ZOKNIAI/VILNIUS - Lithuania's Zokniai air-force base underwent a change in command on Oct. 8, as Major Arturas Balynas, former air-base chief of staff, replaced outgoing commander Major Devis Martusevicius.
As commander, Balynas is determined to help the Zokniai airbase, which at the moment meets minimal NATO standards, become a modern and developed military base.
"Taking over the office, there are many objectives and ideas - to prepare the Zookniai base in line with not minimum, but full NATO standards, to prepare for receiving allied forces, and to modernize infrastructure," the 37-year -old commander told the Baltic News Service.
He added, however, that the base's main priorities were to maintain its air-policing mission, transportation and descent, search and rescue operations, as well as the high level of staff preparedness.
A number of infrastructure improvement projects have already been scheduled for Zokniai, Balynas said. The government plans to repair a secondary runway next year, and to complete work on the main runway in 2006.
Meanwhile, state and NATO funds have helped restore sections of a runway and aircraft-parking area, in preparation for fighter jets that will soon arrive on their air-policing mission. The construction and restoration of further parking areas will continue, the major said. Balynas began his military career in 1993 when he was appointed commander of the Chain Fighter Squadron at the Lithuanian air force's second air base.
After graduating from Chernigov High Military Aviation School, he qualified as a pilot engineer. The commander studied at the Joint Defense College in Paris from 2003 to 2004.Balynas has flown approximately 700 hours and mastered L-39, MiG-21, and SU-24 aircraft. He also worked as a staff officer at NATO's Air North Headquarters in Ramstein, Germany.
After the North Atlantic Council sanctioned the air-policing mission in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, NATO allies have been taking turns to send their pilots, airplanes and service personnel to Zokniai. Belgian and Danish troops with F-16 fighters have already completed their three-month missions in the Baltic states. Until the beginning of next year, the Baltic air space will be guarded by a British contingent of four F3 Tornado fighters.