The multinational NATO Exercise Iron Sword 2014 trains not only infantry and reconnaissance but air defence units too. Captain Deivydas Gaščiūnas leading a combined Lithuanian-Czech air defence battery at Exercise Iron Sword 2014 said his unit was providing air defence for maneuver units training at the exercise, thus infantry personnel were able to concentrate on their tasks without the need to worry about the fictional air attacks by hostile forces.
The Lithuanian air defence platoon is armed with the RBS-70 and the STINGER air defence missile systems. The Czech military from the 25th Air Defence Missile Regiment based in Strakonice have brought the RBS-70 VSHORAD anti-aircraft missile systems to ensure air defence of infantry units.
Members of the combined unit are synchronizing their actions on a steady basis - Lithuanians are exchanging information and synchronizing their actions with the Czech air defence unit. The combined conduct and understanding of assignments is facilitated by the units' NATO documents-based expertise in the same functions. According to the commander of the combined unit, Exercise Iron Sword 2014 provides a unique opportunity to train conducting operations of considerable scales in cooperation with NATO allies. He also expressed his appreciation of the particularly high qualification of the Czech representatives incorporated into his unit. "Even though I am the commander of the battery in this exercise, I regard the Czech captain as my equal and a highly proficient air defence specialist with combat experience," Captain D. Gaščiūnas said. The Czech representative has been deployed to the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan where he was in command of an air defence battery.
Captain Peter Rabinak, Commander of the Czech air defence unit assigned for the exercise is heading his own troops at Exercise Iron Sword 2014 that way supporting the commander of the combined air defence battery. The Czech unit deployed to Exercise Iron Sword 2014 consists of platoon-sized combat unit with anti-aircraft systems, a command and control element, and radar and reconnaissance sections. The unit is completing its tasks with the TATRA trucks and the Land Rover all-terrain vehicles, or the DINGO 2 light armoured all-terrain vehicles, the latter being more suitable for situations where there is an IED threat, dependently on the terrain and assignment.
This is a history-making exercise for the 25th Air Defence Missile Regiment, it is its first international exercise outside the home country. Participation in Iron Sword 2014 is a challenge, a chance for improvement and for sharing experience with NATO allies to all the air defence personnel involved.
Prior to the redeployment from the Gaižiūnų to the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė Captain D. Gaščiūnas treated his colleagues from the Czech Republic to a Lithuanian "tree-cake". "We have been training in many exercises this year but Iron Sword 2014 is special. We are training for the first time side by side with members of the 25th Air Defence Missile Regiment on our soil. Also, this is the first field training exercise were our personnel and weaponry have formed a combined unit with NATO allies. We wished to celebrate our efficient cooperation so we found a more relaxed moment for communicating informally prior to the redeployment, invited our colleagues to enjoy some "šakotis" and provided a chance for our soldiers to view combat personnel and air defence equipment," Captain D.Gaščiūnas.
All the participants of the exercise were completely happy. The Checks were eagerly viewing the Giraffe MkIV surveillance radar of their Lithuanian colleagues which tracks the target, processes data and directs the operator. Members of the Lithuanian Air Defence Battalion were interested to see the DINGO all-terrain vehicle of the Czech Armed Forces with mounted reconnaissance equipment, as well as the modern Czech air defence command and control center, and fire unit system.
Exercise Iron Sword 2014 running in Lithuania on November 2-14 involves roughly 2.5 thousand participants from 9 NATO member states and over 300 military vehicles of various roles. The exercise trains interoperability in combined NATO units, coordination of actions, and readiness to complete defensive and offensive operations. Exercise Iron Sword has been planned to expand and incorporate increasingly more NATO and partner states.
More on Iron Sword 2014: http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/international_military_exercises/iron_sword_2014.html
POC: Chief of PIC for Exercise Iron Sword 2014 Captain Darius Toleikis, cell phone no. 00370 640 45380, email: darius.toleikis@kam.lt
Photo credits: Captain Jana Samcova, Private Vilius Džiavečka
