Soldiers manning HIMARS head to Latvia for exercises

The Army is dispatching two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Latvia for the country’s national combat readiness exercises, according to a statement from U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Approximately a dozen personnel will be deployed with the rocket systems to the exercise, called Namejs 2022. U.S. soldiers are practising rapidly deploying long-range “precision fires capabilities in coordination with our allies and partners,” the statement said, according to Defense News.

The HIMARS will be rapidly deployed to Latvia using two C-130 aircraft and airmen from U.S. Special Operations Command’s 352nd Special Operations Wing.

“We are honoured to work alongside our Allies in Latvia as one team in support of NATO’s collective mission,” Col. Richard Ikena, 1st Infantry Division Artillery Commander, said in a statement. “Namejs is an opportunity to enhance our readiness and strengthen our relationship with our NATO Allies. It also demonstrates our ability to rapidly deploy our Soldiers and long-range precision fires capabilities at a moment’s notice anywhere in the European theatre.”

Units participating in the deployment include the 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment, under the command of the 1st Infantry Division Artillery.

The unit, which is part of the 18th Airborne Corps’ field artillery brigade, deployed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Germany at the start of Russia’s invasion in February.

The deployment was intended to shore up the number of U.S. troops in Europe, “and add a highly mobile, long-range precision fires platform in support of NATO defence,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa stated.

The exercise comes amid increased tensions between Russia and NATO in recent days.

The West’s flow of money and weapons to Ukraine has drawn the ire of the Kremlin, and President Vladimir Putin upped the ante last Wednesday, making a veiled threat of using nuclear weapons.