Rzhev (air base)

Rzhev (Russian: Ржев) (also given as Ryev, Rzev, Rjzev) is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia located 5 km east of Rzhev. It was a Tupolev Tu-128 depot airfield during the Cold War, operated by BKhAT (Aviation Equipment Storage Base).[1] The airfield also had an interceptor role during the 1960s and 1970s with the 23 IAP (23rd Interceptor Aviation Regiment). This regiment was disbanded in the early 1980s but was resurrected a decade later at Dzemgi in the Russian Far East.

Rzhev
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	Russian Air Force
Location	Rzhev
Elevation AMSL	636 ft / 194 m
Coordinates	56°15′36″N 034°24′30″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 8,202 2,500 Concrete

The 23 IAP initially operated the Sukhoi Su-9 (Fishpot) in the 1960s.[2] The regiment ceased using the Su-9 in 1979 or 1980 and did not upgrade to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Flogger) as many other Su-9 regiments did at the time.[2] When the airfield was imaged in 1981, US analysts observed 102 Su-9 aircraft in storage and noted the south dispersal area had become a regional storage facility for the type.[2]

References

1. "Aviatsiya PVO". Aviabaza KPOI.
2. PHASEOUT OF FISHPOT IN APVO STRANYY AIRFIELDS USSR, February 1981, CREST: CIA-RDP81T00380R000100980001-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.