Латвия Әуе Күштерінің тарихы мен қазіргі жағдайы

Air warfare branch of Latvia's military

Latvian Air Force is the aviation branch of the National Armed Forces. The first air force (AF) units were established in 1992. It has no air combat capability, thus the defense of Latvian air space is maintained by NATO, with rotating detachments of four aircraft to Lithuania at four monthly intervals (see Baltic Air Policing).

The Latvian Air Force was first founded during the Latvian War of Independence. On 7 June 1919 an Air Group was formed, commanded by Lt. Alfrēds Valleika. The first aircraft were former Bolshevik Nieuport 24bis and Sopwith 1½ Strutter, both seized from German forces. They first flew on 5 August 1919, and accomplished the first bombing mission on 26 August 1919. In 1939, the Aviation Regiment consisted of three fighter squadrons, armed with 24 Gloster Gladiator and 6 Bristol Bulldog (a fourth squadron was in organization), three reconnaissance squadrons, armed with up to 12 Letov Š 16LS, 2 Hawker Hind and 10 Stampe SV.5, and a naval reconnaissance squadron with 4 Fairey Seal and two other planes. In 1939, Latvia ordered and paid for 30 British Hawker Hurricane fighters, but due to the country being overrun, they were never delivered. By 1940, there were almost 130 aircraft in service. A separate, mostly light aircraft Aviation Regiment of the Aizsargi organization also existed parallel to the air force until the Soviet occupation. In addition to biplanes, it also purchased planes locally produced by the VEF factory, e. g. at least four I 12 trainers in 1938. In 1940, the Aviation Regiment and the Latvian armed forces were dissolved after the Soviet occupation of Latvia.

The post Soviet Latvian Air Force was formed on 24 February 1992 at Spilve Airport. In August 1994 the air force moved to the ex Soviet Lielvārde Air Base. As the withdrawing Soviet Air Force did not leave any aircraft in Latvia, the first aircraft operated by the air force were four Polish PZL Mi 2U helicopters that were received from civilian aviation in 1992. These were supplemented with two Let L 410UVP utility planes donated by Germany in 1993, however, one was lost in a 1995 accident in Lielvārde. Six PZL 104 Wilga 35A trainer aircraft from ex DOSAAF stocks were mostly used by the Aviation Component of the Latvian National Guard since 1993. Similarly, the Component acquired around 20 LET L 13 Blaník, three SZD 48 3 Jantar Standard 3 and three LAK 12 gliders. 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 Lielvārde. 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 started the respective training course. One Air Defense Battery was to be supplied with the armament; and the personnel training of the Air Defense Wing was completed by the end of 2007. It was planned to accommodate all the air force units at the Lielvārde military base in the near future. AF Air Operations Center was opened in 2009. Renovation of the air base was finished by 2014. In July 2018, it was reported that the Ministry of Defence was planning to buy four helicopters to perform search and rescue, evacuation, and firefighting operations. On August 3, 2018, the US State Department issued a news release, which stated that it had approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of four UH 60M Black Hawk helicopters to Latvia. On September 11, 2018, an intergovernmental agreement with the United States for the acquisition of four UH 60M helicopters was concluded by the Cabinet of Ministers. The first deliveries would take place at the end of 2022. In May 2020, Ministry of Defence announced plans to renovate three of four An 2. One aircraft is already in use, which was completely refurbished in 2016. In September 2021, the air force signed a contract for the purchase of two locally made ultralight Pelegrin Tarragons with delivery planned in 2022 and 2023. and 2 Mi 17 helicopters. Freed up funds have allowed the Ministry of Defence to purchase four MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light helicopters; delivery date is planned to be between 2026 and 2027.

The rank insignia for commissioned officers.

The rank insignia for enlisted personnel.