Defense
The 2004 defense is based on selective military duty with
an initial service of twelve months and comprises about
12,700 men. Lithuania has come the furthest among the Baltic
states and is pursuing NATO standards on its allies. The
defense is organized with an infantry brigade, two frigates,
three patrol boats and a semi-military coast guard unit of
540 men. Lithuania has no fighter aircraft. The reserves
amount to 14,000 people. Lithuania aims to militarily
protect its own territory and its borders. A cooperation
agreement with the other Baltic states was signed in 1996
with the aim of coordinating border guarding of the
country's eastern border. A coherent maritime surveillance
system along all the three Baltic states has been
established, including Swedish aid. Lack of financial
resources and voluntary.
A long-term problem persists between Lithuania, the
Russian Federation and Poland in the form of communications
to and from the Kaliningrad enclave, where there is a
Russian motorized division, a naval infantry regiment, the
naval attack aircraft in the Baltic Sea area, etc. Lithuania
sought membership in NATO in 1997, as well as other Baltic
states. 2004. Defense spending amounted to 4.3% of GDP in
1996 and had decreased to 1.8% in 2001. Lithuania
participates in UN peacekeeping efforts by joining Swedish
UN unions in the long term to build up their own competence. To see related acronyms about this country, please check ABBREVIATIONFINDER where you can see that LTH stands for Lithuania.
Lithuanian defense overview
Lithuania has military service and the first service is
nine months. The country is a member of NATO from 2004. The
total workforce includes 19,850 active personnel, a reserve
of 6700, and 14,400 semi-military (2018, IISS).
NATO contributes to the defense through the NATO Air
Policing and Enhanced Forward Presence
programs, and in 2018 had approximately 1320 personnel from
Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands, Norway and Germany
deployed in Lithuania. In addition, four F-16 fighters from
Belgium.
The Army has a workforce of 12,400 active personnel,
including 5050 active reservists. Heavy equipment includes
four storm- armored vehicles and 238 armored personnel
vehicles of the type M113.
The Air Force has a personnel force of 1200 active
personnel, five transport aircraft, one training aircraft
and six helicopters.
The Navy has a workforce of 760 active personnel.
Materials include four patrol boats, three mine hunters, and
one aid vessel of the Norwegian Vidar class (the former
mining vessel Vidar, transferred from the Norwegian Navy)
which is used as a flagship, auxiliary vessel for the mine
hunters, and which can still be used as a miner. In
addition, one additional aid vessel.
In addition, there are 14,400 semi-military, which
includes a border guard with 3400 personnel, three patrol
vessels, two landings, one light aircraft and five
helicopters.
Forces abroad
In 2018, Lithuania participated, among others, in the UN
operation in Mali (MINUSMA) with 38 personnel and an
observer, and in the NATO operation in Afghanistan (Operation
Resolute Support) with 50 personnel. |
