Latvian Air Force

The Latvian Air Force is structured as a support branch within the country's broader National Armed Forces (NAF), reflecting Latvia's strategic priorities and collective defense posture. It does not possess combat aircraft capabilities for air-to-air or air-to-ground missions. Instead, its primary operational roles include airspace surveillance and control, transport for NAF personnel and cargo, and search and rescue operations. This structure acknowledges Latvia's reliance on the NATO collective security umbrella for air defense, a task fulfilled by the alliance's rotational Baltic Air Policing mission.

Strategically, Latvia's defense concept has shifted from total territorial defense to a collective defense model integrated within NATO. The Latvian Air Force doctrine is aligned with this, focusing on enabling the NAF's land and naval forces and ensuring the control and surveillance of its own airspace to facilitate allied reinforcement. Its core mission involves providing air defense support to ground units, transporting national and foreign officials, and assisting civilian agencies in crisis situations. The overarching national defense strategy emphasizes societal resilience and the ability to resist occupation, with the entire NAF structured to integrate into a larger NATO Combined Joint Task Force during a conflict.

Modernization of the Latvian Air Force is a key priority, driven by the need to enhance its support capabilities and integrate more effectively into the NATO Air Defense System. A central element of this modernization is the development of a layered air defense system, which includes the acquisition of medium-range air defense systems, upgrading existing short-range systems, and deploying counter-UAS technologies. This initiative will see the establishment of air battlegroups integrated with land and naval units. The development of the Lielvārde military base is central to centralizing AF units and creating an efficient command and control structure. The replacement of legacy helicopters with platforms like the UH-60 Black Hawk enhances transport and utility functions.

Regionally and globally, the Latvian Air Force's position is defined by its NATO membership. It functions as a crucial host nation support provider, with its infrastructure and surveillance capabilities contributing to the alliance's situational awareness and operational readiness in the Baltic region. The AF's integration into NATO structures is its primary force multiplier, compensating for its limited independent combat power and underscoring Latvia's commitment to collective defense.