Latvian Air Force
Encyclopedia
Latvian Air Force is the aviation branch of the National Armed Forces. The first Air Force (AF) units were established 1992. It has no air combat capability, thus the defense of Latvia
n air space is maintained by NATO, with rotating detachments of four aircraft to Lithuania
at four-monthly intervals (see Baltic Air Policing
).
The Air Force was first founded long before the Soviet occupation. On 7 June 1919 an Air Group was formed with three aircraft. In the years to follow many more aircraft were added to the inventory and the Air Group was eventually renamed the Aviation Regiment. The Soviet invasion ended the activities of the Air Force. At that time there were almost 130 aircraft on strength.
Latvian Air Force was formed on the 24th of February 1992 at Spilve Airport
. In August 1994 the airforce moved to an ex-soviet airbase at Lielvārde
. In the beginning of the new century two new and more heavy Mi-8MTV Hip helicopters were bought. Both helicopters are fitted with search and rescue
equipment, but are also used for transportation of troops, evacuation and support of the Special Forces. In 2004 the Ministry of Defense bought two more Mi-8MTV's at the Russian Ulan Ude helicopter (rework) factory. These two might replace the first two, because of the limited flying time left on the first two examples. One Mi-8MTV is normally at SAR stand-by in Riga
, which is closer to the sea than Lielvarde
.
In 2004, the Air Force has commenced the modernization of the surface air defense capabilities by signing a contract regarding procurement of RBS-70 missiles.
In 2005, soldiers of the Air Force Air Defense Wing have started the respective training course. One Air Defense Battery will be supplied with the armament; and the personnel training of the Air Defense Wing will be completed by the end of 2007.
It is planned to accommodate all the Air Force units at the Lielvārde military base in the near future. The drafting of a project for construction of the AF Air Operations Center was commenced in 2005.
, control and defense, provides air defense support to the Land Forces units and participates in search and rescue
operations over the Baltic Sea
, the Bay of Riga and dry land. They also transport NAF soldiers and cargo, provide transport for the State President, as well as other high-level Latvian and foreign officials during their visits to Latvia and abroad. AF aircraft also assist other NAF units, the Interior Ministry and the Crisis Medicine Centre. The Air Force carries out the national airspace surveillance by military radars included in its armament.
One of the key priorities for the development of the AF is their integration into the NATO Air Defense System. The modernization of air defense equipment and the training of personnel is carried out with this purpose in mind. Enhancing the Air Space Surveillance System, developing a search and rescue helicopter subdivision and personnel training are also included on this list of priorities.
Air Force helicopters in co-operation with the Disaster Medicine Center also transport patients in grave condition, persons injured in accidents and persons injured in traffic accidents from rural regions to Riga hospitals.
Development of the Lielvārde military base will ensure centralization of Air Force units and establishment of an efficient command and control system, which will result in a reduction of the maintenance costs of the Air Force units. .
The main mission of Air Force is to:
Air Force Headquarters
Aviation Squadron
Air Defense Wing
Air Surveillance Squadron
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
|-----
| Antonov An-2 Colt
|
| transport
| An-2
| 4
|-----
| Let L-410 Turbolet
|
| transport
| L-410T Turbolet
| 1
|-----
| Mil Mi-2 Hoplite
|
| service helicopter
| Mi-2
| 3
|-----
| Agusta A109
|
| surveillance
| Agusta 109E Power
| 2
|-----
| Mil Mi-8 Hip
|
| SAR
| Mi-8MTV-1
| 4
|-----
| PZL-104 Wilga
|
| liaison
| PZL-104
| 4
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n air space is maintained by NATO, with rotating detachments of four aircraft to Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
at four-monthly intervals (see Baltic Air Policing
Baltic Air Policing
The Baltic air-policing mission is a NATO air defence Quick Reaction Alert in order to guard the airspace over the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.-Mission:...
).
