TIRANA, Jan. 20, 2022 – Work has started on the reconstruction of Albania’s Kuçova military airport, which will serve as NATO’s first tactical air base in the Western Balkans.
With a 51-million-euro investment, work on the base transformation is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Three years ago, NATO took the decision to turn the military airport of Kuçova into an air base for the alliance. The reconstruction will improve the runway, flight control infrastructure and connecting roads.
“The tactical air base of Kuçova will become an important mark of NATO presence and will be ready for various exercises and operations, being ready 24-7 both in times of peace and in times of crisis,” said Albanian Military Chief of General Staff Bajram Begaj at a ceremony marking the start of work. “The base will have airspace and battlefield surveillance capabilities and will provide NATO and allied countries with the ability to fly in and out aircraft at any time, in all atmospheric conditions, significantly increasing our operational mobility and capabilities as a host country.”
For the Albanian authorities, the selection of the Kuçova base is related to the geo-strategic position of the country, and the airport itself, as well as to the credibility that Albania has created in NATO.
Based on the agreement signed with NATO, the Albanian authorities have undertaken the construction of the security perimeter and connecting roads, lighting, installation of security cameras of the base and sensors to detect intrusions along the perimeter of the base.
According to the authorities, in addition to the strategic importance, the presence of a NATO base will have positive social and economic impact on the community in the area, with increased employment and services.
The base is part of a trend of increased U.S. and NATO military investment in Albania. Two weeks ago, the U.S. Special Operations Command for Europe also announced the decision to have a headquarters of the Special Operations Forces base in Albania.
Construction of the Kuçova air base began in 1952 and was completed in 1955, during Albania’s communist regime. It hosted Albanian air force MiG airplanes, featuring the ability to move aircraft from under-mountain bunkers directly into the take-off strip. During the unrest of 1997, the base was damaged and became useless until 1999. More repairs took place from 2002 to 2004, when the base was renovated to meet minimum NATO standards with a new control tower, new lighting, and repaving.
Albania joined NATO in 2009. It currently has no fixed-wing aircrafts of its own, relying on neighboring NATO allies to defend its airspace.
