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Latvian Air Force

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Latvian Air Force
Latvijas Gaisa spēki
Emblem of the Latvian Air Force
Active1919–1940
1992 – present
Country Latvia
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size
  • 251 personnel
Part ofLatvian National Armed Forces
Motto(s)
  • Visu par Latviju
  • (English: "All for Latvia")
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Viesturs Masulis[1]
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
HelicopterUH-60 Black Hawk
TrainerPelegrin Tarragon
TransportAn-2

Latvian Air Force (Latvian: Latvijas Gaisa spēki) is the aviation branch of the National Armed Forces.[2] The first air force (AF) units were established in 1919 and re-established in 1992. It has no air combat capability, thus the defense of Latvian air space is maintained by NATO, with rotating detachments of four aircraft to Lithuania at four-monthly intervals (see Baltic Air Policing).

History

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Latvian IVL A.22 Hansa
National Guard (1993–2000)
Latvian Air Force (1919–1940)[3]
Aizsargi organization (1937–1940)[4][5]

1919–1940

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The Latvian Air Force was first founded during the Latvian War of Independence. On 7 June 1919 an Air Group was formed, commanded by Lt. Alfrēds Valeika [lv]. The first aircraft were former Bolshevik Nieuport 24bis and Sopwith 1½ Strutter, both seized from German forces. They first flew on 5 August 1919, and accomplished the first bombing mission on 26 August 1919.[6] From September the air force had three aircraft, and took part in fighting against the Germans and White Russians. Another 7–8 aircraft were seized and repaired after defeating of Russo-German forces, and 7 Sopwith Camels and 3 Sopwith 1½ Strutters were received from the British in December 1919.[6] The Latvian air force flew 69 missions during the war of independence.[6] In the years to follow many more aircraft were added to the inventory and the Air Group was eventually renamed the Aviation Regiment in 1926. An interesting feat of the Latvian naval aviation was a 6000-km trip to England and back, by three Fairey Seal floatplanes, in 1936.[7]

In 1939, the Aviation Regiment consisted of three fighter squadrons, armed with 24 Gloster Gladiator and 6 Bristol Bulldog (a fourth squadron was in organization), three reconnaissance squadrons, armed with up to 12 Letov Š-16LS, 2 Hawker Hind and 10 Stampe SV.5, and a naval reconnaissance squadron with 4 Fairey Seal and two other planes.[6] In 1939, Latvia ordered and paid for 30 British Hawker Hurricane fighters, but due to the country being overrun, they were never delivered.[8] By 1940, there were almost 130 aircraft in service. [citation needed]

A separate, mostly light aircraft Aviation Regiment of the Aizsargi organization also existed parallel to the air force until the Soviet occupation.[4][9][10] In addition to biplanes, it also purchased planes locally produced by the VEF factory, e.g. at least four I-12 trainers in 1938.[11]

The roundel of the air force since 1919 was a maroon-red ugunskrusts, with the Aizsargi Aviation Regiment adopting an auseklis symbol as their insignia (which was replicated by the National Guard airmen later in the 1990s).

In 1940, the Aviation Regiment and the Latvian Armed Forces were dissolved after the Soviet occupation of Latvia and some aircraft and personnel were pressed into service of the Soviet Air Force.

Since 1992

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Pelegrin Tarragon TR-91 trainer

The post-Soviet Latvian Air Force was formed on 24 February 1992 at Spilve Airport. In August 1994 the air force moved to the ex-Soviet Lielvārde Air Base. As the withdrawing Soviet Air Force did not leave any aircraft in Latvia, the first aircraft operated by the air force were four Polish PZL Mi-2U helicopters that were received from civilian aviation in 1992.[12][13][14][15] These were supplemented with two Let L-410UVP utility planes donated by Germany in 1993, however, one was lost in a 1995 accident in Lielvārde.[12][16][17] Six PZL-104 Wilga-35A trainer aircraft from ex-DOSAAF stocks were mostly used by the Aviation Component of the Latvian National Guard since 1993.[18][19][20][21] Similarly, the Component acquired around 20 LET L-13 Blaník, three SZD-48-3 Jantar Standard 3 and three LAK-12 gliders.[18]

