Latvia will host the US Army Europe-led annual international military exercise “Saber Strike” between the 3rd and the 15th of June. Aim of this exercise is to enhance readiness and interoperability among allies and regional partners. This will also be the first time that NATO eFP battle group Latvia takes part in the annual training.
This year’s exercise “Saber Strike 2018” will be integrated with Latvian led international military exercise “Summer Shield XV”. The total of 3 000 troops from Albania, USA, Denmark, Italy, Canada, Latvia, the UK, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Germany will take part in the integrated drill.
Combat training will be conducted at the Ādaži Training Area and outside the training area, in Rucava, Nīca, Grobiņa, Priekule, Durbe, Aizpute, Skrunda, Vaiņode, Saldus and Limbaži districts.
“Saber Strike 2018” also goes beyond Latvia, with similar operations conducted also in other two Baltic countries and attended by around 18 000 troops from 19 countries.
Saber Strike, led by United Stated Army Europe, is an annual joint training of land and air forces, which began on 2010.
Operation “Summer Shield XV” is a training designed to promote battalion and brigade-level integration of combat support and supply capabilities for defence operations. This year’s “Summer Shield XV” exercise will promote capabilities of a broad spectrum of combat support units, such as artillery support, air defence, reconnaissance, defence against weapons of mass destruction, combat engineers and anti-tank units. Joint fire support forward observers and air controllers, Medical Company and military logistics units will also be engaged in the exercise to build their capacity.
The first military exercise “Summer Shield” in Latvia was held in 2004. The initial objective of the training was to prepare military units for coalition’s operations in Iraq.
For short video highlighting Saber Strike go to https://youtu.be/-FADPGNY53g
Public announcement
National Armed Forces would like to remind that Latvia and other Baltic countries are implementing a series of extensive military training and exercises. Military training with participation of Latvian and allied armed forces will include movement of military vehicles via public roads, and military planes and helicopters through Latvia’s air space.
National Armed Forces apologise for any inconvenience and hope that any temporary traffic disruptions caused by movement of large military groups will not cause too much trouble to other road users.
Military convoys will be escorted by Military Police, State Police or Movement Coordination Centre. National Armed Forces reminds all drivers: according to road rules it is strictly forbidden to obstruct the approaching military convoy or try to, for example, overtake it.
National Armed Forces would like to underline that military aircraft flying above Latvia must comply with applicable altitude and speed requirements. And, although such flying craft may create temporary noise, it is harmless to human health and property.
All updates regarding the training will be posted on National Armed Force Twitter account @Latvijas_armija.
When you see soldiers or National Guard moving outside military training areas and unit positions or military and other equipment being set up and positioned in different areas of Latvia, please remain calm.