Krichev (air base)

Coordinates: 53°44′05″N 031°55′02″E / 53.73472°N 31.91722°E / 53.73472; 31.91722
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Krichev
Krychaw
Krychaw, Klimavichy District, Mogilev Region in Belarus
Krichev is located in Belarus
Krichev
Krichev
Shown within Belarus
Coordinates53°44′05″N 031°55′02″E / 53.73472°N 31.91722°E / 53.73472; 31.91722
TypeAir Base
Site information
OwnerArmed Forces of Belarus
Site history
Built1949 (1949)
In use1949–1993 (1993)
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: ZF19
Elevation174 metres (571 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
04/22 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) Concrete

Krichev is a military air base in the Mogilev Region, Belarus. It is located in Klimavichy District, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east of the city of Krychaw. The base served the interceptor air defense role for the Soviet Air Defence Force, hosted by the 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment, 2nd Air Defence Corps, Moscow Air Defence District.[1]

History[edit]

Krichev had been observed by 1957 by Western Lockheed U-2 overflights.[2] The 28th IAP operated the Sukhoi Su-9 (NATO: Fishpot) regiment in the 1960s and 1970s.[3] By 1981, the regiment was one of four in the USSR still operating the Su-9 but its facilities were being upgraded,[3] and it received the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (NATO: Foxbat) in the mid-1980s.

The base was closed in 1993, after the Cold War, and the aviation regiment was disbanded.[4] All the buildings were razed to the ground; little remains except for the overgrown runway.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "28th Fighter Aviation Regiment PVO". Ww2.dk. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  2. ^ NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 26; SOVIET UNION; TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, May 1957, CREST: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090035-8, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.
  3. ^ a b PHASEOUT OF FISHPOT IN APVO STRANYY AIRFIELDS USSR, February 1, 1981, CREST: CIA-RDP81T00380R000100980001-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.
  4. ^ Взлетные полосы ждут своего часа. (in Russian). www.sb.by. Jul 25, 2013.
  5. ^ "Взлетные полосы ждут своего часа". Беларусь сегодня (in Russian). Издательский дом "Беларусь сегодня". 2013-07-25. Archived from the original on 2019-01-19. Retrieved 2019-01-19.