View source for Air Defence Battalion (Lithuania)

{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Air Defence Battalion
|native_name = {{langx|lt|Oro gynybos batalionas}}
| image= Insignia of the Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Forces.jpg
| image_size = 170
|caption= Insignia
|dates= 1935–1940<br>2000–present
|country= {{LTU}}
|branch= [[Lithuanian Air Force]]
|type= [[Anti-air]]
|role= [[Air defence]]
|size= Over 300
|command_structure=
|garrison= [[Radviliškis]]
|garrison_label=
|anniversaries= 1 September 2000
|equipment= [[NASAMS]] <br> [[RBS-70]] <br> [[PZR Grom]]
|equipment_label=
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 = plk.ltn. Andrius Konovalovas<ref>{{cite web|title= Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Forces - Command|publisher=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania|url=http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/structure_1469/air_force/structure_1330/air_defence_battalion_of_the_lithuanian_air_forces/command_1334.html}}</ref>
| commander1_label = Commander
| commander2 =
| commander2_label = Chief of Staff
|notable_commanders=
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
}}
The '''Air Defence Battalion''' is the main [[air defence]] unit of the [[Lithuanian Air Force]]. It was created as part of efforts to strengthen and organise the air defence capabilities of the Lithuanian Air Force (LTAF), in 2000.
== History ==
The present Air Defence Battalion is considered to be a revival of a similar unit in the air force of independent [[Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940)|Republic of Lithuania]] between the World Wars, active from 1935 to 1940.
In 1998, efforts to develop and strengthen the LTAF defence capabilities began under supervision of Col. [[Česlovas Braziulis]]. That same year, [[Swedish military|Swedish Defence]] officials offered to donate weaponry, technical documentation and training programmes to for a battalion. At this time, the idea of establishing the battalion started to become a reality.
From 1999 to 2000 a group of LTAF troops took studies in military training institutions units in [[Sweden]], where they received theoretical knowledge and practical experience working with battalion weaponry.
In July 2000, the LTAF established the Air Defence Battalion. Lt. Col. [[Remigijus Daujotis]] was appointed as Commander of the Battalion.
In September 2000, the Battalion received the first consignment of combat equipment from [[Sweden]]. Another shipment of combat equipment and ammunition arrived at the end of 2000. According to the bilateral agreement with Sweden, Swedish advisers who help Lithuanians adapt to the battalion's equipment presently work in the Air Defence Battalion.
In June 2020 the first Battery of NASAMS (National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System) medium-range air defence systems procured from Norway was delivered to the Battalion. The personnel is planned to be fully trained by 2021 and integration of the systems into the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS) will begin along with that.<ref>{{cite web|title=NASAMS medium-range air defence systems delivered to the Lithuanian Air Force|date=19 June 2020|publisher=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania|url=http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/military_insignia/news_1889/nasams_medium-range_air_defence_systems_delivered_to_the_lithuanian_air_force.html?backlink=%252Fen%252Fsearch%252Fresults%252Fp0.html}}</ref>
After February 2022, during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Lithuania has donated 2 [[NASAMS]] launchers,<ref name="NASAMS">{{cite web|title=Lithuania buys two NASAMS units and gives them to Ukraine|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3728692-lithuania-buys-two-nasams-units-and-gives-them-to-ukraine.html|date=28 June 2023|access-date=28 June 2023|website=Ukrinform}}</ref> [[FIM-92 Stinger]] MANPADS',<ref name="Stinger">{{Cite web |title=Baltic Biceps To The Rescue - Lithuanian Weapons Deliveries To Ukraine |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/06/baltic-biceps-to-the-rescue.html |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Oryx |date=17 June 2022}}</ref> and 36 [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70|Bofors L70]] anti-aircraft guns<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=Lithuania to supply Ukraine with 36 anti-aircraft missile systems to destroy Iranian-made drones |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3667984-lithuania-to-supply-ukraine-with-36-antiaircraft-missile-systems-to-destroy-iranianmade-drones.html |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Ukrinform |language=en}}</ref> to Ukraine.
== Tasks ==
The Air Defence Battalion's primary missions include:
* Defend state facilities of vital importance against [[military aviation]] attacks from the air in low and medium altitude;
* Support [[land forces]] in fighting against ground armoured technical equipment and in other events;
* Train [[military personnel]] in carrying out combat tasks.
Development of infrastructure is one key missions of the Air Defence Battalion currently in the stage of development.
