Iron Wolf brigade strengthens cooperation with allies in Germany

The Lithuanian Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf has completed three weeks of participation in the international Swords Clash 2026 exercise in Germany, LRT reported, citing the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

About 300 Lithuanian troops took part in the exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels. They came from the Iron Wolf Brigade, Colonel Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, National Defence Volunteer Force, Dr Jonas Basanavičius Military Medical Service, the Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Force, General Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre and the Military Ordinariate.

During the exercise, the Iron Wolf Brigade operated under a division formed on the basis of the United States Army Southern European Task Force.

The brigade conducted command post exercises using the advanced JCATS computer simulation programme for conflict and tactics to support tactical decision-making and situation management.

The brigade said it carried out its tasks in close cooperation with allies, including Poland’s 9th Armoured Brigade and the United States’ 173rd Airborne Brigade. The latter was the main training audience for the exercise and took part in field tactical exercises.

Full-strength brigade headquarters were deployed at the exercise area in Germany. The brigade’s battalion command groups and representatives of units supporting it in operations also operated alongside them.

According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Swords Clash 2026 enabled newly appointed personnel, brigade battalion commanders and commanders of assigned units to be integrated into the brigade’s operational planning and execution. The exercise also strengthened the Iron Wolf Brigade’s interoperability with NATO partners and allies and contributed to higher readiness for collective defence.