Air Defence Battalion becomes First Air Defence Battalion

Lithuania’s Air Force Air Defence Battalion has been renamed the First Air Defence Battalion, LRT reported. The change took effect on September 1, marking the unit’s 26th anniversary.

The battalion’s main task remains supporting the armed forces with ground-based air defence systems, according to the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

It trains air defence units to protect important state and municipal facilities and is prepared to defend an area, a facility axis and manoeuvring units independently or in cooperation with NATO allies.

The battalion also carries out national armed defence, rapid response force and peacetime tasks.

Its commander, Major Romas Zakaras, said the importance of air defence had grown significantly in the current environment.

“This is one of the most important links in Lithuania’s national defence and NATO’s collective defence. Our task is to protect the country’s airspace, people and critical infrastructure. Service in air defence requires professionalism, discipline, constant vigilance and a willingness to act when it is needed most,” Zakaras said.

The First Air Defence Battalion uses NASAMS medium-range air defence systems, RBS-70 and GROM short-range missile systems, and Giraffe MkIV and Giraffe 1X surveillance radars.