San Julián Air Base (Base Aérea San Julián)

San Julián Air Base is a military installation located 13 kilometers southwest of Guane in the Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. The facility originated as the Isabel Rubio Emergency Landing Field used by Pan American World Airways before its conversion into a military site during World War II. Following diplomatic agreements between the Cuban government and the United States in early 1942, the United States Navy established the site as Naval Air Auxiliary Station (NAAS) San Julián on June 26, 1942. The base was constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to conduct antisubmarine patrols in the Yucatán Channel and the Caribbean.

On July 1, 1943, the facility was redesignated as Naval Air Facility (NAF) San Julián. During its period of United States operation, the base hosted detachments from Airship Squadron Twenty One (ZP-21) and Bombing Squadron One Hundred Twenty Five (VB-125) to perform antisubmarine warfare and escort duties. The United States disestablished the facility on May 20, 1946, and transferred the infrastructure to the Cuban Army for the use of its Aviation Corps.

Under Cuban administration, the base served as the location for the San Julian Aircraft Technical School, providing training for military and commercial aviation personnel. During the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, the base was identified as a primary target for the destruction of Cuban air capabilities.

The base is currently operated by the Cuban military and serves as the primary station for the 23.Regimiento de Caza (23rd Fighter Regiment). The unit operates Russian-manufactured MiG-23ML fighter aircraft.