== Air-defence equipment ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Model!!Image!!Origin!!Variant!!Details
|-
! style="align: center;" colspan="7" | [[Anti-aircraft warfare|Surface-to-air missile system]]s
|-
|[[NASAMS]]||[[File:NASAMS 3 in Lithuanian service (2).jpg|150px]]
|{{NOR}} || NASAMS 3 || Ordered from Norway, with [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] (AIM-120C-8)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-24 |title=Lithuania to buy US air defence missiles|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2108539/lithuania-to-buy-us-air-defence-missiles |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=lrt.lt |language=en}}</ref> missiles and MPQ-64 Sentinel air search radar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/naujas-lietuvos-kariuomenes-pirkinys-uz-100-mln-euru-uz-ka-bus-sumoketi-pinigai.d?id=72391724|title=Naujas Lietuvos kariuomenės pirkinys už 100 mln. eurų: už ką bus sumokėti pinigai?|first=Vaidas Saldžiūnas|last=DELFI|website=Delfi.lt|accessdate=3 October 2017}}</ref> Delivered in 2020. 2 NASAMS launchers were donated to Ukraine in 2023.<ref name="NASAMS"/> More systems for €200 million were ordered in December 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania signs €200m deal on new NASAMS air defence system|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2150279/lithuania-signs-eur200m-deal-on-new-nasams-air-defence-system|date=14 December 2023|access-date=14 December 2023|website=LRT}}</ref>
|-
| [[AN/TWQ-1 Avenger]] || [[File:Avenger_missile.jpg|150px]]|| {{nowrap|{{USA}}}} ||  || Ordered from the United States in December 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air defence emerges as one of key aspects of deterrence and military conflict alike|url=https://kariuomene.lt/en/newsevents/air-defence-emerges-as-one-of-key-aspects-of-deterrence-and-military-conflict-alike/25045|date=20 December 2022|access-date=20 January 2023|website=Lithuanian Army|quote=Based on the contracts between Lithuania and the U.S. Government, Lithuanian Air Force equipment pool has been strengthened with the Avenger short-range air defence system and NASAMS mid-range air defence system.}}</ref>
|-
! style="align: center;" colspan="7" | [[Anti-aircraft warfare|Man-portable air-defence system]]s
|-
|[[RBS 70|RBS-70]]||[[File:RBS-70_in_Lithuanian_Air_Force.jpg|150px]] || {{SWE}} || RBS 70 NG || Modernised to RBS-70 NG version.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/59854/lithuanian-army-to-modernise-short-range-air-defence-system-201359854/ |title=Lithuanian army to modernise short-range air defence systemThe Lithuania Tribune |accessdate=2015-01-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809093438/http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/59854/lithuanian-army-to-modernise-short-range-air-defence-system-201359854/ |archivedate=2014-08-09 }}</ref>
|-
| [[FIM-92 Stinger]] || [[File:Lithuanian Stingers.jpg|150px]] || {{USA}}||FIM-92 Stinger || Acquired in 2007 "Dual Mount Stinger" modification with  missiles,  trainers,  test missiles, [[MPQ-64 Sentinel]] radars, tactical control centres and [[Humvee]] trucks for transportation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kam.lt/EasyAdmin/sys/files/KA-04-11.pdf|title=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania information publication|language=Lithuanian|website=Kam.lt|accessdate=3 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kam.lt/EasyAdmin/sys/files/6-11.pdf |title=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania information publication|language=Lithuanian|website=Kam.lt|accessdate=3 October 2017}}</ref> Some Stingers have been donated to Ukraine.<ref name="Stinger"/>
|-
| [[PZR Grom]] || [[File:PZR Grom in Lithuanian Air Force.jpg|150px]] || {{POL}} || Grom ||
|-
! style="align: center;" colspan="7" | [[Radar]]s
|-
| [[Saab Group|Saab]] [[Giraffe radar|Giraffe]] ||[[File:Giraffe AFB-radar.jpg|frameless|230x230px]]
|{{SWE}} || Giraffe Mk-IV || Part of the [[Short Range Air Defense|SHORAD]] units.
|-
| [[AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel]] || [[File:AN MPQ-64 Sentinel in Lithuanian Air Defense Battalion.jpg|150px]] || {{USA}} ||  || Part of the short and medium range air defence systems.
|-
| [[TRML-3D]] || [[File:Radar_TRML-3D.jpg|150px]] || {{GER}} || TRML-3D/32 || Acquired in 2004 <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kam.lt/index.php/en/73948/|title=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania|website=kam.lt}}</ref>
|-
|}
== See also ==
{{portal|Lithuania}}
* [[Airspace Surveillance and Control Command (Lithuania)]]
== External links ==
*[https://www.kariuomene.lt/karines-oro-pajegos/padaliniai/oro-gynybos-batalionas/23202 Oro gynybos batalionas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726112144/https://www.kariuomene.lt/karines-oro-pajegos/padaliniai/oro-gynybos-batalionas/23202 |date=2023-07-26 }}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH-o9mjzSvs Video coverage of combat firing exercise on May 1-4, 2014]
== References ==
{{CCBYSASource|sourcepath=http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/structure_1469/air_force/structure_1330/air_defence_battalion_of_the_lithuanian_air_forces.html|sourcearticle=Lithuanian Armed Forces :: Structure » Air Force » Structure » Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Forces|revision=258596771}}
{{reflist}}
{{Lithuanian Armed Forces units (1990–now)}}
[[Category:Lithuanian Air Force]]
[[Category:Battalions of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1935]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1940]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2000]]
[[Category:Air defence units and formations]]