CFB Cold Lake (Cold Lake/Group Captain R.W. McNair Airport)

Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Cold Lake, also designated as Cold Lake/Group Captain R.W. McNair Airport, is located in Cold Lake, Alberta. Construction of the facility began in 1952, and operations as RCAF Station Cold Lake commenced on March 31, 1954. The base was established to serve as an air weapons training facility. In 1968, the station was renamed CFB Cold Lake following the unification of the Canadian Forces.

The base is operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force under the control of 1 Canadian Air Division. The primary lodger unit is 4 Wing. Stationed units include 401 and 409 Tactical Fighter Squadrons, 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, 417 Combat Support Squadron, 1 Air Maintenance Squadron, 42 Radar Squadron, and 10 Field Technical Training Squadron. Other resident units include the Aerospace Engineering Testing Establishment, 4 Construction Engineering Squadron, 1 Military Police Squadron, Real Property Operations Detachment Cold Lake, and 22 Health Services Centre. The facility also houses the Cold Lake Cadet Training Centre and the 4 Wing Brass and Reed Band.

CFB Cold Lake hosts squadrons of CF-18 Hornet fighters and CH-146 Griffon helicopters. It serves as the training center for the CF-18 Hornet and provides air defense for western Canadian and Arctic airspace under the operational control of NORAD. The base supports the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR), which covers 11,700 square kilometres and features over 640 targets and 100 target complexes, including seven simulated aerodromes with runways and dispersal areas. Civilian contractor Top Aces also operates Alpha Jets and A-4 Skyhawks from the facility. Infrastructure includes several structures listed on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings, specifically Hangars 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and the Senior NCO's Building B-30. Personnel from the base forward deploy to airfields across western and Arctic Canada as operational requirements dictate.