A €2 million hangar built to house the army’s two new aircraft was inaugurated yesterday by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

The hangar built from EU funds is part of a string of investments to improve the Armed Forces of Malta’s search and rescue capabilities.

Dr Gonzi said a third of EU funds allocated to the army had been spent on modernising the air wing.

The hangar will house the two King Air maritime patrol aircraft and is equipped with a crane that will enable soldiers to repair and maintain the airplanes without the need of outside assistance.

The project to boost the air wing’s capability cost some €20 million and included the two aircraft, the hangar and training.

A tender for a new helicopter has been issued and a second hangar built in colonial times will be refurbished to the same standards as the new one. At a short ceremony, Dr Gonzi thanked the soldiers for their work in the area of illegal immigration, the fight against drug trafficking and contraband.

“As Prime Minister but also as a citizen of this country I thank you for saving lives at sea,” he told a gathering of high-ranking officers and guests.

Army commander Brigadier Martin Xuereb said the air wing investment followed the purchase of new patrol boats.

“These are important investments that help modernise the army in its role to secure Malta’s maritime borders.”