Land Forces

The Lithuanian Armed Forces, which were initially intended as the sole defender of Lithuanian territory, have now been developed into a force capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces.

The Land Forces form the backbone of the country's defence force. In bringing them up to NATO standards, current efforts focus on upgrading equipment and armaments, enhancing their operational effectiveness, and combat training.

The combat training of the Land Forces units will be focused on defense operations, operations in urban and captured terrain this year. The attention to the preparation for NATO-led International Security Assistence Forces (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan and for domestic support tasks in Lithuania will not be reduced as well.

The Lithuanian Domestic Support Forces Exercise "Strong Shield 2011"

Picture by A. Pliadis 

The Land Forces consist of the  Motorised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf", the National Defence Volunteer Forces, the King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion, the Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion, the Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Training Battalion, the Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, and the Land Forces Juozas Lukša Training Center, numbering about 3,500 regulars and 4,500 volunteers.

Insignia of Lithuanian Land Forces units

Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Training Battalion	Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion	King Mindaugas Mechanised Infantry Battalion