Russia & CIS

Bob Archer

EARLIER THIS year a trio of Vozdushno- Kosmicheskiye Sily Rossiyskoy Federatsii (VKS RF, Russian Federation Air and Space Force) MiG-31s was temporary deployed to Tolmachevo Airport. The Novosibirsk facility is the administrative centre of both the Novosibirsk Oblast and the Siberian Federal District. One of the aircraft, MiG-31DZ ‘19 Blue’ (RF-95455) was photographed parked, adjacent to the main runway, on alert for a rapid departure. The traditional Kamaz support vehicle is connected to the MiG-31, which is armed with R-33 (AA-9 Amos) and underwing R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) airto- air missiles.

Tolmachevo houses a large military facility and its strategic position serves a dual purpose: military aircraft transiting Russia require refuelling and servicing, and the facility supports all current types in the inventory. In addition, Novosibirsk is relatively close to China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Despite generally good relations with all three, the airfield nevertheless provides an important defensive capability.