The exercise will follow a fictional scenario simulating a conflict between two made-up states. According to the scenario, exercise participants will be divided into two groups, one of them will play assistance and defence, the other - offensive actions. Such scenario provides an opportunity to tests ships' ability to carry out military assignments in realistic conditions.
The exercise will hone warship manoeuvring in formation, intercepting suspect vessels, gunnery, antiaircraft and antiterrorist defence and mine hunting and sweeping, and other procedures.
The main goal of the Baltic Sea naval drills is to train NATO and Northern European capabilities to work together in complex and demanding operations. The U.S. Navy-led exercise this year involves participants from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Lithuanian Navy has been delegating ships to BALTOPS since 1993. BALTOPS 12 took place in the central area of the Baltic Sea, i.e. Lithuania's and Poland's territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. The exercise of 2012 attended by naval and air assets and soldiers from 12 NATO and partner nations also featured the first-ever NATO naval landing operation on the Baltic coast.
The international Exercise BALTOPS is one of the four major NATO exercises held this June, others being Saber Strike, Noble Jump and Trident Joust, all unified under one name of Allied Shield.
