Lithuanian soldiers are taking part in the largest NATO demining exercise in Iceland

The commander of the Lithuanian army, General Valdemaras Rupšys, who is visiting Iceland, is observing the exercises.

“We met with Lithuanian soldiers participating in the exercises, I heard about the benefits and challenges of these trainings. It was even more useful to see the wider picture of the exercise by meeting the organizers and participants at different levels. We are a small but important part of these exercises”, said Gen. Valdemaras Rupšys.

The purpose of these annual exercises is to share experience and knowledge in the field of neutralizing improvised explosive devices among NATO allies. Training takes place on land and in water bodies, deminers’ skills and interaction are improved, competences are expanded when performing tasks in a complex environment, great attention is paid to the protection of the port and its infrastructure.

Demining teams from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden and France are also participating in the exercise.

“During the exercises, we have the opportunity to learn from each other, we apply technological innovations, consolidate standard operating procedures, work together and support each other. The exercises are focused on the direct work of minesweepers with improvised explosive devices in the most realistic conditions possible, so this is one of the best places where minesweepers can test their theoretical knowledge, practical skills and team abilities”, says the commander of the minesweeper group of the Underwater Action Team, Capt. Lt. Rapolas Jurgelis.

During the “Northern Challenge 2023” exercise, soldiers of the Lithuanian army, in cooperation with representatives from NATO countries, carried out various demining tasks, which were made more difficult as the scenario of the exercise developed. Soldiers had to mine improvised explosive devices on land and in water bodies.

Depending on the team’s standard actions when demining explosives, during other tasks, explosive devices were targeted against the deminer’s actions, thus forcing the deminers to actively react to the changing situation, adapt standard action procedures, apply additional security measures and actions.

The “Northern Challenge 23” exercise is organized by the Icelandic Coast Guard in cooperation with the minesweepers of the British and Danish armies. Representatives from 15 NATO countries are participating in the exercise, 27 teams carried out complex demining operations in difficult natural conditions on the island of Iceland.

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