Soltsy-2[citation needed][a] (Russian:Сольцы;ICAO: XLLL) is an air base inNovgorod Oblast,Russia located 2 km north ofSoltsy and 72 km southwest ofNovgorod. It contains large aircraft revetments, with a separate compound of 9 hardened areas about 1 mile from the airfield.[1]
| Soltsy-2 Сольцы  | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soltsy,Novgorod Oblast in Russia | |||||||
 Satellite imagery of Soltsy-2 air base | |||||||
 Tu-22M3 of the Russian Air Force at Soltsy in 2007 | |||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Type | Air Base | ||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||
| Operator | Russian Aerospace Forces | ||||||
| Controlled by | Long-Range Aviation | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
  Soltsy-2 Shown within Novgorod Oblast Show map of Novgorod Oblast.svg) Soltsy-2 Soltsy-2 (European Russia) Show map of European Russia Soltsy-2 Soltsy-2 (Russia) Show map of Russia | |||||||
| Coordinates | 58°8′20″N30°19′45″E / 58.13889°N 30.32917°E /58.13889; 30.32917 | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1951 (1951) | ||||||
| In use | 1951 - present | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: XLLL | ||||||
| Elevation | 81 metres (266 ft)AMSL | ||||||
| |||||||
The base is home to the 40th Composite Aviation Regiment which flies theTu-22M as part of the22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division.[2]
In 1992, the headquarters of the326th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division (326 TBAD) arrived fromTartuRaadi Airfield in newly independentEstonia. In 1998 the division headquarters was moved toUkrainka in the Far East.[3]
The 840th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (840 TBAP) flewTupolev Tu-22 aircraft from November 1951 through to 2010.[4] The regiment was disbanded in 2010 following the changes initiated by theRussian military reforms from 2008.[5]
Airfield is properly maintained for occasional training of Russian Aerospace Forces and to service governmental flights in Novgorod region.[6][7]
Natural Resources Defense Council lists Soltsy-2 as a nuclear weapons facility.
2023 drone attack
editOn 19 August 2023 at about 10:00 amlocal time, the airbase was attacked by drones, which Russia claimed to be launched from Ukraine, 620km away.[8] A Tupolev Tu-22M long-range bomber, was reported damaged.[9][10][11][12]
Satellite pictures taken on 10 August showed Tu-22M3 dispersed in revetments either side of the runway. Pictures taken on 19 August showed all aircraft had been evacuated and the burnt out remains of one Tu-22M3.[13]
Notes
edit- ^also spelledSol'tsy,Soltsy,Solcy,Solcy 2
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Дальняя авиация" (in Russian). Airbase.ru. Retrieved2019-01-26.
- ^"Russian Air Force - Soltsy (ULLL)". Scramble.nl. Retrieved12 December 2022.
- ^Tartu, Estonian SSSR, 12.59 - 1992 [58 24 08N, 26 49 19E]. Michael Holm,326th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, accessed September 2011
- ^"840th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment". Michael Holm. Note Holm appears to incorrectly state the regiment disbanded in 1994.
- ^Warfare.ru,Air Force structure, accessed September 2011
- ^"Они улетели, но обещали вернуться".Новгородские Ведомости (in Russian). Retrieved2020-10-02.
- ^"Премьер-министр Мишустин прилетел в Сольцы".ВНовгороде.ру – Все новости Новгородской области. 2020-02-11. Retrieved2020-10-02.
- ^"Минобороны России".Telegram. Retrieved2023-08-19.
- ^"All effects of drone attack against airdrome near Novgorod eliminated — authorities".TASS. Retrieved2023-08-19.
- ^Cole, Brendan (2023-08-19)."Russia blames Ukraine for drone attack on military airfield".Newsweek. Retrieved2023-08-19.
- ^Times, The Moscow (2023-08-19)."Drone Attacks Military Airfield in Northwestern Russia".The Moscow Times. Retrieved2023-08-19.
- ^"Attack on Russian airfield in Novgorod Oblast: Drone damages aircraft".Yahoo News. 2023-08-19. Retrieved2023-08-19.
- ^HOWARD ALTMAN; TYLER ROGOWA (2023-08-22)."Destroyed Tu-22M Seen At Now Empty Russian Airbase".The War Zone. Retrieved2023-08-22.
External links
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