Gjader Air Base
Encyclopedia
Gjadër Air Base is a military airport
located in Gjadër
, Lezhë County
, Albania
. It is north of the city of Lezhë
and is also known as Lezhë-Zadrima Air Base.
The Gjadër airfield is unique in Albania in being built near a mountain. It was built to allow aircraft after landing to go into a tunnel under the mountain. The tunnels have a capacity of storing about 50 aircraft plus personnel. As the airfield is located in the side of the mountain, the pilots have to be careful not turn when taking off as they can crash on the sides of the mountain.
entering Albanian airspace. To counter any Yugoslavian aircraft, the most modern aircraft, the F-7A
was based here. Construction of the base began in 1969, but because of its complexity it wasn’t finished until the mid-1970s. The first aircraft to use its runway landed on 10 July 1973, and the official opening was held on 15 March 1974. Regiment 5646 was established here with one squadron of F-6
s, but in May 1976 six FT-5
s arrived here and also the F-7A squadron from Rinas. On 16 October 1976, a second F-6 squadron moved to the base from Kuçovë
. The home unit was later redesignated 4010 Regt. The base was in use until at least 1992 when on 9 September an FT-5 of the Albanian Air Force crashed on Gjadër. The aircraft, piloted by Ismet Zervoi and Martin Bregu, was successfully belly-landed on the grass next to the runway without much damage.
and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, using two Gnat-750 pilotless drones and a ground satellite transmitting station. Because one of the original two CIA Gnats crashed during testing in the U.S., one of the two operational Gnats was leased. The operation was not a success. The Gnat-750 suffered from a number of bugs concerning the data link and was limited in use by bad weather. The team was finally withdrawn. The Gnat-750 lacked a satellite uplink antenna and so was used in conjunction with a Schweizer RG-8
powered glider as the flying data relay substitute. The RG-8 has an 8 hour flight time, 6 of each 8 hours was spent getting to and from the relay orbit sight. While the Gnat-750 has a 24-30 hour endurance, the manned relay aircraft greatly limits the overall effectiveness of the system. The RG-8 was previously used by the USCG. The two Gnats were then refitted with a thermal imaging sensor and an improved SIGINT package and redeployed to Croatia
in 1994, achieving a significantly more effective performance. The CIA’s activities with the Gnat-750 were eventually given the code name Lofty View. In 1994, 10 initial flights were conducted, which can be marked as a failure. By the summer of 1994, the operation had conducted 30 flights of which 12 were viewed as successful.
. The UAVs were assembled and flown first by civilian contract personnel. More than 70 U.S. military personnel of the military intelligence were deployed. Intelligence collection missions began in July 1995. One of the Predators was lost over Bosnia on 11 August 1995; a second was deliberately destroyed on 14 August after suffering an engine failure over Bosnia, which may have been caused by hostile ground fire. Its original 60-day stay under the codename Operation Nomad Vigil was extended to 120 days. The following spring, in March 1996, the system was redeployed to the Balkan area and operated out of Taszar
, Hungary.
against the Albanian government. Several buildings, including the control tower, were destroyed. On 16 March, soldiers abandon the air base. Lack of funds prevented the base from being repaired, and flying operations ceased in 2000. It is now used as a storage facility for fighter aircraft withdrawn from service. No Albanian air force aircraft are permanently based there.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Gjadër
Gjadër
Gjadër is a settlement in the Lezhë District, northern Albania. It is known for a military Gjadër Air Base famous during the Cold War.- History :...
, Lezhë County
Lezhë County
Lezhë County is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Kurbin, Lezhë and Mirditë and its capital is Lezhë.Lezhë has a small western shoreline on the Adriatic Sea. On land, it borders the following counties:*Shkodër: north...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. It is north of the city of Lezhë
Lezhë
Lezhë is a city in northwest Albania, in the district and county with the same name. It is located at and has a population of about 27,500...
and is also known as Lezhë-Zadrima Air Base.
The Gjadër airfield is unique in Albania in being built near a mountain. It was built to allow aircraft after landing to go into a tunnel under the mountain. The tunnels have a capacity of storing about 50 aircraft plus personnel. As the airfield is located in the side of the mountain, the pilots have to be careful not turn when taking off as they can crash on the sides of the mountain.
