NATO starts international artillery exercises in Lithuania

   (UNIAN) --- International exercises involving troops from Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and the United States have started in the Baltic country Lithuania, Russian news agency TASS has reported, referring to a source in Lithuania’s Defense Ministry.

REUTERS

   The exercises, entitled Flaming Thunder, will involve live firing with U.S. Paladin 155 mm self-propelled howitzers at Lithuania’s Klaipeda and Pabradė firing ranges.

   Around 450 troops from the four countries will take part.

   This is the third time the Flaming Thunder exercises have been held, and each year they involve more NATO allies, the source at the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said.

   Four Paladin self-propelled guns were sent to Lithuania for the exercises. The guns, which have a range of up to 30 kilometers, each have a crew of six men – a commander, gunner, assistant gunner, driver, and two loaders.

   The Flaming Thunder exercises are scheduled to last until April 24.