The National Defence Council agreed to the proposal to establish a Lithuanian Armed Forces Division at a meeting on Monday. Minister of National Defence, President of the Republic of Lithuania, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and Chief of Defence of Lithuania agreed that formation of a division-sized unit in the Lithuanian Land Force responds to the needs identified in NATO’s regional plans and assessment of the threat posed by Russia.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces Division will be aimed to reach Full Operation Capability by 2030.
“If we take into account potential Russia’s plans to restore and even multiply its military capability as quickly as possible in the mid- and long-term, we must progress to the next capability level. The division would make a national structural element in the overall NATO capability hierarchy. We need to already start investing in heavy maneuver unit weaponry by purchasing, tank, the system we have not had to date. We also need to invest in the weaponry and equipment of units that enable this “heavy transition” – air defence, indirect fire support, military engineering and logistical systems,” says A. Anušauskas.
According to Minister, the national division project would not start “from scratch” – the vision would be formed by the existing Land Force and supporting units. A. Anušauskas says the Lithuanian Armed Forces has matured for such a step: a significant part of acquired weaponry and equipment is categorized as division-level means and support such means, for instance, the HIMARS, the French Caesar self-propelled wheeled howitzers, Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles, UAVs, combat drones.
“Formation of a national division would be a long-term national project. The Division would be formed by three existing units – the Iron Wolf Brigade, the Griffin Brigade and the Aukštaitija Reserve Brigade, as well as their enablers, such as the Air Force, Special Operations Forces and other services,” says Minister.
A. Anušauskas underscores that division is a wartime, not peacetime structure. The national Division would comprise approx. 17.5 thousand troops, part of that number would be filled with active reserve personnel in the event of mobilization. The Division project would be implemented and funded in stages, the first stage would start in 2024 with provision of heavy weaponry and equipment for maneuver units. In the second stage, enabler equipment and weaponry would be procured after being provided by Allies until that point.
