ARAS (Lithuania)

Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS
Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS
Active1991 – present
Country Lithuania
AgencyLithuanian Police Force
TypePolice tactical unit
Operations jurisdictionNational
Website
Official website
ARAS anti-terrorist unit during the exercises with the Armed Forces
Headquarters

The ARAS, formally Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS (Lithuanian: Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS), is the police tactical unit of the Lithuanian Police Force, established in 1991.[1]

Currently, the unit's missions primarily involve apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, as well as other tactical special operations. Aras does several hundred domestic and international operations in a typical year, most of which are never publicized.[2]

History

ARAS's initial purpose was to suppress organized crime groups that were operating in Lithuania in 1990s.[3] In addition, they handled riot suppression, peace keeping, and escort.[3]

In December 2004, the unit was admitted into the ATLAS Network of police tactical units of the European Union countries.[4]

Structure

ARAS consists of a:

  • Command,
  • Special Team,
  • Explosive Search and Neutralization Division,[5]
  • Information, analysis and negotiation Division,
  • 2 divisions, one of them located in Klaipėda.

The unit also has specialized CBRN defense, climber, combat medic, EOD, K-9, negotiation, reconnaissance, sniper, and tactical diver groups that are necessary to carry out the main functions ascribed to the unit.

Functions

The main functions of ARAS are to:

  • organize, manage and implement special antiterrorist operations inside Lithuania;
  • hostage rescue and detain dangerous armed criminals under extreme or high danger circumstances;
  • search for and neutralize improvised explosive devices and military explosives, used for terrorist or criminal purposes;
  • under their competence participate while performing various operative actions, detaining persons, suspected to have performed or planning to commit a crime;
  • collect and analyze information related to terrorist threats, cooperate with professional institutions of other countries in this sphere;
  • participate in organizing and implementing plans and programs for antiterrorist measures, and other legal acts establishing terrorism prevention.[6]

Equipment

ARAS operators use a variety of modern weapons, including SIG Sauer P226, Heckler & Koch MP5, G36, SIG SG 551, SIG MCX, PGM Ultima Ratio, PGM Hécate II, AWM-F.[7][8] Aras equipment also includes armored vehicles, boats, helicopters and various aerial, land and naval drones.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ^ ►Lithuania police unit ARAS ||2019 4KHD, 12 January 2019, retrieved 2019-11-19
  2. ^ ""Aro" darbas nepanašus į užsienio filmus". Diena.lt (in Lithuanian). 2011-03-31. Archived from the original on 2025-02-04. Retrieved 2025-02-04. Keliose operacijose per 20 metų teko dalyvauti „Aro" pareigūnams, šiandien jau niekas suskaičiuoti negali, nes vien pernai, pasak V.Grabausko, rinktinės vyrai dalyvavo 206 kovinėse operacijose.
  3. ^ a b Meers, Jelter. "Lithuania: Police Arrest 19 Gangsters, Find Guns and Explosives". www.occrp.org. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  4. ^ "Annual Reports and Financials". www.atlasnetwork.org. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  5. ^ "Lithuania | OSCE POLIS". polis.osce.org. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  6. ^ "Capabilities | Aras | Enterprise PLM Software". www.aras.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  7. ^ "Elitinis policijos padalinys "Aras" (3). Snaiperių ginkluotė ir įranga".
  8. ^ "Iš arti – naujai atidaryta policijos elitinio padalinio "Aras" būstinė".
  9. ^ "Tarnybos imitavo kibernetinę ataką: ant važiuojančio traukinio nusileido „Aras" sraigtasparnis". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  10. ^ Jačauskas, Ignas (2017-06-11). "Policija perka robotą „Aro" išminavimo operacijoms". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  11. ^ "Įgyvendinant projektą įsigyta įranga rinktinės „Aras" pareigūnų veiklai gerinti". Lietuvos policija (in Lithuanian). 2024-09-03. Archived from the original on 2025-02-04. Retrieved 2025-02-04.

 

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