Shatalovo (air base)


Shatalovo is an air base in Smolensk Oblast, Russia located 8 km south of Pochinok. It is a large hardened air base with pads for 19 bombers and 15 fighters in addition to a small amount of tarmac space. It is a nuclear bomber base according to a Natural Resources Defense Council study. During the 1980s it was one of 17 airfields hosting the Soviet Union's tactical reconnaissance aircraft regiments. The normal complement at the air base in 1984 consisted of 9 to 13 each of the Su-24M and MiG-25R, and 3 to 5 Yak-28R, the latter of which was being phased out.

History

In World War II, the German Luftwaffe occupied the local area and maintained two airfields: "Shatalovka-East" which was later abandoned and returned to farmland, and "Shatalovka-West" which became the modern air base.
The 32nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment was stationed at the base from 1968 until it disbanded on 30 June 1989. It was part of the 9th Fighter Aviation Division headquartered at Kubinka.
Shatalovo was home to 164 ORAP flying MiG-25 and Su-24 aircraft and 47 Gv ORAP flying MiG-25RB aircraft. It was also used by 1046 TsBP i PLS flying 17 MiG-25, 14 Su-17C, and 13 Su-24 aircraft in 1991.