The army leadership talks about the need for tanks for Lithuania – Respublika.lt

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Army commander Valdemaras Rupšys. Photo of Elta.

The commander of the Lithuanian army, Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys, says that Lithuania already has the majority – 75 percent. – the capabilities needed to create a military division. However, according to the officer, it is necessary to decide which division-level military unit is to be established. According to V. Rupšis, it is unlikely that such divisions as in the United States (USA) or Germany could appear in the country, however, he notes, the Lithuanian division could have a tank battalion.

The commander of the Lithuanian army, Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys, says that Lithuania already has the majority – 75 percent. – the capabilities needed to create a military division. However, according to the officer, it is necessary to decide which division-level military unit is to be established. According to V. Rupšis, it is unlikely that such divisions as in the United States (USA) or Germany could appear in the country, however, he notes, the Lithuanian division could have a tank battalion.

“Such a division would concentrate practically the majority of the ground forces. That division would be equipped with air defense units of our Air Force, perhaps a reconnaissance unit – that’s still a question, because the division must have a reconnaissance battalion. Practically all the logistics available to the army would be concentrated in the division, in the maneuver on land, etc. Overall, in practice we have about 75 percent. of all that capacity,” said the general in an interview with the “15min” portal,

“We have to decide what that division is going to be or what we’re going to structure that division to be.” Divisions are also different. We don’t really have the resources to build a division like the United States, a tank or armored division, which is practically 20,000 to 25,000 strong. staff (members – ELTA). Or the German division (with ELTA) similarly staffed. We are talking about the middle light division,” he said.

According to the commander of the army, such a division would consist of three maneuver units – the “Geležinio Vilkos” brigade, the “Žemaitijas” brigade and the reserve brigade. However, the general notes, the “Iron Wolf” unit should be significantly strengthened, and a tank unit should also be created in the division.

“We should strengthen the Iron Wolf Brigade so that it can carry out operations of the entire spectrum – that is, maneuver defense, stationary defense and, of course, enable it to carry out a counterattack,” explained V. Rupšys.

“If there is political approval and additional funding is provided accordingly to develop capabilities up to the division level, then we should also have a tank unit,” the general added, noting that such a unit would consist of about half a dozen tanks.

The army commander assured that plans for military development are currently being detailed. However, he stressed, the political leadership supports the initiative to create the division.

“We have to prepare a more detailed plan and present it to the political leadership. If we justify it (ELTA), I think there will be approval. I think so, but I’m afraid of getting ahead of myself,” said V. Rupšys.

ELTA reminds that the State Defense Council (VGT), which met in the Presidency last Monday, instructed the Ministry of National Defense and the army to draw up clear plans regarding possible structural changes in the Lithuanian army. According to Minister Arvydas Anušauskas, the formation of the division would be created on the basis of already existing land forces and would be a long-term “decade project”.

“We talked about the possible, future development of the Lithuanian army. For that, of course, we need to make plans. We are talking about the division, its Lithuanian creation on the basis of the existing ground forces and other capabilities. But we still need to prepare for that, calculate how much it will cost, what additional capacities we could develop, what our allies could compensate us for, until this long-term project is realized. I would like to emphasize that this would be a long-term, essentially ten-year project”, A. Anušauskas told journalists after the VGT meeting held on Monday.