The Minister of Defense noted that the Northern Fleet is constantly practicing the use of fighter aircraft from the airfields of the Arctic archipelagos
MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. The development of Russian military infrastructure in the Arctic and on the coast of the Arctic Ocean will continue, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the board of the military department on Tuesday.
"It is important to say that the Northern Fleet is constantly practicing the use of fighter aircraft from the airfields of the Arctic archipelagos. The development of military infrastructure on the Arctic islands and the coast of the Arctic Ocean continues, " Shoigu said. He also added that the construction of the Temp airfield on the Novosibirsk Islands archipelago is being completed.
"In the interests of the Third Air Defense Division, a military camp is being built in the village of Tiksi of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)," the Minister said, recalling that last year the construction of a 3,500 - meter-long runway was completed at the Nagurskaya airfield, located on the island of Alexandra Land, which allows receiving all types of aircraft.
In addition, Shoigu praised the results of the Arctic expedition of the Northern Fleet, during which, for the first time in the history of the Navy, three nuclear submarines surfaced in the ice in a limited area. According to him, during the event, the fleet personnel demonstrated high professionalism.
"The expedition involved more than six hundred military and civilian personnel, about 200 samples of weapons and military equipment. For its support, 66 sorties of military transport aviation were carried out, " Shoigu said.
He also noted that the Northern Fleet traditionally pays great attention to scientific and research work. "At the end of last year, together with the Russian Geographical Society, objects were surveyed on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and in the waters of the Northern Sea Route. As a result, more than 120 exhibits of historical significance were found. All of them will be transferred to the leading museums of Russia. We will continue this work this year, " the Defense Minister said.
