Uglovoye (airfield)

Uglovoye
Tsentralnaya Uglovaya
Центральная Угловая
Artyom, Primorsky Krai in Russia
Satellite imagery of Uglovoye air base
Uglovoye is located in Primorsky Krai
Uglovoye
Uglovoye
Shown within Primorsky Krai
Uglovoye is located in Russia
Uglovoye
Uglovoye
Uglovoye (Russia)
Coordinates43°20′54″N 132°03′33″E / 43.34833°N 132.05917°E / 43.34833; 132.05917
TypeAir Base
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRussian Aerospace Forces
Controlled by11th Air and Air Defence Forces Army
Site history
Built1945 (1945)
In use1945 - present
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: UHIU
Elevation29 metres (95 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
03/21 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) Concrete
Uglovoye, 1970, from KH-4B satellite.

Uglovoye, (Центральная Угловая, Tsentralnaya Uglovaya, Central Corner), known in the US intelligence community as Uglovoye Northwest, is an air base in Primorsky Krai located close to the town of Artyom, Russia. This is the primary air defense base for the Vladivostok area, and it was home to the PVO Strany division headquarters for the Vladivostok region [1]

The base is home to the 22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment of the 303rd Composite Aviation Division.[2]

Michael Holm's site, relying on recently available Russian sources, writes that the 6th Fighter Aviation Regiment VVS VMF, arrived at the airfield in September 1945, and on 26 September 1945 became the 22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (22 Gv IAP) VVS VMF.[3] The regiment became a Guards unit "For the courage shown in the battles with the Japanese imperialists, for their steadfastness and courage, discipline and organization, for the heroism of their personnel".[4] The regiment was transferred to the Soviet Air Defence Forces in February 1957, retaining its number. It joined the 23rd Air Defence Corps of the 11th Independent Air Defence Army. In February 1968 it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

A declassified CIA document from 1971 showed that the base was home to one interceptor regiment, the 22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, equipped with Sukhoi Su-9 Fishpot, Yakovlev Yak-27 Flashlight, and the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 Fresco.[5] An October 1972 satellite assessment revealed 13 Sukhoi Su-9 (ASCC "Fishpot"), 14 Yakovlev Yak-27 (ASCC "Flashlight"), and 4 Sukhoi Su-17 (ASCC "Fitter,") with small numbers of other fighters, transports, and helicopters.[6] In 1977, the interceptor regiment replaced the aging Su-9 with the MiG-23M (ASCC "Flogger-B").[7] This was one of the first bases to replace the Su-9 with the MiG-23, emphasizing the priority of placing look-down shoot-down interception assets in the Vladivostok area.[7]

Satellite imagery from 2016 shows the base to be active, with 36 Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker aircraft based on the field. Air International's April 2017 issue confirmed the 22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was still flying Su-27 variants.[8]

Vladivostok International Airport is located 9 km (5 miles) to the northeast.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ PVO DIVISION HEADQUARTERS FACILITY UGLOVOYE, USSR, CIA-RDP78T04759A006600010080-7, Central Intelligence Agency, June 1, 1967.
  2. ^ "Russian Air Force - Tsentralnaya Uglovaya (UHIU)". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. ^ Holm, Michael. "22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment PVO". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  4. ^ eagle_rost (2015-01-02). "22 Гвардейский Истребительный авиационный полк Владивосток". Добро пожаловать в журнал Ростовского Орла. Retrieved 2017-05-29.
  5. ^ Soviet Military Buildup along the China Border and in Mongolia, CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010038-9, Central Intelligence Agency, February 1, 1971.
  6. ^ OAK SUPPLEMENT PART 8 KH-9 MISSION 1204 11 OCTOBER - 17 DECEMBER 1972 (TOP SECRET), CIA-RDP78T04752A000100010005-1, Central Intelligence Agency, January 1, 1973.
  7. ^ a b PHASEOUT OF FISHPOT IN APVO STRANYY AIRFIELDS USSR, February 1981, CREST: CIA-RDP81T00380R000100980001-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.
  8. ^ "AIR International | April 2017". shop.keypublishing.com. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
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