Lithuania: more than 6,000 troops in two German exercises – what the “Lithuania” Brigade will test for the first time

More than 6,000 troops, mostly German, have been exercising in Lithuania since Friday, November 6, in two drills conducted simultaneously until December 3. Both are coordinated on the ground by the German Army’s 10th Panzer Division, which in the event of war would come under NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) in Szczecin. “In war there is no second place,” noted its commander, Maj. Gen. Jörg See.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces warned of increased movement of military convoys on the country’s roads. The heaviest traffic from the Kalvarija border crossing to the training areas was expected on November 6 and 7, while convoys from the port of Klaipeda will move between November 10 and 12. The return of equipment is scheduled from November 28 to December 3.

Loitering munitions for the first time

The larger of the two is Freedom Shield 26-II of the 45th Panzer Brigade “Lithuania.” With about 3,800 troops, it is, according to the Bundeswehr, the largest field exercise it has conducted in Lithuania so far. The most interesting part is the six-day final phase at the Rudninkai training area: combined-arms combat with drones of every type, an emphasis on electronic warfare and, for the first time for the brigade, new loitering-munition systems. Before that, from November 17 and for ten days in all, units will train in crossing the Nemunas River south of Kaunas.

Two of the units arriving by train and ship will end up staying in the country: the 122nd Panzergrenadier Battalion from Oberviechtach and the 203rd Panzer Battalion from Augustdorf, with Leopard 2 tanks, which takes part with elements, will be permanently stationed at Rudninkai from 2027. Also taking part are NATO’s multinational battlegroup stationed at Rukla and a Lithuanian company, with soldiers from eight countries in all: Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Belgium, Luxembourg and Lithuania. “We train to become better,” said the brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Christoph Huber. Lithuania has itself already added such weapons to its arsenal, having received its first Switchblade 600.

Grand Eagle 26 at Pabrade

At the Pabrade training area, Grand Eagle 26 is being conducted by the 37th Panzergrenadier Brigade “Free State of Saxony.” The brigade is moving within a few days, with about 1,800 troops and more than 750 vehicles, by air and by land. Since January 2025 it has been the German Army’s highest-readiness unit for NATO and remains at NATO’s disposal as a rapid-reaction brigade until the 45th Brigade’s build-up is completed at the end of 2027. The core of the exercise force is the 391st Panzergrenadier Battalion from Bad Salzungen, reinforced with engineers, artillery, electronic warfare and psychological operations. The climax will be a live-fire exercise to repel a simulated attacker with combined arms. Its commander, Col. Hagen Ruppelt, likened it to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which requires a full orchestra.

In October Lithuania sent troops to the border with Kaliningrad, after the incident in the airspace of neighbouring Latvia.