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Airspace Surveillance and Control Command (Lithuania)
Encyclopedia
Airspace Surveillance and Control Command (hereafter ASCC) - is a branch of the Lithuanian Air Force responsible for air space surveillance and protection. While implementing Resolution of the Parliament Republic of Lithuania concerning Principal Structure of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and Armed Forces’ development plans, the Lithuanian military have expanded and increased defence capabilities. Therefore, the Air Surveillance and Control Command has also evolved. Presently, six radar posts have been established to monitor Lithuanian air space. ASCC cooperates with governmental enterprise "Air Navigation", Governmental Board Security Service
and other institution.
In 1992, the predecessor to the ASCC - Radar Data Supply Department was part of the Aviation Service under the command of Lt. Col. V. Pacevičius. On April 27, 1992, military personnel initiated the surveillance of the Lithuanian airspace in Vilnius Airport. That day marked the beginning of continuous Lithuanian air space monitoring and is considered to be the founding day of the Air Surveillance and Control Command.
From 1996 to 2000, it was named the Air Space Control Base.
It took on its present name, the Air Surveillance and Control Command (ASCC), from 2000.
, Rokai, Juodkrantė
, Nemirseta
. Karmėlava served as the Lithuanian Air Forces (LTAF) Command Post with Maj. V. Sirtautas as the commander in charge. In May 1993, the LTAF Post in Rokai began regular surveillance of the Lithuanian air space.
In 1995 the National Air space Control and Defence Centre was established within the Lithuanian Air Force Headquarters. Later the unit was named the Airspace Control Centre (ACC).
In May 2005 new medium distance radars TRML-3D/32 were subjected into common radio locative information transmission system.
From December 2000 to September 2002, the ASCC was headed by Lt Col E. Adomynas.
From September 2002 to July 2007 the ASSC was headed by Lt. Col. M. Grigaliūnas.
Col ltn. A. Jucius succeeded him as the ASCC commander in July 2007.
Currently there are seven stationary military radar posts in Lithuania (six operational):
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Post number
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Location
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Established
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-----
| I
| Rokai (Kaunas district municipality
)
| 1992
| Inoperational since 2007, equipment and personnel were moved to Radar post VII.
|-----
| II
| Juodkrantė (Neringa municipality
)
| 1993
|
|-----
| III
| Degučiai (Šilutė district municipality
)
| 1993
| Is used P-40
, P-37 radars. By 2015 there will be dislocated newly acquired long range radar system.
|-----
| IV
| Vidiškės (Ignalina district municipality
)
| 1997
| Is used TRML-3D and P-40 radar
systems.
|-----
| V
| Sutkūnai (Šiauliai district municipality
)
| 1997
| Is used P-37 radar.
|-----
| VI
| Gražiškiai (Vilkaviškis district municipality
)
| 2000
|
|-----
| VII
| Antaveršis (Prienai district municipality
)
| 2005
| By 2015 there will be dislocated newly acquired long range radar system.
|-----
). The appropriate legal documentation of the BALTNET
project was developed, the Reciprocal Memorandum of Understanding concerning military personnel training was signed among Lithuanian, Estonian, Latvian, and Danish Ministries of Defence.
Other countries contributed support, materials, and training to BALTNET
, including: – donated computer equipment for the ASCC and Regional Air Space Surveillance Co-ordination Centres, arranged training courses for personnel; – built a BALTNET
Training Centre, arranged training courses for personnel; – arranged training courses for personnel.
project, was established in the LTAF Airspace Control Centre and has been fully functioning since early 2000.
Military personnel from all the three Baltic States
serve as air surveillance operators at the centre and rotate according to national timetables. The Commander of the centre is appointed for two years and represents one of the Baltic States.
Presently, the Commander of the RASSCC is a Lithuanian representative while officers from Latvia and Estonia serve as deputy commanders.
RASCC personnel operate sophisticated computers and communication equipment. English is the official working language.
, Belgium
, Denmark
, Germany
, Holland, Great Britain
, Turkey
, USA took the mission in ACU.
Air Forces specialists from Norway
and Germany
are preparing Fighter command operators from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Newly prepared operators will change colleagues from other NATO states in Baltic Air Policing
mission.
! 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
|-----
| TRML-3D
|
|
Germany
| Medium range, modular, highly reliable, countermeasures-resistant, 3D, C-band, self-contained, mobile radar system
| 3
| Acquired in 2004
|-----
| P-40 "Long Track"
|
|
Soviet Union
| Early warning, target acquisition, 2D, E-band radar
| 2
| Received in 1996 from Poland
.
|-----
| P-37 "Bar Lock"
|
| Soviet Union
| Early warning and ground control interception radar
| 4
|
|-----
| P-18 "Spoon Rest D"
|
| Soviet Union
| Early warning 2D VHF radar
| 3
|
|-----
| PRV-16 "Thin Skin"
|
| Soviet Union
| Height finder
| ?
|
|-----
| PRV-11 "Side Net"
|
| Soviet Union
| Height finder
| ?
|
|-----
| Jawor M2
|
|
Poland
| Long-range 2D air defence radar
| 1
| Received in 1996 from Poland
, currently - unserviceable.
|-----
| Korenj
|
| Soviet Union
| Secondary surveillance radar
| ?
|
. New equipment is going to enter service in 2014-2015.
