The Drive: Snapshots Show Russian Arctic Base Will Soon Be able to Receive Bombers

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New satellite images of an aerodrome on Alexandra Land Island in the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Arctic show that Russia is actively engaged in runway lengthening. Very soon the capabilities of this military facility will increase significantly, writes the American edition of The Drive.

The Russians have significantly lengthened the runway at their northernmost airfield, located in a strategically important region. The runway is now complete, according to Planet Labs imagery taken on August 13, 2020. It now has a gigantic length of 11500 feet (3,5 km). Prior to that, on September 15, 2019, it was 8200 feet (2,5 km). Now all types of existing and future aircraft, including heavy bombers, can land on the airfield.



On the island of Alexandra Land is the base of the Ministry of Defense "Arctic Trefoil". Moscow wants the airfield to operate all year round and be capable of receiving heavy military transport aircraft and missile bombers. Earlier it was reported about plans to build heated hangars for military transport Il-78, Su-34 fighter-bombers and MiG-31 fighter-interceptors.


Back in 2016, the airfield was an unpaved strip of just over 5575 feet (1,7 km) long. Construction of a new base and reconstruction of the airfield began in 2018.


During this time, a powerful radar station appeared at the base for monitoring air and sea activity. At the same time, Moscow is also going to deploy air defense systems there.

At the moment, this is the only such military facility in the Arctic, which will allow control of the entire region.
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  1. Valentine
    Valentine
    +3
    22 August 2020 19: 41
    Well done, guys, only we shouldn't forget Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, just like Vietnam, otherwise they will devour us and not choke - the Japanese, and the Chinese, and the Swedes, and the Germans with the Ottomans, and the Yankees, and the Poles with the Galicians.
  2. 123
    123
    +3
    22 August 2020 22: 37
    From such an airfield, now he can take off a lot.
    This is to the delight of partners, let them remember, nostalgic Yes

    1. beeper
      beeper
      +3
      23 August 2020 09: 30
      hi Thanks for the awesome movie! good
      Unbeknownst to himself, as much as 40 minutes, he returned to his childhood and home - to the USSR! Yes
  3. Dima Dima_2
    Dima Dima_2
    +1
    23 August 2020 00: 18
    It's time to work on the anti-satellite system, so that everyone and sundry won't take pictures)