Editing Lithuanian Armed Forces (section)

=== Air Force ===

{{Main|Lithuanian Air Force}}

[[File:Eurocopter AS365 + LET L-410.jpg|left|thumb|Lithuanian Air Force helicopter]]

The Lithuanian Air Force (LAF) is an integral part of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The LAF is formed by professional military servicemen and non-military personnel. Units are located at various bases across Lithuania:
*[[Kaunas]] (Headquarters and the [[Airspace Surveillance and Control Command (Lithuania)|Airspace Surveillance and Control Command]]);
*[[Karmėlava]] (Air Space Control Centre);
*[[Nemirseta]] (providing basing for sea search and rescue detachment);
*[[Šiauliai]] (Zokniai Air Base, Air Force Armament and Equipment Repair Depot);
*[[Radviliškis]] ([[Air defence battalion (Lithuania)|Air Defence Battalion]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/structure_1469/air_force.html|title=Lithuanian Armed Forces :: Structure " Air Force|publisher=Ministry of National Defence, Republic of Lithuania|access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017023022/http://kariuomene.kam.lt/en/structure_1469/air_force.html|archive-date=17 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:Joint Silver Arrow 2023 4.jpg|thumb|Lithuanian Air Force [[Air Defence Battalion (Lithuania)|Air Defence Battalion]] [[NASAMS]] battery during "Joint Silver Arrow 2023" exercise. ]]

The initial formation of the LAF was the 2nd transport squadron with the transfer of 20 [[An-2]] aircraft from civilian to military use, with initial basing at the [[Barysiai Airport]] on 27 April 1992. These were joined by four [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39C Albatros]] aircraft to be used by the 1st fighter (training) squadron. These were in addition to [[Mil Mi-8]] helicopters and a short-range transport aircraft [[L-410]], all of which went through a capital overhaul, upgrade and modernisation in the 2000s.

Following the initial acquisitions, the LAF began its aircraft's modernisation by ordering three [[C-27J Spartan]] transporters in 2006. In 2013, three [[Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin]] helicopters were acquired from France and, in 2020, Lithuania announced an order or four [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk]] helicopters from the USA. Simultaneously, new medium-range and long-range radars were acquired for the [[Airspace Surveillance and Control Command (Lithuania)|Airspace Surveillance and Control Command]].

Air space is patrolled by jet fighters from other [[NATO members]] and they are based in [[Zokniai Air Base]], near the city of [[Šiauliai]] (see [[Baltic Air Policing]]). The [[external border of the European Union]] (with [[Kaliningrad]] and [[Belarus]]) is patrolled by the Aviation Unit of the Lithuanian [[State Border Guard Service (Lithuania)|State Border Guard Service]] which, since the 2000s, uses helicopters [[EC-120]], [[Eurocopter EC135|EC-135]] and [[EC-145]].