Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base

Last updated
Primorsko-Akhtarsk
Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg
Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai in Russia
NASA FIRMS 2024-11-03 Primorsko-Akhtarsk.png
Satellite imagery of Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base
Russian military pilots returning from Syria (2016-03-16) 02.jpg
Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base, Russia
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Russian Aerospace Forces
Controlled by 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army
Location
Outline Map of Krasnodarski Krai (with Crimea disputed).svg
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Primorsko-Akhtarsk
Shown within Krasnodar Krai
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Primorsko-Akhtarsk
Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia)
Coordinates 46°03′26″N38°13′48″E / 46.05722°N 38.23000°E / 46.05722; 38.23000
Site history
Built1954 (1954)
In use1954 - present
Battles/wars Russian invasion of Ukraine
Airfield information
Elevation6 metres (20 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/272,500 metres (8,202 ft)  Concrete

Primorsko-Akhtarsk is an air base of the Russian Aerospace Forces as part of the 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army, Southern Military District.

Contents

The base was first used in 1954 by a regiment (1689th) of the Yeysk aviation school. Today it is home to the 960th Assault Aviation Regiment (960th ShAP) which has two squadrons of Sukhoi Su-25SM/SM3 (NATO: Frogfoot-A) [1] [2]

The 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment deployed here from Morozovsk air base with their Sukhoi Su-34s as part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. [3]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

NASA's FIRMS detected a fire on 2 August 2025 01:52:00 (UTC) at and near the Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base NASA FIRMS 2025-08-02 Primorsko-Akhtarsk.png
NASA's FIRMS detected a fire on 2 August 2025 01:52:00 (UTC) at and near the Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base

On 2 July 2023 Russian Telegram channels claimed that Russian air defences had "downed a missile" leaving a 10m deep, 4m wide crater some 200 metres from the runway. The airbase is used, according to Ukraine, to launch Shahed-136 type drones and Kalibr missiles. [4]

Planet Labs satellite imagery from 28 December 2023 of the air base showed decoy fighter jets painted on the hardstand in an apparent deception tactic against Ukrainian attacks. Similar painted decoys have been seen at Kirovske and Yeysk air base. [5] [6]

On 2 August 2025 Ukrainian long-range UAVs attacked and caused fire at the Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base, that is used for storage and launch of Shahed drones. [7]

See also

References

  1. "Russian Air Force today - Russian Southern Military District". Eastern Order of Battle. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  2. AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. March 2022. p. 42.
  3. AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. December 2022. p. 30.
  4. Alexander Khrebet (2 July 2023). "Explosion reported near airfield in southern Russia". Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  5. Epstein, Jake (2024-01-08). "Russia painted fake fighter jets at its airfields, new satellite images show, likely to trick Ukraine into not blowing up the real deal". businessinsider.com . Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  6. Saballa, Joe (2024-04-08). "Russia Painting Fighter Jet Decoys on Airfields Amid Heavy Losses: Intel". thedefensepost.com. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  7. "SBU Drones Hit Shaked Base At Airfield In Russian Primorsko-Akhtarsk". Charter 97 . 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-02.