Russia moves strategic bombers closer to Norway and Finland
The maximum number of strategic bombers of the Russian Federation is currently deployed at the Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula. This is confirmed by satellite images published on Twitter by user MT Anderson. The air base is located 92 km from Murmansk and 200 km from the border with Norway and Finland.
According to the satellite image, all flight lines along the runway are occupied. At the southern end there are two Tu-160s, and 14 Tu-95s are located in all other places. Tu-22M strategic bombers have been moved to the northwestern part of the air base.
A satellite image shows the Olenya air base, May 7, 2023. Source: MT Anderson
The IL-78 is parked on its side so that its wing does not extend beyond the parking space and does not block the taxiway. It is noted that the planes can be lifted into the air at the first request.
In addition, strategic bombers located at this northern air base participate in missile strikes on Ukraine. Radio monitoring the activities of the Russian strategic aviation reports about almost daily flights from the Olenya air base during the last week These are both training flights within the Murmansk region and combat sorties for strikes on Ukraine.
Location of Olenya air base Google Maps
The Barents Observer emphasizes that the Olenya air base normally serves a small fleet of Tu-22M supersonic bombers and a few An-12 military transport planes.
Last autumn, however, the role of the air base as a forward deployment field for long-range aviation was activated. The first four Tu-160 strategic bombers came in August, and by October there were more than ten Tu-95 and Tu-160 aircraft deployed. It is emphasized that the air base houses, in particular, strategic bombers that were previously based at the airfield in Engels (Saratov region of the Russian Federation).
However, after Tu-95 aircraft were damaged in a drone attack on the airfield last December, the Russians moved the aircraft. As previously reported, in October last year, the Shaykovka airbase in the Kaluga region of the Russian Federation was also attacked. The 52nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Russian Air Force is stationed there.
The regiment is armed with Tu-22?3 long-range supersonic bombers.