Pryluky (air base)
Encyclopedia
Pryluky is an air base in Chernihiv Oblast
Chernihiv Oblast
Chernihiv Oblast is an oblast of northern Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Chernihiv.-Geography:The total area of the province is around 31,900 km²....

, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

 located 6 km west of Pryluky
Pryluky
Pryluky or Priluki is a city located on the Udai River in the Chernihiv Oblast, north-central Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Prylutsky Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate municipality within the oblast...

. This airfield was Ukraine's primary Tupolev Tu-160
Tupolev Tu-160
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is currently the world's largest combat aircraft, largest...

 bomber base (with Uzyn
Uzyn
Uzyn is a city in Bilotserkivskyi Raion of Kiev Oblast of northern Ukraine. The city's population is 12,588 , and covers an area of ....

 having the nation's Tupolev Tu-95
Tupolev Tu-95
The Tupolev Tu-95 is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the former Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040...

 fleet). There are revetments for 20 large aircraft.

Pryluky accepted USSR's first Tu-160 (Blackjack) in April 1987, building its fleet up to 19 by 1994. Between October 1999 and February 2000 Ukraine turned over 8 Tu-160 bombers to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 to pay off energy debts; these are now at Russia's Engels-2
Engels-2
Engels Air Force Base is a strategic air base in Russia located east of Saratov. Engels is a major bomber operations base, and is Russia's sole operating location for the Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers. The base contains a runway and about 10 large revetments...

 air base.

Units stationed at Pryluky include:
  • 184 GV TBAP (184th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment) flying Tu-16 aircraft beginning in 1955, then acquiring the Tupolev Tu-22M4
    Tupolev Tu-22M
    The Tupolev Tu-22M is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union. Significant numbers remain in service with the Russian Air Force....

     in 1984 and the Tu-160 from 1987 until 2000. It also flew the Tu-134UBL trainer .
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