Kazlų Rūda Air Base

Geopolitical: The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of Lithuania's independence. The air base was a Soviet military installation, and its operational closure was a direct result of the withdrawal of all Russian (formerly Soviet) armed forces from Lithuanian territory, which was officially completed by August 31, 1993. The base was handed over to Lithuanian authorities and ceased to be an active military airfield.

The site is now an integral part of the larger **Kazlų Rūda Training Area (Kazlų Rūdos poligonas)**, a major military training ground for the Lithuanian Armed Forces and their NATO allies.

- **Infrastructure Use:** Much of the original Soviet-era infrastructure, particularly the hardened aircraft shelters, is derelict or has been repurposed for storage or training exercises.
- **Runway Use:** The main runway and taxiways are not maintained to the standards of an active airport but are frequently used for military purposes. This includes tactical airlift exercises (with aircraft like the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III occasionally landing), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations, driver training for military vehicles, and as a staging area for ground force drills.

In essence, while it is 'closed' as a permanent, fully-staffed air base, it functions as a military training facility with periodic and mission-specific aviation activity.

*Note on ICAO code: The identifier LT-9519 is a national or temporary designator. The old Soviet base is distinct from the nearby, smaller, active civil aerodrome, Kazlų Rūda Aerodrome (ICAO: EYKR).*

Kazlų Rūda Air Base was a key Soviet Air Force (VVS) forward operating base during the Cold War. Its primary historical significance lies in its strategic military role.

- **Operations:** It was home to the 3rd Guards Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (3-й гвардейский авиационный полк истребителей-бомбардировщиков).
- **Aircraft:** The base primarily operated tactical strike aircraft, including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 'Flogger' and later the advanced Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer'.
- **Strategic Importance:** These aircraft were nuclear-capable, making the base a significant strategic asset for the Soviet Union's Baltic Military District. Its mission was to project power and conduct potential strike operations against NATO targets in Western Europe and the Baltic Sea region.
- **Infrastructure:** The base was built to typical Soviet standards for a major air base, featuring a long, robust concrete runway (approximately 2.5 km / 1.55 mi), extensive taxiways, and dozens of hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) dispersed in the surrounding forests to protect aircraft from attack.

There are significant and ongoing plans to redevelop and partially reactivate the air base for military use by Lithuania and NATO. These plans have gained considerable momentum due to the changed security environment in Eastern Europe following Russia's actions in Ukraine.

- **Strategic Goal:** The objective is to develop Kazlų Rūda into a secondary military airfield in Lithuania. This would supplement the primary NATO Baltic Air Policing mission base at Šiauliai (EYSA), providing operational redundancy, dispersal capability for allied aircraft, and enhanced logistical support.
- **Development Plans:** Prospects involve modernizing and potentially extending the runway, constructing new aprons, fuel storage, and other infrastructure necessary to support modern fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters on a more permanent basis.
- **Current Status of Plans:** The development of the Kazlų Rūda Training Area is an active priority for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence. While significant investment is being made into the overall training area, a definitive public timeline for the full reactivation of the airfield for continuous, permanent flight operations has not been finalized. It is currently considered a long-term strategic project vital for national and regional security.