On June 2–5 the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Special Operations Forces and Navy trained at the international live-fire exercise with airborne targets, Baltic Zenith 2024, organized by the Latvian Armed Forces. This year the Lithuanian troops trained daytime and nighttime live fire with the RBS-70 and GROM short-range missile air defence system.
“We can see the majority of air attacks launched against Ukraine during the dark part of the day, therefore we are increasing focus on possible solutions. In this exercise we have tested the capacity of the BORCH nigh vision equipment used with the RBS-70 to destroy the smallest drones in the dark. The accuracy and target neutralization results are particularly pleasing. We were experimenting with night vision equipment as the GROM system does not have a dedicated device, and our experiment has come out a success. From now on the system will be used to protect land capabilities against air attacks at nighttime as well, which is a huge achievement not just for the battalion but the entire Land Force,” said Commander of the Air Defence Battalion Lt Col Ovidijus Pilitauskas.
The Lithuanian military was practicing interaction with the Latvian air defence unit, developed mutual plans, coordinated ground and air action. The exercise was conducted with remote-controlled drones and illumination ordnance.
Photo credit: Cpl Orinta Dapkuvienė
