Lithuanian Air Force
Lithuanian Air Force | |
---|---|
Lietuvos Karinės Oro Pajėgos | |
L-410, Cessna 172 |
The Lithuanian Air Force or LAF (
.History
1919–1940
After the declaration of Lithuania to be an independent state on February 16, 1918, the most urgent task of the new government was to organize a military force that could repel enemy armies that were coming from all sides. The first order for the creation of a Lithuanian army came on November 23, 1918.
In January 1919, an Engineering Company was formed within the military, which contained an Aviation Squad.[2] On March 12, 1919, the group was reorganized into an Aviation Company and became an independent military unit. Its leader was appointed to be marine engineer officer Petras Petronis. This date is considered to be the birthday of the Lithuanian Air Force.
Between March and December 1919 and between 1932 and 1940, the Kaunas Military Aviation School operated in that city. The school trained officers in many aviation disciplines: pilots, observers, gunners and mechanics.
The first aircraft (
The Lithuanian Military Aviation was active in Lithuanian wars of independence battles with the Red Army and Polish military units. The pilot performing the most military sorties was Jurgis Dobkevičius, who later became the first Lithuanian aircraft designer and builder. On May 12, 1920, Vytautas Rauba was the first Lithuanian aviator to lose his life in an aircraft crash. On October 4 of the same year, in a fight with the Polish military, the first aircraft with a Lithuanian crew was shot down. The pilot of the aircraft, Juozas Kumpis, commander of Lithuania's First Air Squadron, was severely injured and died as prisoner of the Polish military.
Starting in 1920 the military aviation branch was renamed a number of times and some time after 1928 it was named to the equivalent of the Lithuanian Air Force.
The Lithuanian Air Force supported and encouraged various aeronautics related activities, such as the sport of gliding. In 1933, in cooperation with Aero Club of Lithuania, they helped establish a Lithuanian Gliding School in Nida and send their only experienced glider pilot, Gregorius Radvenis, to be the school's instructor and supervisor.
In 1940, the Lithuanian Air Force consisted of eight Air Squadrons, including reconnaissance, fighter, bomber and training units. Air Force bases had been established in the cities and towns of
Inventory in mid-1940 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | Number in service | Notes |
Anbo IV / 41 | Lithuania | Reconnaissance / light bomber | IV, 41 | 32 | 12 ANBO IV, 20 ANBO 41[3] |
Anbo VIII | Lithuania | Bomber | 1 | Single pre-production unit, built in 1939 | |
Ansaldo A.120 | Italy | Reconnaissance / light bomber | Ady | < 5 | Out of the batch of 12, ordered in 1929 |
Dewoitine D.501 | France | Fighter | L | 13 | 14 acquired in 1937. No. D601-614 |
Fiat CR.20 | Italy | Fighter | 7 | 15 acquired in 1928. | |
Gloster Gladiator | United Kingdom | Fighter | Mk. I | 12 | 14 acquired in 1937. No. G704-717 |
de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide | United Kingdom | Executive transport / liaison | 89M | 2 | Acquired in 1937 |
LVG C.VI | Germany | Liaison / trainer | 2 | Since 1929 withdrawn from first line service and used for training and liaison purposes[4] | |
Anbo III | Lithuania | Advanced trainer | 9 | Built in 1930 - 1931 | |
Anbo V / 51 | Lithuania | Basic trainer | V, 51 | 13 | Five Anbo V built in 1931, five Anbo 51 built in 1936, five in 1938[5] |
Anbo VI | Lithuania | Trainer / liaison | 3 | Out of 4, built in 1933-1934 | |
Avro 626 | United Kingdom | Advanced trainer | 3 | Acquired in 1937. No. 701, 702, 703 | |
Bucker-133 "Jungmeister" | Germany | Advanced trainer | C | 6 | Acquired in 1939 |
Following the
After 1992
On 23 January 1992, the
After 1 March 1993 Aviation Service was reformed to the Lithuanian Air Force and Aviation Base was renamed the First Aviation Base of the Lithuanian Air Force.
In 2007, two
Sometime before August 2023 Lithuania donated 2 Mi-8s to Ukraine.[10]
In April 2024, Lithuanian Air Force donated a decommissioned, disassembled Aero L-39ZA Albatros to Ukraine.[11][12]
Structure
The Lithuanian Air Force Headquarters and the
Air Base
The main air base is located in Šiauliai city. It is manned with professional military and also non-military personnel. It consists of a headquarters, air operation group and operational support group. The base operates various fixed wing and rotary blade aircraft.[13] The staff, aircraft and equipment of the Air Base has participated in many international training missions abroad and at home. Main tasks of the Air Base are:
- Host nation Support for NATO Baltic Air Policing forces;
- Search and Rescue;
- Passenger, cargo and VIP transport;
- Air medical evacuation;
- Personnel deployment;
- Army and Navy air support;
- Air base personnel combat readiness training.
Air Defence Battalion
The Air Defence Battalion’s primary missions include:
- Defend state facilities of vital importance against military aviation attacks from the air in low and medium altitude;
- Support land forces in fighting against ground armoured technical equipment and in other events;
- Train military personnel in carrying out combat tasks.
Development of infrastructure is one key missions of the Air Defence Battalion currently in the stage of development.
