View source for ARAS (Lithuania)

{{About|Anti-terrorist Operations Unit|other uses|Aras (disambiguation){{!}}Aras}}
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
| unit_name              = Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS
| native_name            = {{lang|lt|Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS}}
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| image                  = File:Insigne du Antiteroristinių Operacijų Rinktinė (ARAS).svg
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| dates                  = 1991 – present
| country                = {{flag|Lithuania}}
| agency                 = [[Lithuanian Police Force]]
| type                   = [[Police tactical unit]]
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| ops_juris              = National
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| website                = {{Official website|https://aras.policija.lrv.lt}}
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[[File:Lithuanian Police anti-terrorist unit during exercises with army.jpg|thumb|300px|ARAS anti-terrorist unit during the exercises with the Armed Forces]]
[[File:Aras hq by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|thumb|300px|Headquarters]]
The '''ARAS''' or '''Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS''' ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS}}) is the tier one police tactical unit of the [[Lithuanian Police Force]] and was established in 1991.<ref>{{Citation|title=►Lithuania police unit ARAS {{!}}{{!}}2019 4K<sup>HD</sup>| date=12 January 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzmB99iR2s8|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref> At first, ARAS's main purpose was to counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, providing security VIP, and suppress organized crime groups that were widely operating in [[Lithuania]] in 1990s.<ref name="occrp_arrest_19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/27-ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/7976-lithuania-police-arrest-19-gangsters-find-guns-and-explosives|title=Lithuania: Police Arrest 19 Gangsters, Find Guns and Explosives|last=Meers|first=Jelter|website=www.occrp.org|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref> In addition, they handled support crowd control and riot control.<ref name="occrp_arrest_19" />
Currently, the unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, support crowd control and riot control, support search and rescue, and tactical special operations.
==History==
In December 2004, the unit was admitted into the [[ATLAS Network]] of police tactical units of the [[European Union]] countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlasnetwork.org/about/annual-reports|title=Annual Reports and Financials|website=www.atlasnetwork.org|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref>
== Structure ==
ARAS consists of a:
* Command,
* Special Team,
* Explosive Search and Neutralization Division,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://polis.osce.org/country-profiles/lithuania|title=Lithuania {{!}} OSCE POLIS|website=polis.[[osce.org]]|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref>
* Information, analysis and negotiation Division,
* 2 divisions, one of them located in [[Klaipėda]].
The unit also has specialized CBRN defense, climber, combat medic, EOD, K-9, negotiation, reconnaissance, sniper, and tactical diver groups that are necessary to carry out the main functions ascribed to the unit.
== Functions ==
The main functions of ARAS are to:
* organize, manage and implement special antiterrorist operations inside Lithuania;
* hostage rescue and detain dangerous armed criminals under extreme or high danger circumstances;
* search for and neutralize improvised explosive devices and military explosives, used for terrorist or criminal purposes;
* under their competence participate while performing various operative actions, detaining persons, suspected to have performed or planning to commit a crime;
* collect and analyze information related to terrorist threats, cooperate with professional institutions of other countries in this sphere;
* participate in organizing and implementing plans and programs for antiterrorist measures, and other legal acts establishing terrorism prevention.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aras.com/en/capabilities|title=Capabilities {{!}} Aras {{!}} Enterprise PLM Software|website=www.aras.com|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref>
== Equipment and training ==
ARAS is provided with modern arms and equipment for successful work. There are modern weapons with special sights, night vision equipment, thermo visors, equipment for explosives search, modern equipment for divers, special armour-plated vests, shields and helmets among them.
Nevertheless, all weapons are worthless without competent people. Currently the nucleus of the unit is made up of highly qualified combatants, who have acquired physical and psychological training and are prepared for working under extreme circumstances. Much experience was gained when the officers participated in several courses for special police tactical unit response to critical situations organized by the US State Department, which were included in the international program for the [[War on Terror|war against terrorism]]. During these exercises they showed good preparation, and received a high evaluation from the organizers of the courses. Officers from the unit participated in many other courses organized not only in the US, but also by law enforcement institutions of other countries.
== Equipment ==
ARAS operators use a variety of modern weapons, including [[SIG Sauer P226]], [[Heckler & Koch MP5]], [[Heckler & Koch G36|G36]], [[SIG SG 550#SG 551|SIG SG 551]], [[SIG MCX]], [[PGM Ultima Ratio]], [[PGM Hécate II]], [[Accuracy International AWM|AWM-F]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lrytas.lt/lietuvosdiena/aktualijos/2012/12/04/news/elitinis-policijos-padalinys-aras-3-snaiperiu-ginkluote-ir-iranga-4343828/|title = Elitinis policijos padalinys "Aras" (3). Snaiperių ginkluotė ir įranga}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/nusikaltimaiirnelaimes/is-arti-naujai-atidaryta-policijos-elitinio-padalinio-aras-moderni-bustine-59-689491|title = Iš arti – naujai atidaryta policijos elitinio padalinio "Aras" būstinė}}</ref>
== Training ==
Candidates are selected on the basis of "Delta Force" program criteria. Candidates have their biography's thoroughly checked, the age requirement is not younger than 18 and no older than 30 years, priority is given to non-smokers, 5 years of work experience in any other police branch would be advantage. Those who make it through this barrier have to grapple with the psychological and intelligence tests and have to pass the physical preparation check, especially endurance and emotional stability. Only 2-3 men a year make the cut into this elite group.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://aras.policija.lrv.lt/ Official website]
* [http://www.policija.lt/ Lithuanian police website]
{{Law enforcement in Lithuania}}
{{commons category|ARAS (Lithuania)}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1991 establishments in Lithuania]]
[[Category:ATLAS Network]]
[[Category:Police tactical units]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in Lithuania]]