Soltsy-2 (air base)

Soltsy-2 (also spelled Sol'tsy, Soltsy, Solcy, Solcy 2) (ICAO: XLLL) is an air base in Novgorod Oblast, Russia located 2 km north of Soltsy and 72 km southwest of Novgorod. It contains large aircraft revetments, with a separate compound of 9 hardened areas about 1 mile from the airfield.[1]

Soltsy-2
Сольцы (Sol'tsy)
Soltsy, Novgorod Oblast in Russia
Tu-22M3 of the Russian Air Force at Soltsy in 2007
Soltsy-2 is located in Novgorod Oblast
Soltsy-2
Soltsy-2
Shown within Novgorod Oblast
Soltsy-2 is located in European Russia
Soltsy-2
Soltsy-2
Soltsy-2 (European Russia)
Soltsy-2 is located in Russia
Soltsy-2
Soltsy-2
Soltsy-2 (Russia)
Coordinates58°8′48″N 030°19′54″E
TypeAir Base
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRussian Aerospace Forces
Controlled byLong-Range Aviation
Site history
Built1951 (1951)
In use1951 - present
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: XLLL
Elevation81 metres (266 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/23 3,000 metres (9,843 ft) Concrete

The base is home to the 40th Composite Aviation Regiment which flies the Tu-22M as part of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division.[2]

In 1992, the headquarters of the 326th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division (326 TBAD) arrived from Tartu Raadi Airfield in newly independent Estonia. In 1998 the division headquarters was moved to Ukrainka in the Far East.[3]

The 840th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (840 TBAP) flew Tupolev Tu-22 aircraft from November 1951 through to 2010.[4] The regiment was disbanded in 2010 following the changes initiated by the Russian 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

On 19 August 2023 at about 10:00 am local 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]

References
  1. "Дальняя авиация" (in Russian). Airbase.ru. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  2. "Russian Air Force - Soltsy (ULLL)". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  3. Tartu, Estonian SSSR, 12.59 - 1992 [58 24 08N, 26 49 19E]. Michael Holm, 326th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, accessed September 2011
  4. "840th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment". Michael Holm. Note Holm appears to incorrectly state the regiment disbanded in 1994.
  5. Warfare.ru, Air Force structure, accessed September 2011
  6. "Они улетели, но обещали вернуться". Новгородские Ведомости (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  7. "Премьер-министр Мишустин прилетел в Сольцы". ВНовгороде.ру – Все новости Новгородской области. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  8. "Минобороны России". Telegram. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  9. "All effects of drone attack against airdrome near Novgorod eliminated — authorities". TASS. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  10. Cole, Brendan (2023-08-19). "Russia blames Ukraine for drone attack on military airfield". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  11. Times, The Moscow (2023-08-19). "Drone Attacks Military Airfield in Northwestern Russia". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  12. "Attack on Russian airfield in Novgorod Oblast: Drone damages aircraft". Yahoo News. 2023-08-19. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  13. HOWARD ALTMAN; TYLER ROGOWA (2023-08-22). "Destroyed Tu-22M Seen At Now Empty Russian Airbase". The War Zone. Retrieved 2023-08-22.



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