 21
| Including 5 training simulators, 5 Giraffe Mk-IV radars
and about 210 Mk1 missiles.
|-----
| Bofors 40 mm L/70
|
| Sweden
| Anti-aircraft autocannon
| 18
| Radar controlled version, fitted with fire-control radars type 790.
Used in ships too.
History
In 1998, efforts to develop and strengthen the LTAF defence capabilities began under supervision of ColColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Česlovas Braziulis. That same year, Swedish Defence officials offered to donate weaponry, technical documentation and training programmes to for a battalion. At this time, the idea of establishing the battalion started to become a reality.
From 1999 to 2000 a group of LTAF troops took studies in military training institutions units in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where they received theoretical knowledge and practical experience working with battalion weaponry.
In July 2000, the LTAF established the Air Defence Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Remigijus Daujotis was appointed as Commander of the Battalion.
In September 2000, the Battalion received the first consignment of combat equipment from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Another shipment of combat equipment and ammunition arrived at the end of 2000.
According to the bilateral agreement with Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Swedish advisers who help Lithuanians adapt to the battalion’s equipment presently work in the Air Defence Battalion.
Tasks
The Air Defence Battalion’s primary missions include:- Defend state facilities of vital importance against military aviationMilitary aviationMilitary aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
attacks from the air in low and medium altitude; - Support land forcesLand ForcesLand Forces may refer to:*Ground Forces*Land Forces, a British Army command*Canadian Forces Land Force Command, a Canadian Forces command*Romanian Land Forces, the Romanian Army...
in fighting against ground armoured technical equipment and in other events; - Train military personnelMilitary personnelMilitary personnel is a blanket term used to refer to members of any armed force. Usually, military personnel are divided into branches of service roughly defined by certain circumstances of the deployment of the personnel. Those who serve in a typical large land force are soldiers, making up an...
in carrying out combat tasks.
Development of infrastructure is one key missions of the Air Defence Battalion currently in the stage of development.
Equipment
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Name! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Sample photo
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Origin
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Units
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-----
| FIM-92 Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger
The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
|
|
United States| Man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile
| 8
| Acquired in 2007 "Dual Mount Stinger" modification with 54 missiles, 9 trainers, 6 test missiles, 2 MPQ-64 Sentinel
MPQ-64 Sentinel
The AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is a three-dimensional radar used to alert and queue Short Range Air Defense weapons to the locations of hostile targets approaching their front line forces. The Sentinel radar is deployed with forward area air defense units of the U.S. Army and USMC. The radar uses an...
radars, tactical control centres and Humvee trucks for transportation.
|-----
| RBS-70
|
|
Sweden| Short-range man-portable air-defence system
| 21
| Including 5 training simulators, 5 Giraffe Mk-IV radars
GIRAFFE Radar
The Saab GIRAFFE Radar is a family of land and naval two- or three-dimensional G/H-band radar-based surveillance and air defense command and control systems tailored for operations with medium- and Short Range Air Defense missile or gun systems or for use as gap-fillers in a larger air defense...
and about 210 Mk1 missiles.
|-----
| Bofors 40 mm L/70
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
|
|
Sweden| Anti-aircraft autocannon
| 18
| Radar controlled version, fitted with fire-control radars type 790.
Used in ships too.
See also
- Lithuanian Air Force
- Airspace Surveillance and Control Command (Lithuania)Airspace Surveillance and Control Command (Lithuania)Airspace Surveillance and Control Command - is a branch of the Lithuanian Air Force responsible for air space surveillance and protection...