Lithuanian Air Force

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Lithuanian Air Force


caption=
dates= since 1992
country= Flag|Lithuania
allegiance=
branch= Air Force
type=
role= To defend Lithuania's airspace from external threats.
size=
command_structure=
garrison=
garrison_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
equipment=
equipment_label=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
commander1= Brigadier General Arturas Leita
commander1_label=
commander2=
commander2_label=
commander3=
commander3_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Roundel
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=Flag
aircraft_attack=L-39ZA version
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=Colibri, EC 145, PZL-104
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_trainer=L-39, Yak-52, An-2
aircraft_transport=C-27J, An-26, L-410, Mi-8

Lithuanian Air Force is the aviation branch of the Lithuanian armed forces. It has a personnel of more than 1000 people.

Baltic Air Policing

After Lithuania joined NATO organization back in 2004, its (alongside Latvia's and Estonia's) air space is protected by NATO. NATO members provide 3 to 4 fighter aircraft, based in Lithuania, to police the Baltic States’ airspace. The deployments rotate between NATO members (that started in March 2004 with Belgium Air Force F-16s) and most NATO members that operate fighters have made a deployment to Lithuania.

Aircraft inventory

! 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 [ [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/lith/lithaf2.htm Lithuanian Air Force ] ] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Aero L-39 Albatros
CZE
Trainerattack
L-39C

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L-39ZA
4

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2
Only L-39ZA is used for training purposes and could be used for attacks
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Alenia C-27 Spartan
ITA
transport
C-27J
3
First was delivered 2006, second will be delivered in 2008, third in 2009
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Antonov An-2 Colt
USSR
transport
An-2
4
Used for paratrooper training
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Antonov An-26 Curl
USSR
transport
An-26
3

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Eurocopter Colibri
EUR
light utility helicopter
EC120
2
Used by Boarder Guard service under Ministry of Interior Affairs
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Eurocopter EC 135
EUR
light utility helicopter
EC135
3
Used by Boarder Guard service under Ministry of Interior Affairs
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Let L-410 Turbolet
CZE
transport
L-410T
2

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Mil Mi-8
USSR
transport helicopter
Mi-8MTV/T/PS
3/5/1
2 of them are always on duty in Kaunas and Nemirseta for Search and Rescue operations
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References

Notes

Bibliography

* Humberstone, Richard. "Lithuanian Air Force, 1918-1940 (Insignia Air Force Special No.1)". London: Blue Rider Publishing, 1996.

External links

[http://www.kam.lt/armed_forces/air_forces/ Official LAF website]

European topic
title = Air Forces in Europe
suffix = _Air_Force
countries_only=yes |UK_only=yes

References