Severomorsk-1 Air Base

Severomorsk-1, formerly known as Vayenga-1, is a naval air base located in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, 4 km south of Severomorsk. It is one of the larger airfields on the Kola Peninsula. The base is owned by the Ministry of Defence, operated by the Russian Navy's Russian Naval Aviation, and controlled by the 45th Air and Air Defence Forces Army. The air base was built in 1941 and has been in continuous use since then. During World War II, in 1941, it served as the base for the 72nd SAP-SF (Composite Aviation Regiment-Northern Fleet) and hosted No. 151 Wing RAF. The airfield, originally with a compacted sand surface, was adapted for different aircraft types, including Hurricanes, requiring enlargement of hangars. During the Cold War, Severomorsk-1 was home to several units, including the 9th Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Regiment (1945-1971), 1941st Maritime Torpedo Aviation Regiment (1952), 991st Fighter Aviation Regiment VVS VMF (1955), 392nd Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (1963-1965), and the 72nd Independent Transport Aviation Squadron. The 967th Naval Air Reconnaissance Regiment, operating Tupolev Tu-22M and Tupolev Tu-16 aircraft (1951–1993), and the 24th Independent Long Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment, operating Ilyushin Il-38 aircraft (1971–1993), were also stationed there and were directly responsible to the Northern Fleet headquarters. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 146th Independent Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron was located at the base between 1993 and 1997. Currently, the base accommodates the 403rd Independent Composite Aviation Regiment, the 830th Independent Shipborne Antisubmarine Helicopter Regiment, and the 216th Independent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron. The airfield can accommodate over 40 bombers and a small number of fighters.