Lithuanian troops participate in international exercise Mighty Arrow 26 in Finland

Lithuanian soldiers took part in the international military exercise Mighty Arrow 26 in Finland last month, conducting offensive and defensive operations alongside allied forces, the Lithuanian Armed Forces reported on Thursday.

The drill, held from April to early May at the Niinisalo training ground, involved around 2,800 troops and 300 military vehicles from NATO member and partner nations. Lithuania’s contribution included 210 personnel and 40 vehicles from the Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, reinforced by units from the Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion.

Organised by Finland’s Armoured Brigade, the exercise focused on preparing armoured forces for combined-arms operations under NATO’s combat group framework, with an emphasis on offensive manoeuvres and delaying actions. Training objectives included enhancing battalion-level combat readiness, rapid deployment capabilities, and interoperability between air and ground units, as well as improving logistics and host-nation support coordination.

Scenarios simulated red-versus-blue force engagements, with battlefield losses tracked via digital systems to assess tactical effectiveness. The active phase (April 27–May 1) featured three to four high-intensity battles evaluating troop preparedness, reaction speed, and integrated multi-domain operations—incorporating engineering, anti-tank, reconnaissance, indirect-fire, drone, and electronic warfare assets.

Lithuania’s contingent centred on the 2nd Infantry Company of the Birutė Uhlan Battalion, equipped with Vilkas armoured personnel carriers—platforms optimised for Finland’s forested and complex terrain. The majority of participants were conscripts nearing the end of their nine-month mandatory service, gaining firsthand experience in a multinational operational environment before transitioning to reserve status on May 3.