Lithuanian Ministry of Defence, On 5-6 October troops of the Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Force, together with their Latvian counterparts, will for the first time ever attend an exercise of live firing from the short-range air defence missile system RBS-70 to air targets. The exercise will be held at the Skede Training Area of the Latvian Armed Forces.
The short-range air defence missile system RBS-70 was handed over by Norway to Lithuania free of charge in November 2004. Latvia also has the same type air defence system.
According to Lithuanian military officers, Lithuania has no training area available where operation of the received equipment could be tested out; in distance terms, the nearest training area for such type exercising is the Skede Training Area in Latvia. Up till now, Lithuanian troops have been trained on how to operate and maintain the air defence system at simulator classes; instructors received training in Norway.
On Thursday, 6 October the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Gediminas Kirkilas, Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Major General Valdas Tutkus, senior officials of the Latvian Armed Forces are expected to observe the exercise.
The Air Defence Battalion is one of the youngest units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces; it was established five years ago.
The RBS-70air-defence missile system is a complete combat unit with radar system, missile launching and control equipment available and able to neutralise a target within the range of 8 kilometres.
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