On October 15, Thunder Strike 2026, one of the largest exercises of the Lithuanian Armed Forces this year, concluded. During the exercise, the readiness of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, public institutions, municipalities, and NATO Allies for joint state armed defence was trained and evaluated.
„Thunder Strike 2026 is part of the Thunder series of exercises designed to train armed state defence. The competence it builds further enhances command and control procedures, strengthens military-civilian cooperation, and evaluates state readiness for functioning during a crisis or war,“ said Chief of the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Rear Admiral Giedrius Premeneckas.
The main objective of the exercise is to enhance statewide readiness for armed defence through the coordinated action of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, public institutions, municipalities, and allies. The exercise was based on Lithuania’s actual defence plans, testing unit-level C2 procedures and readiness. To train synchronization and interoperability with NATO Allies, Response Teams formed by career and active reserve personnel were posted to the NATO Joint Force Command’s C2 elements in Brunssum and Stavanger.
Another focus point of the exercise was the integration of active reserve military personnel into units, mobilization readiness procedures, and the activities of military commandants' offices. Up to 2,400 active reserve troops were drafted throughout September and October, and over 5,000 reservists were contacted to update their contact information and other required data.
The agenda also included cooperation between the Lithuanian Armed Forces and public institutions against asymmetric and hybrid threats, as well as strengthening state border guard and critical infrastructure security. Interoperability with services under the Ministry of the Interior, the National Crisis Response Centre, municipal administrations, and other public institutions was thoroughly rehearsed. The Distinguished Visitors Day, held on October 12, was attended by President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda and the Chief of Defence.
Thunder Strike was conducted in sync with NATO’s Steadfast Duel 2026 and other national exercises—Storm Strike 2026, Thunder Wheels, Reservist 2026, Amber Mist 2026, and Vytis Arch 2026—thereby enabling the Armed Forces to refine individual elements of the state armed defence plan within the overall context of national and NATO-level actions.
Photo credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces
