Author Topic: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years  (Read 1561 times)

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SPQR

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By Jacek Siminski

Earlier in October, Putin stated strongly that Russia would never “surrender” its Arctic area. Indeed, Temp airfield located on Kotelny Island, the largest of Russian islands in Novosiberian region, is being reactivated.

The airfield has been operational beginning in 1949 then, 20 years ago, its activity was suspended, and the infrastructures preserved for future use. Since then, Russian policy towards Arctic has become more aggressive and one of the elements of that policy is to reinstate the aforementioned airfield for Russian Air Force planes.

In 2012, a helicopter crash occured during a Russian specialists’ visit to the island. Nobody died, but the mishap halted the reactivation activities. This year people and equipment were delivered by sea. Back in September an expedition included 150 people, 40 machines and vehicles.

The process of reactivation of the base went fast and, at the end of October, the first An-72 transport landed there. Currently, an air traffic control service is present, along with accomodation, own water supply, a power station and heating. The airfield is not to be a minor one, since it will be able to accomodate landings of planes as large as Il-76 cargos.

Air traffic on Temp is expected to be a regular, year-round and in all weathers.

There are plans to continue the expansion with another airfield, Tiksi, in Yakutsia. It is said that the role of the Arctic bases is to safeguard and serve the Northern Sea Route shipping lane and adjacent Arctic zone.

http://theaviationist.com/2013/12/08/russia-arctic-base/

Oceander

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2013, 05:02:08 pm »
I'm pretty certain that Obama will soon be withdrawing US presence from the Artic even further; after all, as he promised the Russians, he has additional "flexibility" now.

Offline Ford289HiPo

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2013, 02:09:58 am »
I'm pretty certain that Obama will soon be withdrawing US presence from the Artic even further; after all, as he promised the Russians, he has additional "flexibility" now.

Outside of Alaska, we don't have much presence in the Arctic as it is.
AFAIC, he Russians can freeze their rear ends of up there. The Arctic gets cold!
I wonder when the lies will stop and truth begin, even as grim as the truth may be. And then I remember that for 70 years, the reign of terror in Russia called itself "the people's government." We have so far to fall, yet we are falling fast and Hell yawns to receive us.

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2013, 04:16:47 am »
Outside of Alaska, we don't have much presence in the Arctic as it is.
AFAIC, he Russians can freeze their rear ends of up there. The Arctic gets cold!

There is a gigantic race between the United States, Russia and Canada to claim parts of the Arctic because there are huge deposits of natural gas and oil. That is one of the reasons why the Russians are re-activating their old Cold War bases.

Offline ABX

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2013, 04:22:45 am »
 Kotelny Island? Wow that is almost at the pole.  I tried to check Google Earth for anything even close to an outpost and couldn't find anything.
http://goo.gl/maps/vFkXc

I wonder if it is a potential oil field?

SPQR

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2013, 04:25:12 am »
Kotelny Island? Wow that is almost at the pole.  I tried to check Google Earth for anything even close to an outpost and couldn't find anything.
http://goo.gl/maps/vFkXc

I wonder if it is a potential oil field?

The entire region is a gigantic goldmine. Even Canada is joining in the race to stake its claim
« Last Edit: December 29, 2013, 04:26:20 am by SPQR »

SPQR

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2013, 04:27:35 am »
Kotelny Island? Wow that is almost at the pole.  I tried to check Google Earth for anything even close to an outpost and couldn't find anything.
http://goo.gl/maps/vFkXc

I wonder if it is a potential oil field?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/arctic-resources-claim-deadline-today-for-canada-1.2452794

Oceander

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2013, 04:54:51 am »
There is a gigantic race between the United States, Russia and Canada to claim parts of the Arctic because there are huge deposits of natural gas and oil. That is one of the reasons why the Russians are re-activating their old Cold War bases.

I've heard that.  I've also heard that there's jockeying to control the sealanes that might appear should the ice thin out enough.

SPQR

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2013, 04:58:50 am »
I've heard that.  I've also heard that there's jockeying to control the sealanes that might appear should the ice thin out enough.

I read about that. I think that the United States/oil companies better hurry and stake its claim before Russia and Canada get the choice spots. The Arctic is a free fire zone and we need to wake up.
« Last Edit: December 29, 2013, 04:59:53 am by SPQR »

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2013, 06:11:35 am »
Harking back to the original article for a second - is no one else impressed at the efficiency of the mothballing process used? A full base, mothballed for 20 years in one of the toughest climates on the planet and reactivated in under 2.

Iceland might have the odd thing to say about staking claims too. They also have a legit interest in the Arctic.
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Oceander

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2013, 06:36:38 am »
Harking back to the original article for a second - is no one else impressed at the efficiency of the mothballing process used? A full base, mothballed for 20 years in one of the toughest climates on the planet and reactivated in under 2.

Iceland might have the odd thing to say about staking claims too. They also have a legit interest in the Arctic.

The Russians can be ruthlessly efficient when they set their minds to it.

SPQR

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2013, 06:52:29 am »
Harking back to the original article for a second - is no one else impressed at the efficiency of the mothballing process used? A full base, mothballed for 20 years in one of the toughest climates on the planet and reactivated in under 2.

Iceland might have the odd thing to say about staking claims too. They also have a legit interest in the Arctic.

At the moment its Denmark,Russia,United States,Norway and Canada

http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/climate/climate-change-arctic-melt-resources-oil-22092012/
« Last Edit: December 29, 2013, 06:55:37 am by SPQR »

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Re: Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2013, 07:02:49 am »
The Russians can be ruthlessly efficient when they set their minds to it.

I agree but they can be very lazy.