Loitering munition Virtus from Stark: 45th Armoured Brigade “Litauen” tests it at “Freedom Shield 2026”

The Bundeswehr's (German Armed Forces) 45th Armoured Brigade “Litauen” (Panzerbrigade 45) is set to test Stark's new Virtus loitering munition for the first time, during “Freedom Shield 2026”, the largest Bundeswehr combat exercise in Lithuania to date. The ten-day exercise begins on 17 November and involves around 3,800 soldiers. They come from eight NATO member states. The programme includes a river crossing, combined arms combat, drone operations and electronic warfare.

The Bundeswehr is moving Armoured Infantry Battalion 122, based in Oberviechtach, to Lithuania by rail and ship. It is reinforced by troops from Augustdorf belonging to Tank Battalion 203. Both units are to be permanently stationed at the Rudninkai training area from 2027.

They are joined by the Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania, based in Rukla, a Lithuanian company and further Bundeswehr units. Eight countries are taking part: Lithuania, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Croatia.

Loitering munition and drones at the Rudninkai training area

One of the central elements of “Freedom Shield” is the crossing of the Nemunas, a river south of Kaunas, on 20 November. The exercise concludes with a six-day combat exercise at the Rudninkai training area. Various drone systems are to be tested there, including, for the first time, Stark's Virtus. Only days ago, the German company also announced a new site in Lithuania.

Brigadier General Christoph Huber, commander of the 45th Armoured Brigade, puts the exercise into context: “Exercise Freedom Shield is another milestone on the way to a fully equipped, operationally ready and therefore war-ready Brigade Lithuania. It is intended to make clear that, beyond any doubt, we will fulfil our mission within the 10th Armoured Division on NATO's eastern flank.” He adds: “We train to get better. With innovation, we are consistently preparing for the requirements of a possible war scenario.”

Around 6,000 soldiers in the Baltic states at the same time

At the same time as “Freedom Shield”, the 37th Armoured Infantry Brigade “Freistaat Sachsen” is also heading to Lithuania for the combat exercise “Grand Eagle 26”. Until the 45th Armoured Brigade is fully established at the end of 2027, the 37th Brigade is currently available to NATO as a rapidly deployable brigade.

Both exercises are coordinated by the 10th Armoured Division. Around 6,000 soldiers are training in the Baltic states at the same time. The aim is to strengthen the readiness of German forces on NATO's eastern flank.