Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf

MIB "Iron Wolf" main mission is to maintain required capabilities as stated in national defense guide in order to defend Republic of Lithuania sovereignty, its territorial integrity, participate in NATO and international peace support operations, plan and conduct brigade staff and units training, main effort preparation for peace support operations in accordance with international commitments.

Main tasks:

• Plan and conduct the tasks related to military operations;
• Prepare training and activity plans of "Iron Wolf" brigade;
• Organize, conduct, evaluate and analyze training of subunits in order to achieve specify tasks and essential tasks of the mission;
• Control readiness of subunits of IB "Iron Wolf" to conduct stated missions and essential tasks of the mission;
• Coordinate main spheres of activity with the commander of "Iron Wolf" brigade;
• Take part in national and international military operations, exercises and projects of the military cooperation;
• Collect information on experience gathered during exercises and make suggestions to Brigade commander;
• Provide information and reports to the higher headquarters concerning implementation of training and activity plans;
• Provide assistance to state and municipal institutions by responding to threats of a non-military nature;
• Maintain close relationship with local society and participate in their activities.

MIB "Iron Wolf" is the largest unit of land forces of the Lithuania Armed Forces, consists of the command, its elements and six battalions stationed across Lithuania and named after Lithuanian Great Dukes and Duchesses as the tradition of the Lithuanian Armed Forces goes:

• Iron Wolf Infantry Brigade, in Rukla
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Rukla
  • King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion (Lithuanian: Karaliaus Mindaugo husarų batalionas), in Panevėžys
  • Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion (Lithuanian: Didžiosios kunigaikÅ¡tienės Birutės ulonų batalionas), in Alytus
  • Grand Duke Algirdas Infantry Battalion (Lithuanian: Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Algirdo pėstininkų batalionas), in Rukla
  • Duke Vaidotas Infantry Battalion (Lithuanian: Kunigaikščio Vaidoto pėstininkų batalionas), in Rukla
  • General Romualdas Giedraitis Artillery Battalion (Lithuanian: Generolo Romualdo Giedraičio artilerijos batalionas), in Rukla
  • NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group (Lithuanian: NATO PrieÅ¡akinių pajėgų bataliono kovinė grupė)
  • Logistics battalion (Lithuanian: Logistikos batalionas), in Rukla
  • Reconnaissance Company, in Rukla
  • Signal Company, in Rukla

The unit originated in June 1990, when a separate Defence Squad was created. Same year, in autumn, the Honors Guards Company was created.

• January 13, 1991 – both the Defence Squad and the Honors Guard Company defend the Lithuania's parliament building, the Hall of Press, the Ministers' Council building, the Vilnius TV Tower, and other buildings during the January Events;
• February 22, 1991 – a Training Regiment (Lithuanian: Mokomasis junginys) is created;
• November 14, 1991 – the Training Regiment reorganized as Rapid Reaction Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Lithuanian: Greitojo reagavimo motodesantinė brigada). Brigade's subunits, stationed in various parts of Lithuania, are considered equal to battalions;
• Spring, 1992 – First draftees are assigned to the newly formed Brigade, with battalions stationed Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Å iauliai, Tauragė, and two companies are stationed in Alytus and Marijampolė (the two latter later growing into full battalions);
• January 2, 1992 – Renamed as Field army 1st Mechanized Airborne Brigade (Lithuanian: Lauko kariuomenės 1-oji motodesantinė brigada);
• June 6, 1992 – Unit's first parade in the Cathedral Square, Vilnius; Brigade is awarded the name "Iron Wolf" (Lithuanian: "Geležinis Vilkas");
• April 1, 1995 – Klaipėda's battalion is reassigned under the Navy command; Kaunas's battalion reassigned under the Army HQ's command;
• January 26, 1996 – Field Infantry Brigade reorganized as "Iron Wolf" Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Lithuanian: Motorizuotoji pėstininkų brigada "Geležinis Vilkas");
• October 27, 1996 – Brigade's battalions in Å iauliai (the "Grand Duke Vaidotas" battalion) and Tauragė (the "Grand Duke Kęstutis" battalion) are reassigned as separate units;
• In 2004 – the bilateral project between Denmark and Lithuania LITBRIG has started;
• August 31, 2006 – in Haderslev, Denmark, the Chief of Defense of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Valdas Tutkus and Chief of Defense of Denmark Gen. Hans Jasper Helsø signed the Memorandum of MIB "Iron Wolf" affiliation with Danish Division.
• In March 2023, Gen. Valdemaras RupÅ¡ys, the chief of defence of Lithuanian Armed Forces has announced the plans to acquire up to 54 main battle tanks, and plans to transform the hussar battalion into a tank battalion, as part of an effort to create a Lithuanian division by 2030.^[1][2]

The soldiers of the brigade participate in exercises of various levels in Lithuania as well as abroad. In addition, they are conducting peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and stand by period in NATO Response Force and Battlegroup of the European Union. The Brigade constantly takes part in joint projects, international operations, and wargames together with other countries' military units. Among those are the British Armed Forces, the Army of Denmark, the Army of the Czech Republic, the United States Military, Poland and Germany.