German Air Force Typhoon lands at Šiauliai Air Base in Northern Lithuania. German Air Force image |
So why is this interesting to me? Well, this airbase is now an international airport with civilian traffic, but it does have a military past (as you should be able to tell from the design). "Recently" it was a Soviet airbase, with forty (40!) hardened hangers made to store and protect fighter jets from bombardment. Those bunkers are still there, but I'm not sure if they're still in use. I'd very much like to get detailed pictures of those structures and compare them to Western designs.
This is the QRA area where NATO forces are staging their planes. (Credit OSIMINT) |
References:
http://osimint.com/2013/06/14/nato-fighters-escort-russian-aircraft-reportedly-on-route-to-kaliningrad/
http://home.scarlet.be/~jansensa/Three%20years%20of%20NATO%20Baltic%20Air%20Policing.htm
http://www.key.aero/view_article.asp?ID=778&thisSection=military
http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/54267/new-headquarters-of-natos-air-policing-mission-opened-in-siauliai-air-base-201354267/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/melkon/sets/72157643276508614/