Defence
Lithuania’s Seimas greenlights permanent conscription
Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, on Thursday passed a law making military conscription permanent.
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Lithuanian army
Defence
Lithuanian army reclaims airfield slated for conversion into Formula 2 race track
Lithuania’s Armed Forces decided to reclaim ownership of an airfield in Kazlų Rūda which was intended to be converted into a Formula 2 race track. […]
CORPORATE
Lithuanian air force exercise to protect Ignalina nuclear plant
The Lithuanian air force is to conduct an exercise simulating protecting the Ignalina nuclear plant and handling emergency situations during peacetime. During the exercise, Air Force troops will be simulating protecting the Ignalina nuclear power […]
CORPORATE
Drastic changes needed in Lithuanian armed forces
After years of under-investment, a once-comatose Lithuanian army must now learn to walk again, and do so quickly, say high-ranking officials. […]
CORPORATE
Air Force ‘weak link in Lithuanian defence’
While Lithuania is raising spending to strengthen its land forces, air forces have to do with the L-39 aircraft which are unsuitable for a serious combat and can only simulate air battles with slow and […]
Society
Afghan interpreter arrives in Lithuania after Youtube plea
Abdul Basir Yoususi, the Afghani refugee who caught Lithuania’s attention in a video revealing himself to have worked as a Lithuanian-speaking interpreter for Lithuanian NATO forces in Afghanistan‘s Ghor province, arrived in Lithuania on Wednesday. […]
Defence
Defence
Russia, Belarus ‘trying to infiltrate Lithuanian army via new recruits’
Russia and Belarus are likely to target infiltrating Lithuania’s Armed Forces via new recruits and conscripts, according to the Lithuanian Security Institutions’ annual report on Wednesday. […]
CORPORATE
US looks to tip balance of military power in Baltics
Russia‘s intensifying military activities have forced NATO to respond in kind, with the Alliance saying it will conduct more military exercises in Europe, and the United States promising to deploy far more equipment and forces in Europe. In 2017, Washington is setting aside $3.4 billion for Europe’s defence, but this might turn out to be just the tip of the iceberg. […]
Defence
Volunteers fill up half of 2016 military draft
Almost half the positions of this year’s military draft have already been filled by volunteers, according to Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence. If volunteers continue signing up at the present rate, there might not be any need to draft young men who have not come forward for the military service themselves, the ministry says. […]
Defence
CORPORATE
Conscripts will only account for one-sixth of Lithuanian army
Despite the recommendations for the introduction of permanent conscription, Lithuanian conscripts will constitute only a small part of Lithuania’s total armed forces – about one-sixth – with the rest recruited as professional soldiers, Defence Minister Juozas Olekas told Žinių radijas. […]
Defence
Military conscription ‘should stay for good’
Mandatory initial military service should be reintroduced in Lithuania for good rather than for five years, the State Defence Council decided on Monday. […]
CORPORATE
Lithuania to clear forests to make way for military training grounds
The Lithuanian army is planning to expand its training grounds in Pabradė and Gaižiūnai by cutting down some of the surrounding forests. […]
Defence
Lithuania to decide on whether to make military conscription permanent
The State Defence Council, summoned by President Dalia Grybauskaitė on Monday, is to decide whether Lithuania should keep military conscription indefinitely. […]
Defence
Makers of Boxer infantry vehicles looking for subcontractors in Lithuania
The makers of Boxer infantry fighting vehicles are interested in cooperation with Lithuanian business in producing and maintaining the IFVs that would be sold to the Lithuanian army. […]
Defence
Lithuanian army paramedic convicted for spying for Belarus
A Vilnius court on Friday sentenced Andrey Osurkov, a former paramedic of Lithuania’s Armed Forces, to three years in prison for spying for Belarus. […]
CORPORATE
EU army ‘could play into Russia’s hands’
The idea of a possible EU common army was supported by 68% of Lithuanians in a recent Eurobarometer survey, but analysts question the wisdom of such a move. […]
Defence
Lithuanian conscripts ‘cheesed off’ after seeing NATO soldiers’ food
“Dinner in the canteen: ‘Oh look, there’s cheese!’ – a soldier exclaimed. ‘No, its for the Americans,’ the chef answered strictly” – this was an exchange shared by Lithuanian journalist Ignas Krupavičius, who is currently serving as a conscript in the Lithuanian army. […]
Defence
Over 250 international troops to take part in special forces exercise in Lithuania
Over 250 soldiers and civilian staff of the armed forces are to take part in an international special forces exercise Flaming Sword this spring. […]