Udbina Air Base

Military capture and subsequent conversion. The air base was operated by the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (SVK) during the Croatian War of Independence. It ceased operations as a hostile air base when it was captured by the Croatian Army (HV) during Operation Storm in August 1995. Following its capture, the Croatian Ministry of Defence repurposed the site for the Croatian Army, converting it from an active air base into a ground forces barracks and training center, a role it maintains to this day. It is therefore 'closed' to all public and most military aviation, having been converted for a different military purpose.

The site is an active and important military installation for the Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska). It is not abandoned. The entire complex has been renamed 'Vojarna Josip Jović' (Barracks 'Josip Jović'), in honor of the first Croatian police officer killed in the Croatian War of Independence.

Its primary function is as a major training center. It houses the 'Središte za razvoj vođa Marko Babić' (Leadership Development Center 'Marko Babić'), which provides advanced infantry and leadership training. The base and its surrounding training grounds are also heavily used for pre-deployment training for Croatian soldiers participating in international peacekeeping missions (such as KFOR in Kosovo and formerly ISAF in Afghanistan). While the runway and taxiways still physically exist, the facility is not maintained or operated as an active airport.

Udbina Air Base holds significant military history, primarily from the Yugoslav and post-Yugoslav eras.

1. **Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) Era:** Built in the 1960s, it was a key component of the massive, nearby underground Željava Air Base complex ('Objekat 505'). Udbina served as a satellite and dispersal airfield, designed to operate independently if Željava was compromised. It featured a main runway, a parallel taxiway, and hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) capable of protecting fighter jets from attack. It was an important forward operating base for the Yugoslav Air Force.

2. **Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995):** After the JNA's withdrawal, the base was taken over by the forces of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (SVK). It became their most important air base and was used to launch air attacks with aircraft like the Soko J-21 Jastreb and G-2 Galeb against Croatian military and civilian targets, as well as targets in the Bihać pocket in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1994, NATO aircraft operating under Operation Deny Flight attacked the airfield, cratering the runway and destroying anti-aircraft positions after SVK aircraft violated the no-fly zone to attack Bihać.

3. **Operation Storm (August 1995):** The capture of Udbina Air Base by the Croatian Army was a key objective and a major strategic victory during Operation Storm. Its fall effectively eliminated the SVK's air capability and marked a turning point in the war, leading to the reintegration of the territory into Croatia.

There are currently no concrete or funded plans to reopen Udbina as a public or commercial airport. However, the idea has been proposed multiple times over the past two decades.

Proposals, primarily pushed by the local government of Lika-Senj County, aimed to convert the facility into a dual-use military/civilian airport. The main arguments in favor were to support tourism, given its relative proximity to the Plitvice Lakes National Park, and to create a cargo hub for the region.

These plans have consistently stalled due to several factors:
- **High Cost:** Significant investment would be required to upgrade the infrastructure to modern civilian aviation standards.
- **Economic Viability:** Questions remain about whether there would be sufficient passenger or cargo traffic to make the airport profitable.
- **Continued Military Use:** The site is a vital and active training center for the Croatian Army, and relinquishing or sharing the facility would present significant logistical and security challenges.

As of the early 2020s, the prospect of reopening Udbina for civilian air traffic remains a distant possibility rather than an active project.