In the beginning of the 21st century two new and heavier Mi-8MTV Hip helicopters were bought. Both helicopters are fitted with search and rescue equipment, but are also used for transportation of troops, evacuation and support of the Special Forces. In 2000, the Aviation Component of the National Guard was merged into the air force.[22]

In 2004 the Ministry of Defense bought two more Mi-8MTVs at the Russian Ulan Ude helicopter (rework) factory. These two might replace the first two, because of the limited flying time left on the first two examples. One Mi-8MTV is normally at SAR stand-by in Riga, which is closer to the sea than Lielvārde. In 2004, the air force commenced the modernization of the surface air defense capabilities by signing a contract regarding procurement of RBS-70 missiles.

In 2005, soldiers of the Air Force Air Defense Wing started the respective training course. One Air Defense Battery was to be supplied with the armament; and the personnel training of the Air Defense Wing was completed by the end of 2007.

It was planned to accommodate all the air force units at the Lielvārde military base in the near future. AF Air Operations Center was opened in 2009. Renovation of the air base was finished by 2014.

Latvian Air Force commander Col. Armands Saltups with a major of the U.S. Air Force 700th Airlift Squadron in 2016

In July 2018, it was reported that the Ministry of Defence was planning to buy four helicopters for search and rescue, evacuation, and firefighting operations.[23] On August 3, 2018, the US State Department issued a news release, stating that it had approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Latvia.[24] On September 11, 2018, an intergovernmental agreement with the United States for the acquisition of the four UH-60M helicopters was concluded by the Cabinet of Ministers.[25] The first deliveries would take place at the end of 2022.[26]

In May 2020, Ministry of Defence announced plans to renovate three of four An-2. One aircraft is already in use, which was completely refurbished in 2016.[26] The second refurbished An-2 was received in August 2020 and the third in December 2021, with plans to modernize the fourth An-2 within two years.[27] In September 2021, the air force signed a contract for the purchase of two locally made ultralight Pelegrin Tarragons with delivery planned in 2022 and 2023.[27]

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Latvia has donated to Ukraine 2 Mil Mi-8MTV-1 transport helicopters,[28] 2 Mil Mi-2 transport helicopters[28] and 2 Mi-17 helicopters.[29]

Freed up funds have allowed the Ministry of Defence to purchase four MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light helicopters; delivery date is planned to be between 2026 and 2027.[30]

Mission

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Servicemembers at the Lāčplēsis Day parade in 2011

The air force carries out Latvian airspace surveillance, control and defense, provides air defense support to the Land Forces units and participates in search and rescue operations over the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Riga and dry land. They also transport NAF soldiers and cargo, provide transport for the State President, as well as other high-level Latvian and foreign officials during their visits to Latvia and abroad. AF aircraft also assist other NAF units, the Interior Ministry and the Crisis Medicine Centre. The air force carries out the national airspace surveillance by military radars included in its armament.

One of the key priorities for the development of the AF is their integration into the NATO Air Defense System. The modernization of air defense equipment and the training of personnel is carried out with this purpose in mind. Enhancing the Air Space Surveillance System, developing a search and rescue helicopter subdivision and personnel training are also included on this list of priorities. air force helicopters in co-operation with the Disaster Medicine Center also transport patients in grave condition, persons injured in accidents and persons injured in traffic accidents from rural regions to Riga hospitals.

Development of the Lielvārde military base will ensure centralization of air force units and establishment of an efficient command and control system, which will result in a reduction of the maintenance costs of the air force units.

The main mission of air force is to:

  • Provide for the control and defense of the national air space;
  • Provide combat and mobilization readiness for units;
  • Participate in people and object search and rescue operations;
  • Perform air transportation duties and air defense.

