Málaga Air Base (Base Aérea de San Julián)

Málaga Air Base, designated Base Aérea de San Julián, is located in the Churriana district, eight kilometers from the center of Málaga. The site originated as a commercial airfield in 1919 for Lignes Aeriennes Latécoère before transitioning to a military air base in 1936. During the Spanish Civil War, Nationalist forces captured the facility on February 8, 1937. It subsequently served as a training center, hosting the Air Force Specialists School from 1937 and the Observers School from 1939 until 1957.

Between 1959 and 1967, the base hosted Ala 27, which operated 36 Heinkel 111 bombers. Following the deactivation of Ala 27, the 515 Escuadrilla operated E-9 Iberavia and T-6 Texan aircraft at the site. Permanent Air Force aircraft assignments ended in 1973 when the 515 Escuadrilla was dissolved and the facility was reclassified as an Operational Support Air Unit (Unidad Aérea de Apoyo Operativo).

The base currently functions under the command of the head of the Málaga Air Sector and Military Air Command of the Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport. Stationed units include the Microwave Maintenance Center No. 22, which is responsible for the maintenance of the military communications network. The base also provides permanent facilities for helicopter units of the National Police and the Civil Guard.

Military infrastructure is situated on the western side of the airfield, utilizing the shared runway system while maintaining separate facilities from the civilian terminals located to the east. Since 2000, the base has hosted seasonal summer deployments of 43 Grupo, utilizing Canadair CL-215T firefighting aircraft for regional operations between June and September.