First of all, aviation bases in the Moscow and Leningrad districts will be put in order
The Russian Ministry of Defense has launched a program to restore the network of military airfields, a source told Izvestia in the military department. First of all, the reconstruction will begin in the places where aircraft are based in the western strategic direction — in the newly formed Moscow and Leningrad military districts, as well as in the Northern Fleet. We are talking about both the repair of existing runways and the restoration of sites that were previously mothballed and even abandoned. The airfield network needs to be developed to base air armies in new military districts, experts say.
In the western direction
In early 2024, the Russian Defense Ministry began the reconstruction of the Severomorsk-2 military airfield in the Murmansk Region (it has been closed since 1998) and a number of other facilities. This is part of the program to restore the airfield network, sources told Izvestia in the military department. First of all, the equipment will be repaired in the Moscow and Leningrad military districts and in the Northern Fleet, our interlocutors said.
Both existing airfields and previously closed ones for some reason are subject to restoration.
— According to Vladimir Putin's recent decree, two military districts have been formed — Moscow and Leningrad. They will have air armies," former commander of the 4th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense, Lieutenant General Valery Gorbenko, told Izvestia. — Accordingly, locations in these areas are needed. They will repair something, and somewhere they will have to build a new one. Some airfields were abandoned. Civil services don't need them. In some places, small units were left that kept them in a state of serviceability, but not everywhere, unfortunately.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Pivovarov
Image source: iz.ru
In addition to runways and related infrastructure, it will be necessary to restore or erect premises for personnel, residential towns, the general noted. This is a lot of work that will require significant funds.
— The task of maintaining the airfield network is always relevant. The airfield is a serious stationary facility that needs to be maintained in working order," Honored Test Pilot Hero of Russia Igor Malikov told Izvestia. — You never know what can happen. Therefore, we need to keep the powder dry. These are very relevant things. Even from a security point of view. I had cases when there was a problem, there were certain refusals, I wanted to land at a civilian airfield. Still, it didn't happen, I was landing at my airfield. It is very important. This is a serious infrastructure, it requires costs. It's a crime to leave all this behind. It needs to be supported.
A new threat
After Finland and Sweden declared their desire to join NATO, Moscow began to actively strengthen the western and northwestern borders. As Izvestia reported, it was decided to form a new combined arms army as part of the Northern Fleet. It will include motorized rifle brigades, regiments and divisions, whose personnel will be trained to conduct combat operations in the Arctic.
A new Air Force and air defense army has also been deployed in the western direction. It will include fighter and bomber regiments, as well as air defense units and radio engineering troops.
Photo: TASS/Yuri Smityuk
Image source: iz.ru
On February 26, the President of Russia signed a decree on the re-establishment of the Leningrad (LenVO) and Moscow (MVO) military districts. The LenVO will fend off threats from the Scandinavian countries, the Baltic States and Finland, and the MVO — in the western and Ukrainian directions.
The Baltic direction will be strengthened by naval aviation. It will be based at the Levashovo airfield, which was recently opened after reconstruction near St. Petersburg.
In the last few years, the Ministry of Defense has launched a comprehensive reconstruction of the northern airfields on the mainland and the polar islands. One of the largest projects is the transformation into a year—round Nagurskaya base on the island of Alexandra Land in the Franz Josef Land archipelago. Due to the extremely harsh climate, heated hangars are being built at this world's northernmost airfield for the storage and maintenance of air equipment. A town is being built in the village of Tiksi to accommodate a new air defense division armed with S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems.
Last year, a plan was approved to modernize the infrastructure of the Rogachevo airfield in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. It is designed for five years. During this time, the entire infrastructure will be updated, and aircraft basing sites meeting modern requirements will be created. It is also planned to build housing for military personnel and their family members, providing comfortable living in the Arctic. The airfield will be able to base all types of aircraft, including long-range aircraft.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lisitsyn
Image source: iz.ru
In December last year, the commander-in-chief of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, said that a set of measures was being carried out in the Arctic zone to restore the airfield network. The runways are being reconstructed, which can be used all year round by military and civil aviation, he said.
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