Training exercises using HIMARS to be held in Latvia
HIMARS will be delivered for training exercises in Latvia on September 26 (Photo:defense.gov)
HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems will be delivered to Latvia for training exercises, the Ministry of Defense of Latvia has stated, according to a Sept. 25 report by Latvian news website Delfie.
The HIMARS will be delivered using MC-130J Commando II aircraft of the U.S. Special Operations Forces in Europe. The training exercises are being held at the request of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF).
The purpose of the exercises is to demonstrate the possibilities of cooperation between the Latvian NAF and the U.S. Armed Forces. The military will also be taught how to detect, identify and evaluate targets.
Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, Commander of the National Armed Forces Lieutenant General Leonid Kalniņš, and U.S. Ambassador to Latvia James Carville will oversee the delivery, deployment and simulated firing of the HIMARS at Spilve Airfield.
Upon arrival in Liepaja, the HIMARS systems will be moved to the Skede military training ground in the Vergales parish of the South Kurzeme region to fire training missiles at a target in the Latvian economic zone of the Baltic Sea.
The exercises using HIMARS are being held in Latvia for the first time since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine and threats from the Kremlin to use nuclear weapons.
In July, Latvia announced its intention to introduce general military service in the country and drew up a plan for introducing innovations.
Riga supports Kyiv in the fight against Russian invaders, providing military and financial assistance.
The United States has already provided the HIMARS Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to the Ukrainian army. Ukraine has used it to strike at Russian ammunition depots in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by invading Russian forces.
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