31st Tactical Air Base (31 Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego)

The 31st Tactical Air Base (Polish: 31 Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego – 31 BLT) is located in the Krzesiny area of the Nowe Miasto district in Poznań. The base was established on December 31, 2000, as the 31st Air Base and served as the first Polish facility to host F-16 fighter aircraft. The current organizational structure was formed in 2008 following the merger of the 31st Air Base, the 3rd Tactical Squadron, and the 6th Tactical Squadron.

The 6th Tactical Squadron was previously designated as the 6th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment between 1982 and 1998, and subsequently as the 6th Tactical Air Squadron from 2000 until the 2008 merger. The 3rd Tactical Squadron was integrated into the 31st Air Base structure starting in December 2000.

The base is operated by the Polish Air Force and hosts squadrons of F-16 C/D fighters. As a logistics unit, it provides support for air force training and combat operations. The facility supports units permanently or temporarily deployed to the base during peacetime, emergency states, and conflict. Operational responsibilities include search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), and combat air patrol (CAP) duties.

Infrastructure and functional tasks include the coordination of incoming air elements from various services and nations, the maintenance of aircraft command systems, and the execution of loading procedures for multiple aircraft types. The base is responsible for the storage, preparation, and supply of air combat materials, as well as the maintenance and servicing of both air and ground equipment. It provides logistics for combat missions and secures the operations of military aircraft stationed at the facility.