Šiauliai Air Base

Šiauliai Air Base is a military facility of the Lithuanian Air Force, located 7 kilometers southeast of the city of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania. It also operates as Šiauliai International Airport for civilian use. The area was first used for aerial warfare in 1916–1917 by German forces. In 1931, Zokniai aerodrome was built as a second airbase for the Lithuanian Air Force, hosting its 3rd, 4th, and 5th squadrons with aircraft such as Ansaldo A.120, Letov Š-20, Gloster Gladiator, de Havilland Dragon Rapide, and ANBO 41. Concrete runways were first constructed in 1943 during the German occupation. Following Soviet occupation, the aerodrome was taken over by Soviet forces. By 1957, two parallel runways, 3.5 km and 3.2 km long, were built, enabling it to host jet fighters and strategic bombers, including the Myasishchev M-4.

After Lithuania's independence restoration in 1990, the airport was returned to the Lithuanian Air Force and renovated for civilian operations, gaining international airport status in 1994. In 2004, upon Lithuania joining NATO, it was modernized and became a NATO air base, hosting the Baltic Air Policing mission. The base is the headquarters of the Lithuanian Air Force, with nearly all its aircraft, including C-27J Spartan transporters and Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin helicopters, operating from it. It also houses the Air Force Armament and Equipment Repair Depot.

The NATO Baltic Air Policing mission provides airspace security and Quick Reaction Alert for the Baltic members of NATO, with the base hosting various allied aircraft, including F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters, as well as support aircraft like KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry (AWACS). The civilian facilities primarily support aircraft maintenance and cargo transportation, with a passenger terminal for irregular flights. The airport operates 24 hours a day and serves as a regional center for aircraft maintenance and parking. Its runways can accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or Airbus A330. The airport infrastructure includes storage and customs facilities, supporting expanding commercial cargo operations.