US Bradley Crews Conduct Drills Near Belarus

January 18, 2026

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U.S. Army Bradley crews from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, successfully completed their winter live-fire certification exercise in Lithuania on January 11-12, 2026. The training, which took place at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area near Pabradė, involved M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and M7A1 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) vehicles operating in challenging conditions, including snow and ice. This exercise validates the crew’s readiness for high-intensity operations and contributes to fortifying NATO’s collective defense along the eastern flank.

Key Findings

U.S. 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team from 1st Cavalry Division certified Bradley crews in winter drills near Pabradė, Lithuania, on January 11-12, 2026.
Training included daytime and nighttime live-fire exercises utilizing M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and M7A1 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST) vehicles.
The exercises focused on target acquisition, weapons employment, and coordinated maneuvers in challenging conditions, including snow, fog, and ice.
These drills bolster NATO readiness and collective defense along the eastern flank, which is geographically positioned near Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.
The successful certification validates crew readiness for high-intensity operations and confirms cold-weather capability near the strategic Suwałki Gap.

Drills Conducted in Winter Terrain

U.S. Army soldiers from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, performed live-fire gunnery at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area near Pabradė, Lithuania. Vehicle crews operated M2 Bradley IFVs and M7A1 BFIST vehicles through a series of daytime and nighttime scenarios. The training emphasized procedural target acquisition, effective weapons employment, and unit coordination in snow-covered environments. These drills resulted in the official certification of crews for combat readiness on NATO’s eastern flank.

🇺🇸 US Army conducts live-fire drills near Belarus

Bradley Fighting Vehicle crews from the US Army trained in Lithuania, enhancing combat readiness and NATO interoperability near Belarus and Kaliningrad.#Caliber #US #army #Belarus #military #news pic.twitter.com/bc5oEGUlEf

— Caliber English (@CaliberEnglish) January 14, 2026

Strategic Location Supports NATO Readiness

The training area near Pabradė is considered geographically important for NATO defense due to its proximity to Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. Exercises were designed to simulate realistic operational conditions, incorporating challenges such as fog, ice, and degraded optics. This focused winter training validates the U.S. armored capability for year-round operations.

Lithuanian Armed Forces provided hosting support, a practice that enhances interoperability under established NATO doctrine. Units, including Alpha Company from the 3rd Brigade Engineer Battalion and 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, rotated through gunnery tables, integrating U.S. assets into alliance fire support networks to strengthen collective defense measures.

Alignment with Operation Atlantic Resolve

The training exercises are part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which was established in 2014 following the acquisition of Crimea. U.S. rotational deployments to Eastern Europe have increased in intensity since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent strengthening of Belarus-Russia defense ties. Lithuania consistently hosts American forces for exercises, building on a history of cooperation that includes events like Saber Strike and Iron Wolf. Documentation from September 2025 shows similar Bradley qualification exercises conducted in Bulgaria, where 40 vehicles were qualified across day and night tables.

Official reports from the U.S. Army confirm gains in crew confidence, increased capability, and readiness for high-intensity environments. The drills demonstrate operational capability and facilitate advanced collective training, thereby sustaining multinational exercises.

U.S. Army holds live-fire gunnery close to Belarus border. pic.twitter.com/H7cbSgqc06

— International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) January 14, 2026

Training Outcomes and NATO Posture

The short-term outcomes include enhanced crew proficiency, validated cold-weather operational protocols, and clear signals of operational capability to regional actors. Long-term, these exercises contribute to fortifying NATO’s sustained combat readiness in the Baltics and evolving alliance doctrine toward advanced operational integration. U.S.-Lithuania defense cooperation continues to fund supporting infrastructure.

The Bradley platforms validate their role in integrated operations by successfully networking with fire support assets for NATO artillery. Analyst Teoman S. Nicanci stated that the realism of the drills provides a capability advantage.

Watch the report: HIMARS on NATO’s Front Line: U.S.–Lithuania Drills Near Belarus Explained