History
Latvian Air Force was formed on the 24th of February 1992 at Spilve Airport
Spilve Airport
Spilve Airport is a former civilian and military airport in Latvia located 5 km north of the Riga city centre, from which aircraft took off as early as the First World War. It became the first international airport of Riga in the 1930s and fell into disuse in 1980s after the new Riga...
. In August 1994 the airforce moved to an ex-soviet airbase at Lielvārde
Lielvarde
Lielvārde , population 6328, is a town in Vidzeme, Latvia, the administrative centre of Lielvārde municipality on the right bank of the Daugava river, 52 km southeast of Riga.-History:...
. In the beginning of the new century two new and more heavy Mi-8MTV Hip helicopters were bought. Both helicopters are fitted with search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
equipment, but are also used for transportation of troops, evacuation and support of the Special Forces. In 2004 the Ministry of Defense bought two more Mi-8MTV's at the Russian Ulan Ude helicopter (rework) factory. These two might replace the first two, because of the limited flying time left on the first two examples. One Mi-8MTV is normally at SAR stand-by in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, which is closer to the sea than Lielvarde
Lielvarde
Lielvārde , population 6328, is a town in Vidzeme, Latvia, the administrative centre of Lielvārde municipality on the right bank of the Daugava river, 52 km southeast of Riga.-History:...
.
In 2004, the Air Force has commenced the modernization of the surface air defense capabilities by signing a contract regarding procurement of RBS-70 missiles.
In 2005, soldiers of the Air Force Air Defense Wing have started the respective training course. One Air Defense Battery will be supplied with the armament; and the personnel training of the Air Defense Wing will be completed by the end of 2007.
It is planned to accommodate all the Air Force units at the Lielvārde military base in the near future. The drafting of a project for construction of the AF Air Operations Center was commenced in 2005.
Mission
The Air Force carries out Latvian airspace surveillanceSurveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
, control and defense, provides air defense support to the Land Forces units and participates in search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
operations over the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, the Bay of Riga and dry land. They also transport NAF soldiers and cargo, provide transport for the State President, as well as other high-level Latvian and foreign officials during their visits to Latvia and abroad. AF aircraft also assist other NAF units, the Interior Ministry and the Crisis Medicine Centre. The Air Force carries out the national airspace surveillance by military radars included in its armament.
One of the key priorities for the development of the AF is their integration into the NATO Air Defense System. The modernization of air defense equipment and the training of personnel is carried out with this purpose in mind. Enhancing the Air Space Surveillance System, developing a search and rescue helicopter subdivision and personnel training are also included on this list of priorities.
Air Force helicopters in co-operation with the Disaster Medicine Center also transport patients in grave condition, persons injured in accidents and persons injured in traffic accidents from rural regions to Riga hospitals.
Development of the Lielvārde military base will ensure centralization of Air Force units and establishment of an efficient command and control system, which will result in a reduction of the maintenance costs of the Air Force units. .
The main mission of Air Force is to:
- Provide for the control and defense of the national air space;
- Provide combat and mobilization readiness for units;
- Participate in people and object search and rescue operations;
- Perform air transportation duties and air defense.
Structure of Air Force
Aviation Squadron
- Helicopter Squad
- Sky Truck Squad
- Technology Squad
Air Defense Wing
- HQ Battery
- Air-Defense Batteries
- Support Battery
Air Surveillance Squadron
- Information Center
- Radio Engineering Points
Aircraft in the Air Force
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
|-----
| Antonov An-2 Colt
Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
|
| transport
| An-2
| 4
|-----
| Let L-410 Turbolet
|
| transport
| L-410T Turbolet
| 1
|-----
| Mil Mi-2 Hoplite
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
|
| service helicopter
| Mi-2
| 3
|-----
| Agusta A109
Agusta A109
The AgustaWestland AW109 is a light-weight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter built by the Anglo-Italian manufacturer AgustaWestland...
|
| surveillance
| Agusta 109E Power
| 2
|-----
| Mil Mi-8 Hip
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
|
| SAR
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
| Mi-8MTV-1
| 4
|-----
| PZL-104 Wilga
|
| liaison
| PZL-104
| 4