On August 5 Vice Minister of National Defence Eimutis Misiūnas, Ambassador of the United States of America HE Robert S. Gilchrist, Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Brig Gen Ronald E. Jolly Sr., Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Col Dainius Guzas, and other representatives of the Lithuanian and the U.S. Armed Forces visited Šiauliai Air Base to view the new infrastructure.
The sum of EUR 24 million was allocated in 2016 –2020 from the U.S. European Deterrence Initiative to build the new infrastructure. 16 objects have been finished and two more are planned to be done by the end of the year.
“U.S. investments into Lithuania’s defence infrastructure demonstrate that Lithuania remains an important priority in the U.S. defence policy. By strengthening capabilities of the Lithuanian Air Force Base along with the U.S., we have tripled the Lithuanian Air Force Base capacity to host allied aircraft, ensured better training conditions for U.S. and other NATO allies’ military units, and contribute to a swift deployment of allies to the other Baltic states and Lithuania,” Vice Minister of National Defence Eimutis Misiūnas says.
"These European Deterrence Initiative-funded projects are evidence of our ongoing commitment to securing NATO's territorial air space," said Ambassador Gilchrist. "They enhance our deterrence posture; increase the readiness and responsiveness of U.S. forces in Europe; and support the collective defence and security of our NATO Allies."
The United States has carried out the infrastructure development projects in Lithuania through its Army Corps of Engineers and NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) which then hired contractors for design and construction works. Most of the contracts, worth of EUR 17 million, were awarded to Lithuanian enterprises, even though the tenders were international; the remaining work, worth of EUR 7 million, was done by foreign companies. The majority, 14 of the contracts, were awarded to and carried out by Mitnija AB.
“Even though the infrastructure was build on U.S. funds, it is fully transferred to be owned by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and it will be used not only by Lithuanian forces but also by NATO allies deploying here. The American-financed projects have expanded by three times the capability of the Air Base to host allied air assets, ensure appropriate maintenance throughout the deployment, and the capability to support land units deployed by our allies to exercises and training in Lithuania via the Air Base,” Vice Minister of National Defence Eimutis Misiūnas says.
Another project financed by the U.S. at Šiauliai Air Base is the EUR 1.5 million worth reconstruction of a historical, Antanas Gustaitis hangar where the Lithuanian ANBO aircraft used to be assembled during the interwar period. The hangar had its door replaced and heating and cooling systems refurbished. It is not only an object of historical importance but an intensely used object for technical maintenance of aircraft by the Lithuanian Air Force.
A squadron OPS facility is another newly built piece of infrastructure at the Air Base. It will ensure that command elements (command posts) of allies deploying air force units to Lithuania have conditions necessary for planning and commanding air operations. Such facilities are typically used for completing analysis of information relevant for flight planning and for setting out flight routes.
The objects of infrastructure that have just been completed and handed over to the Lithuanian Armed Forces are just a part of objects financed under the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI). In total, the U.S. will spend roughly USD 15 million to accommodate military training areas of Lithuania to military needs in 2016 –2021. Several projects have been completed on U.S. financing in military training areas in Pabradė, Rukla, and Kazlų Rūda before too – a firing range for sharpshooters and snipers, firing ranges for light infantry arms and heavy machine-guns, a firing range for infantry fighting vehicles, maintenance facility, and other training and area infrastructure. Investments are also made to improve military mobility: Pažeimenė railhead in the vicinity of the Pabradė Training Area, a project worth of EUR 2.2 million, was opened and inaugurated in spring earlier this year.
The United States is Lithuania’s strategic partner and key ally for the security of the Baltic region. The U.S. actively participates in the implementation of the Assurance Measures in the Baltic states, thus strengthening security and stability in the region. The country contributes soldiers, equipment and finance to the defence of our region. According to the European Deterrence Initiative, the financial support for strengthening defensive capabilities and improving military infrastructure of European countries, including Lithuania, is consistently increased by one third every year. The U.S. is also among the main partners in weaponry procurement.