Structure

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class=notpageimage|
Latvian Air Force locations 2018:
Air Base AN/TPS-77(V) Radar Station
  • Air Force Headquarters, at Lielvārde Air Base
    • Aviation Squadron, at Lielvārde Air Base
      • Squadron Staff
      • Helicopter Section (UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters)
      • Transport Plane Section (An-2 aircraft)
      • Training Section
      • Rescue Section (UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters)
      • Aircraft Maintenance Section
    • Air Surveillance Squadron, at Lielvārde Air Base[31]
    • Air Defense Division, at Lielvārde Air Base
      • Staff and Supply Battery
      • 1st Air Defense Battery[a] (PS-70 (aka Giraffe 40) radar and RBS 70 missile systems)
      • 2nd Air Defense Battery (PS-70 (aka Giraffe 40) radar and RBS 70 missile systems)
      • 3rd Air Defense Battery (PS-70 (aka Giraffe 40) radar and RBS 70 missile systems)
    • Signal and Flight Support Section, at Lielvārde Air Base
    • Air Force Training Center, at Lielvārde Air Base

Inventory

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Current

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Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Antonov An-2 Soviet Union Transport 3[27]
Helicopters
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk United States Utility UH-60M 3 1 on order[32]
Trainer aircraft
Pelegrin Tarragon Latvia Basic trainer 2[33] Also used for reconnaissance[34]

Retired

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Previous aircraft flown were Let L-410UVP Turbolet, PZL-104 Wilga 35-A, Mil Mi-8MTV, Mi-17 and the PZL Mi-2U.[35][36][37][28][29]

The Bofors 40 mm L/70 anti-aircraft gun

Air Defense

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Name Origin Type Notes
Anti-aircraft weapons
FIM-92 Stinger United States MANPADS [38][39] All to be transferred to Ukraine.[40]
PPZR Piorun Poland MANPADS [41]
RBS-70 Sweden MANPADS [42]
Bofors 40 mm L/60 and L/70 Sweden Towed anti-aircraft gun L60 and L70 variants[43][44][45]

Ranks and insignia

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Commissioned officers

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The rank insignia for commissioned officers.

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Latvia Latvian Air Force[46]
Ģenerālleitnants Ģenerālmajors Brigādes ģenerālis Pulkvedis Pulkvežleitnants Majors Kapteinis Virsleitnants Leitnants
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1

Enlisted

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The rank insignia for enlisted personnel.

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Latvia Latvian Air Force[46]
Augstākais virsseržants Galvenais virsseržants Štāba virsseržants Virsseržants Seržants Kaprālis Dižkareivis Kareivis
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Each Air Defense Battery consists of the following: 1x Radar Platoon, 3x Air Defense Platoons, 1x Support Platoon, and 1x Signal Unit.

