Akhtubinsk (air base)
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Akhtubinsk | |||||||||
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| Akhtubinsk, Astrakhan Oblast in Russia | |||||||||
  Akhtubinsk Shown within Astrakhan Oblast  Akhtubinsk Akhtubinsk (Russia) | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 48°18′31″N 46°12′15″E / 48.30861°N 46.20417°E | ||||||||
| Type | Air Base | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator | Russian Aerospace Forces | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1948 | ||||||||
| In use | 1948 - present | ||||||||
| Battles/wars | 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: URWH | ||||||||
| Elevation | 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) AMSL | ||||||||
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Akhtubinsk is military base, which belongs to Russian aviation research and testing military institution 929th State Flight Test Centre named for V. P. Chkalov located at Akhtubinsk, Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.[1][2]
The then-State Red Banner GK Scientific Research Institute VVS was moved to the base from Chkalov in Moscow Oblast in 1960, and the 1st (fighters and fighter-bombers), 2nd (bombers), 5th (radio range), 9th (route measuring complex), and 10th (nuclear test) Scientific-Experimental Departments of the Institute were set up at Akhtubinsk that year.[2]
In 1990 the institute received its current name.
The aerodrome was in use for testing as early as 1948; in June 1948, V. D. Lutsenko, a test pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union crashed in an aircraft of unknown type. On October 27, 1949, test pilot E.S. Greenfield died in a crash of a La-15 aircraft at Akhtubinsk during the first show of aviation equipment. On April 9, 1963 test pilot V. I. Grotsky died during a test flight of a Sukhoi Su-7B fighter-bomber aircraft near Akhtubinsk airfield.
Aircraft[edit]
6 of the advanced 5th generation Sukhoi Su-57 (ASCC: Felon) supersonic combat jets were spotted on commercial satellite pictures (and visible in Google Maps) in January 2023.[3]
Russo-Ukrainian War[edit]
At least one decoy Su-57 was painted on the airport apron prior to 7 June 2024.[4]
On 9 June 2024, the Ukrainian HUR claimed to have damaged two Russian Su-57 fighter jets, for the first time, using drones during a strike on the Akhtubinsk air base in Astrakhan Oblast. With casualties being reported by the HUR after the attack.[5] Further information about the strike was added by the Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber, which detailed that the attack was carried out by Ukrainian drones and one fighter jet was damaged by shrapnel. The same channel also added that the state of the aircraft is currently being examined which would determine whether or not it can be repaired.[6][7] The ISW noted the criticism that despite the value of a single Su-57 being an estimated $35 million, it wasn’t protected by a hanger.[8] Maxar satellite imagery showed a crater next to an Su-57 at Akhtubinsk.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Akhtubinsk (URWH)". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ^ a b "929th order of Lenin Red Banner State Flight-Test Center Defense Ministry USSR im. V.P. Chkalov". Soviet Armed Forces 1945-1991. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Russia using new Su-57 jets against Ukraine". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b Altman, Howard (10 June 2024). "Su-57 Felon Targeted In Ukraine Strike Seen In New Higher-Resolution Satellite Images". The War Zone. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Abbey Fenbert (10 June 2024). "Yusov: Ukrainian operation may have hit 2 Su-57s in Russia". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Cameron Manley (9 June 2024). "Russia's top Su-57 stealth fighter jet hit for first time, Ukraine's military intelligence says". Business Insider.
- ^ Ellie Cook (9 June 2024). "Ukraine Hits Top Su-57 Fighter Jet Inside Russia". Newsweek.
- ^ George Barros; Angelica Evans; Christina Harward; Riley Bailey; Kateryna Stepanenko (10 June 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 9, 2024". Institute for the Study of War.