Chernyakhovsk Air Base (russian: Черняхо́вск) is a

military air base An air base (sometimes referred to as a military air base, military airfield, military airport, air station, naval air station, air force station, or air force base) is an aerodrome used as a military base by a military force for the operation ...

of the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet, located 4 km south-west of the city of

Chernyakhovsk Chernyakhovsk (russian: Черняхо́вск) – known prior to 1946 by its German name of (Old Prussian: Instrāpils, lt, Įsrutis; pl, Wystruć) – is a town in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, where it is the administrative center of C ...

Kaliningrad Oblast Kaliningrad Oblast (russian: Калинингра́дская о́бласть, translit=Kaliningradskaya oblast') is the westernmost federal subject of Russia. It is a semi-exclave situated on the Baltic Sea. The largest city and admin ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

. It is a medium-sized

interceptor Interceptor may refer to: Vehicles * Interceptor aircraft (or simply "interceptor"), a type of point defense fighter aircraft designed specifically to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft * Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, a police car * ...

airfield, listed as a nuclear bomber base by a

Natural Resources Defense Council The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a United States-based 501(c)(3) non-profit international environmental advocacy group, with its headquarters in New York City and offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Bo ...

study. The base is home to the 4th Guards Naval Attack Aviation Regiment which uses the

Sukhoi Su-30 The Sukhoi Su-30 (russian: Сухой Су-30; NATO reporting name: Flanker-C/G/H) is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter ...

SM (ASCC: Flanker-H), and Sukhoi Su-24M (ASCC: Fencer-D) under the 34th Composite Aviation Division. One of the main regiments at the base was the 4th Guards Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment, known up until 1989 as the 4th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment. The 4th Guards was formed from 31st Bomber Aviation Regiment on 6 December 1941. The regiment moved into the base from nearby

Kaliningrad Chkalovsk Kaliningrad Chkalovsk (also Chkalovskoye, Tchalov, or Prowehren) is a naval air base in Chkalovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia located 9 kilometers northwest of Kaliningrad. Most instances in Russian aviation literature of Chkalovsk or Chkalovskoy ...

, also in the

, on 18 October 1952. In August 1987 it absorbed the 63rd Bomber Aviation Regiment. On 10.12.89 the regiment was renamed 4th Guards Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment. The regiment was equipped with the Il-28 from August 1951 – 1964, the Yak-28, 1964–1974, the Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer,' 1974-1987 (up to 29 examples flown), and the Su-24M, 1987–2004. The regiment was assigned to the

30th Air Army The 15th Air Army was a military formation of the Soviet Air Forces, active from July 1942 until December 1993. History It was formed between 11 July and 15 August 1942, in accordance with the directive of the commander of the Soviet Air Force ...

, from July 1964 - July 1968, the 132nd Bomber Aviation Division from July 1968 - 12.89, the 132nd Maritime Assault Aviation Division, 12.89 - 1994, and the Baltic Fleet from 1994 - 2004. The airfield was also home to 15 ODRAP (15th Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Regiment). A few sources cite the airfield as being a

Tupolev Tu-16 The Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO reporting name: Badger) is a twin-engined jet strategic heavy bomber used by the Soviet Union. It has been flown for almost 70 years, and the Chinese license-built Xian H-6 remains in service with the People's Liberation ...

base during the 1960s or 1970s. Sukhoi Su-27 fighters were spotted during 2015 at the base.

References

Sources

* Soviet Naval Aviation bases Installations of the Russian Navy Airports in Kaliningrad Oblast {{Russia-mil-stub