Lithuanian Land Forces

Lithuanian Land Force
Lietuvos sausumos pajėgos
Insignia of Land Forces Command
Active	1918–1940, 1990–present
Country	Lithuania
Branch	Army
Type	Land force
Role	Defend territory of Lithuania and act as an integral part of NATO forces
Size	12,000 active duty 5,500 volunteer force ~3,500 conscripts
Part of	Lithuanian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Vilnius
Motto(s)	Vienybėje jėga, tikėjime - pergalė! (Translation: "Strength in unity, victory in trust!")
Equipment	Lithuanian army equipment
Website	Official site
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier general Artūras Radvilas
Chief of Staff	Colonel Viktoras Bagdonas
Insignia
Flag of Lithuanian Land Force
Flag of Land Forces Command

The Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF) form the backbone of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and are capable of acting as an integral part of NATO forces. Lithuanian Land Forces consist of a single recently formed 1st Army Division, the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces, and supporting units, together comprising of over 22,000 soldiers.

Structure

Main article: Lithuanian Armed Forces

The main element of the Land Forces is the 1st Army Division, comprising of the Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade, The "Žemaitija" (Griffin) infantry brigade, and the "Aukštaitija" infantry brigade.

The Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade is the main element of the Division and is formed around three mechanized infantry battalions and an artillery battalion, all named after Lithuanian grand dukes as the tradition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces goes.

The "Žemaitija" (Griffin) brigade was activated on 1 January 2016.. It is composed of three motorised infantry battalions and one artillery battalion; one of these is tasked to support operations both domestically and overseas; one is tasked primarily with the defence of territorial Lithuania.

The Brigade "Aukštaitija" is a reserve brigade, which was activated on 23 March 2017. In peacetime the brigade's headquarter staff works at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Training and Doctrine Command. The brigade's three maneuver battalions are made up of reservists, while the three battalion's headquarters personnel works in peacetime at the Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Armed Forces School, Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment, and General Adolfas Ramanauskas Combat Training Center. The brigade's reconnaissance company is composed of conscripts, while the brigade's headquarters, signal and logistic units are composed of professional soldiers. When activated the brigade consists of around 4,500 troops.

Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion is responsible for mine clearance, the construction of pontoon bridges, unexploded ordnance detonation tasks, underwater engineering, and participation in search and rescue operations. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Platoon is ready to participate in international operations. Starting in 2008, the Lithuanian Armed Forces launched a 10-year-long project continuing mine cleaning on Lithuanian territory of explosives left after the First and Second World War, and in former Soviet military bases.

As an integral part of the Land Forces, the National Defence Volunteers have been developing since the beginning of the national movement for independence. The volunteers act smoothly together with the Allies during military operations and have been assigned new missions: to augment the regular forces, to deploy individual units and specific capabilities for international operations, to assist host nation support and to support the civilian authorities.

Organization 2025

Lithuanian Land Forces organization 2023 (click to enlarge)

With the reintroduction of conscription in 2015 the Lithuanian Land Force began an expansion of its main combat formations. As of January 2025 the land forces consist of the following units:

• Lithuanian Land Forces Headquarters, in Vilnius
  • 1st Army Division
    • 1st Division HQ
    • Brigade "Iron Wolf"
    • Brigade "Žemaitija"
    • Brigade "Aukštaitija"
    • Colonel Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, in Kaunas
    • Rocket Artillery Battery
  • Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces
  • Juozas Lukša Training Center

Brigade "Iron Wolf"

Lithuanian IFV Vilkas during an exercise.

• Brigade "Iron Wolf", in Rukla:
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla
  • King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, in Panevėžys (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
  • Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, in Alytus (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
  • Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion, in Rukla (Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles)
  • Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion, in Rokantiškės (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
  • General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion, in Rukla (Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers)
  • NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group, in Rukla
  • Logistics battalion, in Rukla
  • Reconnaissance Company, in Rukla
  • Signal Company, in Rukla

Brigade "Žemaitija"

• Brigade "Žemaitija", in Klaipėda:
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Klaipėda
  • Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, in Klaipėda (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
  • Grand Duke Kęstutis Infantry Battalion, in Tauragė (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
  • Prince Margiris Infantry Battalion, in Šiauliai (M113A2 armored personnel carriers)
  • Brigadier General Motiejus Pečiulionis Artillery Battalion, in Pajūris (M101 towed howitzers, will be replaced by self-propelled Caesar NG howitzers)
  • Anti-tank Company, in Klaipėda
  • Logistics Company, in Klaipėda
  • Reconnaissance Company, in Klaipėda
  • Signal Company, in Klaipėda

Brigade "Aukštaitija"

• Brigade "Aukštaitija", in Vilnius:
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company
  • Infantry Battalion (formed in wartime by the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania in Vilnius)
  • Infantry Battalion (formed in wartime by the Division General Stasys Raštikis Lithuanian Military School in Kaunas)
  • Infantry Battalion (formed in wartime by the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radziwill Training Regiment in Rukla)
  • Infantry Battalion (formed in wartime by the General Adolfas Ramanauskas Combat Training Center in Nemenčinė)
  • Artillery Battalion
  • Logistics Battalion
  • Reconnaissance Company
  • Signal Company