State Border Guard Service (Lithuania)
The State Border Guard Service is the organisation charged with controlling and maintaining the Lithuanian Border. The State Border Guard Service falls under authority of the Ministry of the Interior, which supervises and controls the implementation of border guard policy.-1918-1940:Following the...
and other institution.
Establishment
The protection of Lithuanian air space has always been a priority for the Lithuanian Armed Forces. When forming the new Armed Forces structure, steps were taken to design appropriate air defence systems.In 1992, the predecessor to the ASCC - Radar Data Supply Department was part of the Aviation Service under the command of Lt. Col. V. Pacevičius. On April 27, 1992, military personnel initiated the surveillance of the Lithuanian airspace in Vilnius Airport. That day marked the beginning of continuous Lithuanian air space monitoring and is considered to be the founding day of the Air Surveillance and Control Command.
Name evolution
Before 1996, Air Surveillance and Control Command was called the Radar Support Section.From 1996 to 2000, it was named the Air Space Control Base.
It took on its present name, the Air Surveillance and Control Command (ASCC), from 2000.
Development
In autumn of 1992, the Lithuanian government assigned the Aviation Service military posts in KarmėlavaKarmėlava
Karmėlava is a small town in Kaunas County in central Lithuania. As of 2001 it had a population of 2886. The town of Karmėlava is located north east of Kaunas and near the second busiest civil Kaunas International Airport in Lithuania.-History:...
, Rokai, Juodkrantė
Juodkrante
Juodkrantė with permanent population of about 720 people is a quiet Lithuanian seaside resort village located on the Curonian Spit. A part of Neringa municipality, Juodkrantė is the second largest settlement on Lithuania's part of the spit...
, Nemirseta
Nemirseta
Nemirseta is a district of the Lithuanian seaside resort Palanga, located on the Baltic coast north of Klaipėda.-History:The place, which consists mainly of two deserted buildings which lost their purpose as a border check point, is notable for having marked for about five centuries the...
. Karmėlava served as the Lithuanian Air Forces (LTAF) Command Post with Maj. V. Sirtautas as the commander in charge. In May 1993, the LTAF Post in Rokai began regular surveillance of the Lithuanian air space.
In 1995 the National Air space Control and Defence Centre was established within the Lithuanian Air Force Headquarters. Later the unit was named the Airspace Control Centre (ACC).
In May 2005 new medium distance radars TRML-3D/32 were subjected into common radio locative information transmission system.
Commanders
From 1996, Col. A. Rimšelis served as the commander of the unit.From December 2000 to September 2002, the ASCC was headed by Lt Col E. Adomynas.
From September 2002 to July 2007 the ASSC was headed by Lt. Col. M. Grigaliūnas.
Col ltn. A. Jucius succeeded him as the ASCC commander in July 2007.
Radar Posts
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Post number
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Location
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Established
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-----
|
| Rokai (Kaunas district municipality
Kaunas district municipality
Kaunas district municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. The seat of the municipality is the city of Kaunas. It surrounds the Kaunas city municipality from the north, west and south, while in the east Kaunas district municipality borders Kaišiadorys district municipality...
)
|
| Inoperational since 2007, equipment and personnel were moved to Radar post VII.
|-----
|
| Juodkrantė (Neringa municipality
Neringa municipality
Neringa municipality or Neringa is a municipality in westernmost Lithuania, in the Curonian Spit. In terms of population, it is the smallest municipality of the country. Until the Lithuanian municipality reform, it was known as Neringa city, although there was never a true city there...
)
|
|
|-----
|
| Degučiai (Šilutė district municipality
Šilute district municipality
Šilutė district municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. It is known for spring floods when ice on Neman River starts melting. This is the only municipality in Lithuania that gets flooded on regular basis....
)
|
| Is used P-40
P-40 radar
The P-40 "Armour" or 1S12 is a 3-D UHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.-Development:...
, P-37 radars. By 2015 there will be dislocated newly acquired long range radar system.
|-----
|
| Vidiškės (Ignalina district municipality
Ignalina district municipality
- Structure :District structure:* 2 cities – Dūkštas and Ignalina;* 3 towns – Mielagėnai, Rimšė and Tverečius;* 726 villages.Largest population :*Ignalina – 6591*Didžiasalis – 1744*Vidiškės – 1084*Dūkštas – 1070*Kazitiškis – 383*Strigailiškis – 334...