References

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  1. ^ "Gaisa spēku komandiera amatā stāsies pulkvežleitnants Viesturs Masulis". mil.lv (in Latvian). 21 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Contact". Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  3. ^ File:Roundel of the Latvian Air Force 1919 border.svg — Wikimedia Commons, retrieved 2020-11-15
  4. ^ a b "Latvian National Guard Pre-WW2". Aeroflight. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  5. ^ "VEF IRBITIS I-12 - Latvian Aviation". latvianaviation.com. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  6. ^ a b c d "Latvian Air Force 1918–1940". Insignia Air Force Special. London: Blue Rider Publishing. 2000. ISBN 1-902851-04-8.
  7. ^ "Indans' Great Amok". Insignia. Vol. 3, no. 11. Spring. 1999. pp. 76–82. ISSN 1360-4848.
  8. ^ Ilmārs. "Latavio". lffb.lv (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 18 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Organization of the Aizsargi". aizsargi.org. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  10. ^ "MILITARY AIRCRAFT - National Guard (Aizsargi) - Latvian Aviation". latvianaviation.com. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  11. ^ "VEF Irbitis I-12". Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Latvijas Republikas Gaisa spēki" [Air Force of the Republic of Latvia]. Latvian National Encyclopedia (in Latvian). National Library of Latvia. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  13. ^ "Flight International 16-12 November 2004". Flightglobal. p. 72. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  14. ^ "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Helikopters Mi-2 "Hoplite" | Nacionālie bruņotie spēki" [Helicopter Mi-2 Hoplite | National Armed Forces]. www.mil.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  16. ^ "Flight International 16-12 November 2004". Flightglobal. p. 72. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  17. ^ "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki / Vienības / Gaisa spēku aviācijas bāze / Tehnika" [Equipment of the Air Force Aviation Base - National Armed Forces] (in Latvian). 2016-12-22. Archived from the original on 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  18. ^ a b "All-Time Aircraft Used List Latvian National Guard (Post-WW2) – Aeroflight". 26 February 2017. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  19. ^ "Flight International 16-12 November 2004". Flightglobal. p. 72. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  20. ^ "Aviation Photo #0057733: PZL-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga-35A - Latvia - Air Force". Airliners.net. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  21. ^ "Aviation Photo #0495830: PZL-Okecie PZL-104 Wilga-35A - Latvia - Air Force". Airliners.net. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  22. ^ "Latvian National Guard (Post-WW2)". Aeroflight. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  23. ^ "Latvia planning to buy six helicopters in coming years". eng.lsm.lv. 30 July 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  24. ^ "Latvia – UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters". www.dcsa.mil. Washington. 3 August 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Ministru kabinets atbalsta četru helikopteru UH-60M "Black Hawk" iegādi starpvaldību līguma ietvaros" [Cabinet of Ministers approves the purchase of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters through an intergovernmental contract]. www.sargs.lv (in Latvian). 11 September 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Aizsardzības ministrija plāno atjaunot trīs padomju laikā ražotos divplākšņus" [Ministry of Defence plans to refurbish three Soviet-made biplanes]. sargs.lv (in Latvian). 16 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  27. ^ a b c "Gaisa spēki saņem trešo atjaunoto "An-2" lidmašīnu" [Air Force receives the third refurbished An-2 aeroplane]. Sargs.lv (in Latvian). 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  28. ^ a b c "Latvia donates helicopters and howitzers to Ukraine". LSM. 15 August 2022. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Factbox: European states in Estonia pledge weapons for Ukraine". Reuters. 19 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  30. ^ "MD530F for Latvian Air Force". scramble.nl. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Latvia receives its first TPS-77 MRR air surveillance radar". Latvian Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  32. ^ Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  33. ^ Gaisa spēki papildināti ar divām Latvijā ražotām lidmašīnām, 17 November 2022, retrieved 2022-12-12
  34. ^ "Gaisa spēki svinīgi saņem divus Latvijā ražotos lidaparātus "Tarragon"" (in Latvian). Latvian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Helikopters Mi-2 "Hoplite" | Nacionālie bruņotie spēki" [Helicopter Mi-2 Hoplite | National Armed Forces]. www.mil.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  36. ^ "Flight International 16-12 November 2004". Flightglobal. p. 72. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  37. ^ Hoyle, Craig (2022). "World Air Forces 2023". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  38. ^ "Latvia's Stinger missiles arrive from Denmark". eng.Lsm.lv. 2018-10-26. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  39. ^ "Latvia receives Stinger air-defence systems | Aizsardzības ministrija". Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia. 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  40. ^ "Latvia to transfer all its Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine". mil.in.ua. 21 April 2023.
  41. ^ "MSPO 2023: More Piorun MANPADS to be Exported!". Defence24. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  42. ^ "Raķešu sistēma RBS-70". Nacionālie bruņotie spēki (in Latvian). Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  43. ^ Gander, Terry (2013-04-30). The Bofors Gun. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-3504-7.
  44. ^ Andersons, Edgars (2001). "The military situation in the Baltic States" (PDF). Baltic Defence Review. 2001 (6): 113–153. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  45. ^ "Latvijas Republikas Gaisa spēki" [Air Force of the Republic of Latvia]. Latvian National Encyclopedia (in Latvian). National Library of Latvia. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  46. ^ a b "Noteikumi par karavīra formas tērpiem un atšķirības zīmēm". Legal Acts of the Republic of Latvia (in Latvian). Latvijas Vēstnesis. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
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