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US Army Bradley Crews Conduct Live-Fire Drills Near Belarus in NATO Readiness Push
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US Army soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, carried out Bradley Fighting Vehicle live-fire gunnery drills on January 11–12 at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area near Pabradė, Lithuania, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain combat readiness along NATO’s eastern flank, according to Defence Blog on January 13.
The exercises centered on live-fire engagements designed to certify crews and sharpen their ability to operate the Bradley in realistic battlefield conditions.
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According to the US Army, the gunnery focused on improving crew lethality and coordination as units progressed through collective training tables, reinforcing the presence of combat-ready forces in a strategically sensitive region.
Multiple Bradley crews rotated through both daytime and nighttime firing scenarios, practicing target acquisition, weapons employment, and coordinated maneuver under operational conditions. The Army said such drills are critical for building crew confidence, sustaining warfighting standards, and ensuring readiness for potential high-intensity environments.
The 1st Cavalry Division routinely conducts armored and combined-arms training during its European deployments. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a tracked infantry platform armed with a 25mm autocannon, a coaxial machine gun, and TOW anti-armor missiles, remains a central element of US armored formations. Gunnery certification evaluates crews on accuracy, speed, communication, and the ability to engage targets while maneuvering.
The General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area lies close to Lithuania’s border with Belarus and within operational reach of Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, making it a key training site for US and allied forces. Its terrain and facilities allow armored units to conduct complex maneuvers in an area viewed by NATO as strategically vital.
US Army officials noted that units frequently train in Lithuania as part of Atlantic Resolve and related missions aimed at strengthening interoperability, reassuring allies, and sustaining readiness across Eastern Europe. The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team’s rotation includes armored vehicles, logistics units, and combat enablers that support multinational exercises throughout the region.
Gunnery certification remains a core requirement for armored crews, the Army said, ensuring soldiers can operate effectively in contested environments. Crew-level tasks include rapid target recognition, weapons handling, fire commands, and coordinated engagements with supporting elements.
The Pabradė drills reflect the broader pattern of long-standing US–Lithuanian defense cooperation. Lithuania regularly hosts rotating US armored and airborne units and provides training infrastructure for mechanized, artillery, and reconnaissance operations.
As NATO continues to prioritize readiness amid heightened regional tensions, US armored training in Lithuania remains a visible component of the alliance’s eastern defense posture.
Earlier, British soldiers from C Company, 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 RIFLES) joined Finland’s Kainuu Brigade for winter warfare training in the Vuosanka training area about 30 miles from the Russian border.
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