)
|
| Is used TRML-3D and P-40 radar
P-40 radar
The P-40 "Armour" or 1S12 is a 3-D UHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.-Development:...
systems.
|-----
|
| Sutkūnai (Šiauliai district municipality
Šiauliai district municipality
-References:...
)
|
| Is used P-37 radar.
|-----
|
| Gražiškiai (Vilkaviškis district municipality
Vilkaviškis district municipality
Vilkaviškis district municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania....
)
|
|
|-----
|
| Antaveršis (Prienai district municipality
Prienai district municipality
-References:...
)
|
| By 2015 there will be dislocated newly acquired long range radar system.
|-----
Baltic States Air Surveillance System
The ASCC works closely with the Baltic States Air Surveillance System (BALTNETBaltNet
BaltNet is a radar network operated by the militaries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia -External links:**...
). The appropriate legal documentation of the BALTNET
BaltNet
BaltNet is a radar network operated by the militaries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia -External links:**...
project was developed, the Reciprocal Memorandum of Understanding concerning military personnel training was signed among Lithuanian, Estonian, Latvian, and Danish Ministries of Defence.
Other countries contributed support, materials, and training to BALTNET
BaltNet
BaltNet is a radar network operated by the militaries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia -External links:**...
, including: – donated computer equipment for the ASCC and Regional Air Space Surveillance Co-ordination Centres, arranged training courses for personnel; – built a BALTNET
BaltNet
BaltNet is a radar network operated by the militaries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia -External links:**...
Training Centre, arranged training courses for personnel; – arranged training courses for personnel.
Regional Air Spaces Surveillance Co-ordination Centre
The Regional Air Spaces Surveillance Co-ordination Centre (RASSCC), headquarters of the BALTNETBaltNet
BaltNet is a radar network operated by the militaries of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia -External links:**...
project, was established in the LTAF Airspace Control Centre and has been fully functioning since early 2000.
Military personnel from all the three Baltic States
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
serve as air surveillance operators at the centre and rotate according to national timetables. The Commander of the centre is appointed for two years and represents one of the Baltic States.
Presently, the Commander of the RASSCC is a Lithuanian representative while officers from Latvia and Estonia serve as deputy commanders.
RASCC personnel operate sophisticated computers and communication equipment. English is the official working language.
Aircraft Command Unit
In March 2004, according to accession to NATO, Aircraft command unit (ACU), was placed in ASCC. Aircraft command equipment was bought and installed in ACU. The main task of ACU - co-ordination of rapid reaction crew’s actions in order to react to violations of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian air space or air space usage rules. Personnel from NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Holland, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, USA took the mission in ACU.
Air Forces specialists from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
are preparing Fighter command operators from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Newly prepared operators will change colleagues from other NATO states in Baltic Air Policing
Baltic Air Policing
The Baltic air-policing mission is a NATO air defence Quick Reaction Alert in order to guard the airspace over the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.-Mission:...
mission.
Current
ASCC operational radars:! 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
|-----
| TRML-3D
|
|
Germany| Medium range, modular, highly reliable, countermeasures-resistant, 3D, C-band, self-contained, mobile radar system
|
| Acquired in 2004
|-----
| P-40 "Long Track"
P-40 radar
The P-40 "Armour" or 1S12 is a 3-D UHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.-Development:...
|
|
Soviet Union| Early warning, target acquisition, 2D, E-band radar
|
| Received in 1996 from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
|-----
| P-37 "Bar Lock"
|
|
Soviet Union| Early warning and ground control interception radar
|
|
|-----
| P-18 "Spoon Rest D"
P-18 radar
The P-18 or 1RL131 is a 2D VHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.- Development :...
|
|
Soviet Union| Early warning 2D VHF radar
|
|
|-----
| PRV-16 "Thin Skin"
|
|
Soviet Union| Height finder
Height finder
A height finder is a ground based aircraft altitude measuring device.Early height finder implementations were optical devices and later migrated to radar devices. Devices combining both optics and radar were deployed by the U.S...
|
|
|-----
| PRV-11 "Side Net"
|
|
Soviet Union| Height finder
Height finder
A height finder is a ground based aircraft altitude measuring device.Early height finder implementations were optical devices and later migrated to radar devices. Devices combining both optics and radar were deployed by the U.S...
|
|
|-----
| Jawor M2
|
|
Poland| Long-range 2D air defence radar
|
| Received in 1996 from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, currently - unserviceable.
|-----
| Korenj
|
|
Soviet Union| Secondary surveillance radar
Secondary surveillance radar
Secondary surveillance radar is a radar system used in air traffic control , that not only detects and measures the position of aircraft i.e. range and bearing, but also requests additional information from the aircraft itself such as its identity and altitude...
|
|
Planned
The Lithuanian Armed Forces is going to buy two new long range radar systems which will change old obsolete soviet radar systems P-37 and P-18P-18 radar
The P-18 or 1RL131 is a 2D VHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.- Development :...
. New equipment is going to enter service in 2014-2015.