at the end of 2022. In May 2020, Ministry of Defence announced plans to renovate three of four An-2. One aircraft is already in use, which was completely refurbished in 2016. The second refurbished An-2 was received in August 2020 and the third in December 2021, with plans to modernize the fourth An-2 within two years. In September 2021, the air force signed a contract for the purchase of two locally made ultralight Pelegrin Tarragons with delivery planned in 2022 and 2023. Mission The air force carries out Latvian airspace surveillance, control and defense, provides air defense support to the Land Forces units and participates in search and rescue operations over the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Riga and dry land. They also transport NAF soldiers and cargo, provide transport for the State President, as well as other high-level Latvian and foreign officials during their visits to Latvia and abroad. AF aircraft also assist other NAF units, the Interior Ministry and the Crisis Medicine Centre. The air force carries out the national airspace surveillance by military radars included in its armament. One of the key priorities for the development of the AF is their integration into the NATO Air Defense System. The modernization of air defense equipment and the training of personnel is carried out with this purpose in mind. Enhancing the Air Space Surveillance System, developing a search and rescue helicopter subdivision and personnel training are also included on this list of priorities. air force helicopters in co-operation with the Disaster Medicine Center also transport patients in grave condition, persons injured in accidents and persons injured in traffic accidents from rural regions to Riga hospitals. Development of the Lielvārde military base will ensure centralization of air force units and establishment of an efficient command and control system, which will result in a reduction of the maintenance costs of the air force units. The main mission of air force is to: Provide for the control and defense of the national air space; Provide combat and mobilization readiness for units; Participate in people and object search and rescue operations; Perform air transportation duties and air defense. Structure Air Force Headquarters, at Lielvārde Air Base Aviation Squadron, at Lielvārde Air Base Squadron Staff Helicopter Section (UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters) Transport Plane Section An-2 aircraft) Training Section Rescue Section (UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters) Aircraft Maintenance Section Air Surveillance Squadron, at Lielvārde Air Base