Šiauliai Air Base

Zokniai area was first used as an aerial warfare facility in 1916–1917, when the German forces built hangars for their Zeppelin airships. The Lithuanian Air Force began expanding during the Interwar period, as Lithuania was acquiring foreign aircraft as well as domestically produced ANBO-series aircraft, making the Kaunas aerodrome insufficient. It was a base of the 3rd, 4th and 5th squadrons. At that time, it was able to host 35 aircraft, For a brief time, the aerodrome hosted Lituanica II. Following the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, the aerodrome was taken over by the Soviet forces. Following the independence restoration in 1990, the airport was returned to the Lithuanian Air Force. In 1990s, it was renovated and equipped for civilian operations. In 1994, Šiauliai Airport gained the status of international airport. It was further modernized in 2004 when Lithuania joined NATO. It became a NATO air base, hosting the Baltic Air Policing mission. The first NATO F-16 jet fighters from the Belgian Air Component landed in March 2004. == Facilities ==

The airport is owned and administered by the Lithuanian Armed Forces. In 2020, around 400 military and civilian staff worked in the air base. Civilian facilities The civilian use is primarily for the aircraft maintenance and cargo transportation. The airport has a passenger terminal, meeting the requirements of the Schengen Area, but it is used only for the irregular flights. Since the airport is also a military facility, it is not subject to noise regulations and is open 24 hours a day. Šiauliai Airport is a regional centre for the aircraft maintenance and parking, with several companies operating in the airport, including "J&C Aero" and "Aviatic MRO". Runways have a capacity to accept larger aircraft, such as Boeing 747 or Airbus A330. == Gallery ==

File:19960630ZOKNIAI.jpg|Lithuanian Air Force Aero L-39C, Zokniai, 2006. File:Tupolev Tu-126, Zokniai, Šiauliai, Lithuanian SSR.jpg|Soviet Air Force Tupolev Tu-126, circa 1977. File:1996 06 18Zokniai.jpg|Hardened aircraft shelters in the 1990s. File:U.S. Airmen with the 48th Air Expeditionary Group maintain an F-15C Eagle aircraft at Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, March 7, 2014 140307-F-XB934-212.jpg|US Air Force F-15C in 2014. File:U.S.A.F. F-15C, 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, April 1, 2014.jpg|F-15C jet fighters on the runways. File:Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 044.jpg|C-17 Globemaster III on the airfield in winter. == See also ==