Early operations
The airfield was built to minimise the threat from the Yugoslav Air ForceSFR Yugoslav Air Force
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...
entering Albanian airspace. To counter any Yugoslavian aircraft, the most modern aircraft, the F-7A
Chengdu J-7
The Chengdu Jian-7 is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces, including China's.-Design and development:...
was based here. Construction of the base began in 1969, but because of its complexity it wasn’t finished until the mid-1970s. The first aircraft to use its runway landed on 10 July 1973, and the official opening was held on 15 March 1974. Regiment 5646 was established here with one squadron of F-6
Shenyang J-6
The Shenyang J-6 was the Chinese-built version of the Soviet MiG-19 'Farmer' fighter aircraft.-Design and development:...
s, but in May 1976 six FT-5
Shenyang J-5
The Shenyang J-5 , originally designated Dongfeng-101 - , and also Type 56 before being designated J-5 in 1964, is a Chinese-built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. The J-5 was exported as the F-5...
s arrived here and also the F-7A squadron from Rinas. On 16 October 1976, a second F-6 squadron moved to the base from Kuçovë
Kuçovë
Kuçovë is an Albanian city, capital of the Kuçovë District, with many parks and museums.-Ancient :Archaeologists found in the village of Katundas near Kuçovë six phases of inhabitation dating to the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, urban Illyrian and the Late Antiquity era.- Modern...
. The home unit was later redesignated 4010 Regt. The base was in use until at least 1992 when on 9 September an FT-5 of the Albanian Air Force crashed on Gjadër. The aircraft, piloted by Ismet Zervoi and Martin Bregu, was successfully belly-landed on the grass next to the runway without much damage.
CIA operations
From February to April 1994, the base was in use by the CIA to fly unmanned spy missions over Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, using two Gnat-750 pilotless drones and a ground satellite transmitting station. Because one of the original two CIA Gnats crashed during testing in the U.S., one of the two operational Gnats was leased. The operation was not a success. The Gnat-750 suffered from a number of bugs concerning the data link and was limited in use by bad weather. The team was finally withdrawn. The Gnat-750 lacked a satellite uplink antenna and so was used in conjunction with a Schweizer RG-8
Schweizer SGM 2-37
The Schweizer SGM 2-37 is a two-place, side-by-side, fixed gear, low wing motor glider.A total of twelve were produced between 1982 and 1988, including nine for the United States Air Force Academy, which designated it the TG-7A...
powered glider as the flying data relay substitute. The RG-8 has an 8 hour flight time, 6 of each 8 hours was spent getting to and from the relay orbit sight. While the Gnat-750 has a 24-30 hour endurance, the manned relay aircraft greatly limits the overall effectiveness of the system. The RG-8 was previously used by the USCG. The two Gnats were then refitted with a thermal imaging sensor and an improved SIGINT package and redeployed to Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
in 1994, achieving a significantly more effective performance. The CIA’s activities with the Gnat-750 were eventually given the code name Lofty View. In 1994, 10 initial flights were conducted, which can be marked as a failure. By the summer of 1994, the operation had conducted 30 flights of which 12 were viewed as successful.
US military operations
From April to November 1995 the Gjadër base hosted Predator UAV systems operated by the US Air Force to monitor the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Four disassembled Predators were flown into Gjadër airbase in a C-130 HerculesC-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
. The UAVs were assembled and flown first by civilian contract personnel. More than 70 U.S. military personnel of the military intelligence were deployed. Intelligence collection missions began in July 1995. One of the Predators was lost over Bosnia on 11 August 1995; a second was deliberately destroyed on 14 August after suffering an engine failure over Bosnia, which may have been caused by hostile ground fire. Its original 60-day stay under the codename Operation Nomad Vigil was extended to 120 days. The following spring, in March 1996, the system was redeployed to the Balkan area and operated out of Taszar
Taszár
Taszár is a village in Somogy county, Hungary.The Taszár Air Base located here.The village structure of the traditional Hungarian village were radically changed in the 1950s when they built the military air base. The military objects occupy a significant part of the town. This is particularly the...
, Hungary.
Aftermath
On 12 March 1997, the base was stormed by local people during a national revolt1997 rebellion in Albania
The 1997 unrest in Albania, also known as the Lottery Uprising or Anarchy in Albania, was an uprising sparked by Ponzi scheme failures...
against the Albanian government. Several buildings, including the control tower, were destroyed. On 16 March, soldiers abandon the air base. Lack of funds prevented the base from being repaired, and flying operations ceased in 2000. It is now used as a storage facility for fighter aircraft withdrawn from service. No Albanian air force aircraft are permanently based there.