Afrikanda air base

Afrikanda

Afrikanda airfield
IATA: noneICAO: none
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Russian Air Force
Serves Afrikanda
Built Unknown
In use Unknown-2000
Elevation AMSL 505 ft / 154 m
Coordinates 67°27′24″N 032°47′12″E / 67.45667°N 32.78667°E / 67.45667; 32.78667Coordinates: 67°27′24″N 032°47′12″E / 67.45667°N 32.78667°E / 67.45667; 32.78667
Map
Afrikanda

Location in Murmansk Oblast

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10/28 8,202 2,500 Concrete

Afrikanda is a military air base in Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It is located just north of the village of the same name.

Though it is built for fighter operations with 30 revetments, it has largely served the interceptor aircraft role.

From 1953, the 431st Fighter Aviation Regiment (431 IAP) was stationed at the base, which became the 431 Regiment PVO in 1960. From 1960 the regiment was part of the 21st Air Defence Corps.[1] It served through the whole Cold War; in 1978 a Sukhoi Su-15 was launched from Afrikanda to intercept Korean Air Flight 902, a Boeing 707 which was later forcefully landed. and in 1990, according to Conventional Forces in Europe data exchanges, it had 39 Sukhoi Su-15TM interceptor aircraft. In September 1993 it was merged with the 641 Guards IAP and became the 470th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. The regiment also operated a number of Su-27 aircraft.

The 470 Guards IAP disbanded on 30 November 2000; it is possible that Afrikanda may have closed.[2]

References


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