National Defence Volunteer Forces

• National Defence Volunteer Forces, in Vilnius
  • 1st Territorial Unit Dainava District, in Alytus
    • Headquarters & Supply Company, in Alytus
    • 9× infantry companies, in Alytus, Varėna, Lazdijai, Vilkaviškis, Marijampolė, Druskininkai, and Kalvarija
  • 2nd Territorial Unit Darius and Girėnas District, in Kaunas
    • Headquarters & Supply Company, in Kaunas
    • 9× infantry companies
  • 3rd Territorial Unit Žemaičiai District, in Klaipėda
    • Headquarters & Supply Company, in Klaipėda
    • 9× infantry companies, in Klaipėda (2×), Gargždai, Plungė, Skuodas, Šilutė, Kretinga, Tauragė, and Šilalė
  • 5th Territorial Unit Vytis District, in Panevėžys
    • Headquarters & Supply Company, in Panevėžys
    • 9× infantry companies, in Panevėžys (2×), Pasvalys, Biržai, Kupiškis, Rokiškis, Anykščiai, Utena, and Zarasai
  • 6th Territorial Unit Prisikėlimo District, in Šiauliai
    • Headquarters & Supply Company, in Šiauliai
    • 9× infantry companies Šiauliai (2×), Mažeikiai, Telšiai, Kelmė, Joniškis, Pakruojis, Radviliškis, and Naujoji Akmenė
  • 8th Territorial Unit Didžioji Kova District, in Vilnius
    • Headquarters & Supply Company, in Vilnius
    • 9× infantry companies Vilnius (2×), Nemenčinė, Trakai, Ukmergė, Molėtai, Ignalina, Švenčionys, and Šalčininkai
    • Non-kinetic Operations Company, in Vilnius

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Lithuanian Armed Forces

Lithuanian PzH 2000 howitzer

In reforming the Armed Forces, most of the available attention and financial resources have been directed to the development of the Land Forces. Lithuania has been modernizing its armed forces since 1990s and by now nearly all equipment is compatible with the NATO standards. The current efforts focus on increasing the firepower, acquiring new equipment and armaments, enhancing their operational effectiveness and combat training. The standard service assault rifle of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is the Heckler & Koch G36 and the standard pistol is the Glock 17. The Lithuanian Land Forces are also equipped with machine guns, including the GPMG MG-3, the FN MAG, and the 12.7mm (.50 cal.) M2 Browning machine gun. They also employ the AT-4 anti-tank rockets and Carl Gustav anti-tank recoilless rifles, HK GMG high-velocity grenade launchers, and low-velocity AG-36 under-the-barrel grenade launchers, in addition to light and heavy mortars. The army also uses high-technology Lithuanian-made tactical automated commanding and controlling informational systems (TAVVIS).

Conscription

Format

Conscription in Lithuania lasts 9 months. Every year a random list of 18-23 year old men are called up to fill the 3,500 draftee requirement, however men and women up to 38 years old can apply voluntarily. In practice, only a small fraction of the conscripts need to be drafted, as the vast majority apply and serve voluntarily . After completing the 9 months service, conscripts are added to the active military reserve, where they remain for 10 years and are periodically called up to refresh their skills.

History

Conscription halted in Lithuanian in 2008, as the military focused on developing the professional armed forces, and the relative geopolitical stability coupled with economic crisis didn't justify the increased spending.

Conscription was eventually reintroduced in 2015, this decision was determined by two main reasons: changed geopolitical situation and insufficient manning of the units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The first draft included 3,000 people, with plans to raise it to 3,500 the following year.

The deteriorating geopolitical state in 2022 reignited the debate over importance of conscription, and as of 2025 there are numerous reforms planned with the eventual goal of universal mandatory conscription. A new law will take effect starting 2026 that will, among other things, raise the quantity of enlisted conscripts from 3,500 to 4,000, change the draft pool to include all high-school graduates from 18 to 22 years old, and offer more alternative forms of service.

Ranks

Main article: Lithuanian military ranks and insignia

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
Lithuanian Land Force
			Generolas		Generolas leitenantas		Generolas majoras		Brigados generolas		Pulkininkas		Pulkininkas leitenantas		Majoras		Kapitonas		Vyresnysis leitenantas			Leitenantas

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Lithuanian Land Force
	Seržantas majoras						Viršila		Štabo seržantas		Vyresnysis seržantas						Seržantas						Grandinis				Vyresnysis eilinis		Eilinis						Jaunesnysis eilinis

References

As of this edit, this article uses content from "Lithuanian Armed Forces :: Structure » Land Forces", which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, but not under the GFDL. All relevant terms must be followed.

• Lithuanian Ministry of Defence site
• Stefan Marx, 'Lithuania's Defence Structure,' Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1993, p. 407–409

Sources

• Hackett, James, ed. (2022-02-14). "The 2022 Military Balance Chart". The Military Balance. 122 (1). International Institute for Strategic Studies. ISSN 0459-7222.

External links

• Map of the dislocation of the units of the Lithuanian Land Force in 2020