Airspace Surveillance and Control Command
The Airspace Surveillance and Control Command works closely with the Baltic States Air Surveillance System,
Armament and Equipment Repair Depot
The main tasks of Armament and Equipment Repair Depot:
- To perform periodical works of maintenance as well as minor and medium repair of LAF armament and equipment outdoors;
- To modernize LAF equipment according to contemporary aviation needs and NATO standards;
- To prepare technical requirements for organizing competitions of centralized repair, modernization and purchasing of equipment;
- To perform periodical works of maintenance, supervision and repair of life-saving equipment used in search and rescue works;
- Under necessity, to perform works of maintenance and minor repair of special equipment of NATO partners, performing the function of air police in Lithuania;
- Under necessity to provide proper room for ensuring minor repair operations of airplanes (QRA) of NATO partners;
- Raise the level of military and professional staff preparation in order to be able in future perform periodic maintenance and repair of western type aircraft.
Baltic Air Policing
After Lithuania joined
Modernisation
In line with the set priorities, the Lithuanian Air Force is implementing modernisation plans. In 2000s, the Air Force has bought three new
Inventory
Current aircraft
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transport | ||||||
Alenia C-27J | Italy | transport | 3[16] | |||
L-410 Turbolet
|
Czech Republic | transport | 2[16] | also used for training[17] | ||
Cessna 172 | United States | utility | RG Cutlass | 1 | used for Special forces[18] | |
Helicopters
| ||||||
Eurocopter AS365 | France | SAR / utility | AS365 N3 | 3[16] | ||
Sikorsky UH-60 | United States | utility | UH-60M | 4 on order[16] | ||
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
| ||||||
ScanEagle | United States | surveillance | [19][20] |
Note: Three
Weapons
Model | Origin | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
AIM-120 AMRAAM | United States | Beyond-visual-range missile | AIM-120C-8 missiles will be used with NASAMS medium-range air defense systems [22] |
Retired aircraft
Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the
Ranks and insignia
Officers
The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the air force.
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General officers (Generolai) | Senior officers (Vyresnieji karininkai) | Junior officers (Jaunesnieji karininkai) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lithuanian Air Force[25] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generolas
|
Generolas leitenantas | Generolas majoras | Brigados generolas | Pulkininkas
|
Pulkininkas leitenantas | Majoras | Kapitonas | Vyresnysis leitenantas | Leitenantas | Kariūnas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Limitation (as of 2012)[26] |
< 9 | < 30 | < 127 | < 375 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | Student officer |
Enlisted
The rank insignia for enlisted personnel for the air force.
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lithuanian Air Force[25] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seržantas majoras | Viršila | Štabo seržantas | Vyresnysis seržantas | Seržantas | Grandinis | Vyresnysis eilinis | Eilinis | Jaunesnysis eilinis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 |
See also
- Baltic Air Policing
- Air defence battalion
- Airspace Surveillance and Control Command
- Aviation Unit of State Border Guard Service
- List of airports in Lithuania
External links
References
As of this edit, this article uses content from "Lithuanian Air Force", which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the
Notes
- ^ Hackett 2022, p. 124.
- ISBN 9986-557-12-7]
- ^ "ANBO 41". Plieno sparnai. 1997. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ^ Pleita, Juozas. "LVG C.VI". Plieno sparnai. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ^ Ramoška, Gytis (2006). "NUMYLĖTASIS ANBUKAS. MOKOMOJO LĖKTUVO ANBO-V SUKŪRIMO IR EKSPLOATACIJOS ISTORIJA". Plieno sparnai. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
- ^ ISBN 978-609-412-018-3. Archived(PDF) from the original on 21 June 2013.
- ^ "Air Force pilots fly L-39 ZA aircraft again (sic)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ "Paieškos ir gelbėjimo darbus vykdys kapitaliai suremontuotas sraigtasparnis" (in Lithuanian). National Defence Ministry Republic of Lithuania.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Lithuanian manufacturers for the military" (PDF). National Defence Ministry Republic of Lithuania.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Lithuania to send Mi-8 helicopters, anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine". LRT. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ @Lithuanian_MOD (April 20, 2024). "Lithuanian MOD" (Tweet). Retrieved April 20, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Lithuania handed over the light attack aircraft L-39ZA "Albatros" to Ukraine". kam.lt. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Air Base of the Lithuanian Air Force". kariuomene.kam.lt. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "First of the Three SAR Helicopters Lithuania Had Purchased Arrived". defense-aerospace.com. 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Lithuania signs deal for its first American military helicopters". Defense News. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Lietuva ketina Ukrainai atiduoti mokomąjį lengvosios atakos lėktuvą". 15min.lt. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- AirForces Monthly. Key Publishing. October 2019. p. 12.
- ^ "Šalies sieną kariai saugo tarptautinėse operacijose patikrintais bepiločiais orlaiviais". Lithuanian Armed Forces (in Lithuanian). 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ "Lithuanian and U.S. air capabilities exercised together in Kazlų Rūda Training Area". Lithuanian Ministry of Defense. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
- ^ "Heavy Airlift Wing". Strategic Airlift Capability Program. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Lithuania to buy US air defence missiles". lrt.lt. 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
- ^ "World Air Forces 2000 pg. 74". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ "Lithuania to send Mi-8 helicopters, anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine". LRT. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Kariniai laipsniai" [Military Ranks]. Lithuanian Army (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ (in Lithuanian) Principinės kariuomenės struktūros 2012 metais, planuojamos principinės kariuomenės struktūros 2017 metais nustatymo, krašto apsaugos sistemos karių ribinių skaičių ir statutinių valstybės tarnautojų ribinio skaičiaus 2012 metais ir 2017 metais patvirtinimo įstatymas
Sources
Bibliography
- Humberstone, Richard. Lithuanian Air Force, 1918-1940 (Insignia Air Force Special No.1). London: Blue Rider Publishing, 1996.
- Hackett, James, ed. (2022-02-14). "The 2022 Military Balance Chart". The Military Balance. 122 (1). ISSN 0459-7222.