Monchegorsk (air base)

Monchegorsk Air Base is a military air base in Murmansk Oblast, Russia located 13 km northeast of Monchegorsk and 11 miles southwest of Olenya (air base). Work on the air base began in the early 1950s,[1] and by 1957 it was identified on American U-2 overflights with a modern 6600 ft (2000 m) runway, extensive infrastructure, and a MiG regiment.[2]

Monchegorsk
Monchegorsk, Murmansk Oblast in Russia
Monchegorsk
Shown within Murmansk Oblast
Coordinates67°59′12″N 033°01′06″E
TypeAir Base
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRussian Air Force
Site history
Built1960s
In use1960s-present
Airfield information
Elevation167 metres (548 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
02/20 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) Concrete

During the Cold War it hosted the 174th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (174 Gv IAP) flying the Yak-28P during the 1960s and 1970s, and a MiG-21R squadron in the 1970s which was upgraded to the Su-17M3 in the early 1980s.[3] It was also home to MiG-25PDS aircraft in the 1980s.[4] In the early 1980s MiG-31 interceptors were deployed to Monchegorsk.[5] The base also hosted a reconnaissance regiment, the 98 ORAP (98th Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment) flying MiG-25RB, Su-17, Su-24MR, and MiG-31 aircraft.[6]

For much of the Cold War fighter regiments at the base were under control of Air Defence Corps of the 10th Air Defence Army.

The base is home to the 98th Guards Composite Aviation Regiment which uses the Sukhoi Su-24M/MR, Mikoyan MiG-31BM & Mil Mi-8MTV.[7]

Runway

Monchegorsk has a runway of concrete in the direction 02/20 of 2,400x40 m. (7.873x131 feet).[8]

Military operations

May 20, 1966 in Monchegorsk was established the 67 separate air squadron composed of two aircraft early warning Tu-126 (NATO designation: 'Moss' )[9] equipping the radar system "Liana". The same year, November 10 the unit was moved to the city of Šiauliai, in Lithuania.

In the 1980s it was the headquarters of the regiment of intercept 174[10] Gv IAP, which used aircraft MiG-25PDS (NATO designation: 'Foxbat-E' ),[11] during the 1980s and MiG-31 (NATO designation: 'Foxhound-A' ) [12] during the 1990s. The regiment was dissolved on September 1, 2001. After the dissolution, the MiG-31 became part of the 458 regiment, stationed in the Kotlas air base, in the Arkhangelsk Oblast.

It also hosted the regiment of reconnaissance 98 ORAP flying MiG-25RB (NATO designation: 'Foxbat-B' ), Su-17 (designation NATO: 'Fitter-C' ) [13] Su-24MR (NATO designation: 'Fencer-E' ) [13] and MiG-31.

It is currently stationed at the 7000 air group aerodrome serving aircraft Su-24MR (NATO designation: 'Fencer-E' ),[11] Su-24M (NATO designation: 'Fencer-D ') [11] and helicopters Mi-8 (NATO designation: 'Hip ').[14]

References
  1. MONCHEGORSK AIRFIELD, CIA-RDP82-00457R010800110009-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, February 28, 1952.
  2. MISSION COVERAGE SUMMARY MISSION A 2040 13 OCTOBER 1957, CIA-RDP78T04753A000700010009-7, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, October 25, 1957.
  3. STATUS OF SOVIET TACTICAL RECONNAISSANCE FORCES USSR/EASTERN EUROPE/AFGHANISTAN(SANITIZED), CIA-RDP84T00491R000101240001-9, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, March 22, 1984.
  4. "Aviatsiya PVO". Aviabaza KPOI.
  5. FOXHOUND A DOLINSK/SOKOL AIRFIELD, USSR, CIA-RDP84T00171R000200810001-1, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, September 16, 1983.
  6. Butowski, Pyotr (2004). Air Power Analysis: Russian Federation. AIRtime Publishing, Inc.
  7. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. October 2015. p. 57.
  8. Tim Vasquez (2009). "Index of Russian airports – Monchegorsk". Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  9. Andreas Parsch; Aleksey V. Martynov (2008). "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles – Miscelaneous". Designation- Systems.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  10. Белов В.В. (2006). "History of Regiment 174 Gv IAP" (in Russian). Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  11. Andreas Parsch; Aleksey V. Martynov (2008). "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles – Fighters". Designation-Systems.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  12. Andreas Parsch; Aleksey V. Martynov (2008). "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles – Fighters". Designation-Systems.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  13. Andreas Parsch; Aleksey V. Martynov (2008). "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles – Fighters". Designation-Systems.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  14. Andreas Parsch; Aleksey V. Martynov (2008). "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles – Helicopters". Designation-Systems.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
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