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Pryluky (air base)

Pryluky
Priluki (UKBP).jpg
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator Ukrainian Air Force
Location Pryluky
Elevation AMSL 449 ft / 137 m
Coordinates 50°34′0″N 032°19′0″E / 50.56667°N 32.31667°E / 50.56667; 32.31667Coordinates: 50°34′0″N 032°19′0″E / 50.56667°N 32.31667°E / 50.56667; 32.31667
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 9,842 3,000 Concrete (80 m or 260 ft wide)
8,200 2,500 Concrete (70 m or 230 ft wide)

Pryluky (also given as Priluki) is an air base in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine located 6 km west of Pryluky. This airfield was Ukraine's primary Tupolev Tu-160 bomber base (with Uzyn having the nation's Tupolev Tu-95 fleet). There are revetments for 20 large aircraft.

Pryluky accepted the USSR's first Tu-160 (Blackjack) in April 1987, building its fleet up to 19 by 1994. By the mid 1990s, the Pryluky Regiment had lost its value as a combat unit. The 184th GvTBAP's 19 "Blackjacks" were effectively grounded because of a lack of technical support, spare parts and fuel. At this point in time, Ukraine considered the Tu-160s more of a bargaining chip in their economic negotiations with Russia. Certainly, they were of very limited value to Ukraine from a military standpoint, but discussions with Russia concerning their return bogged down. Between October 1999 and February 2000 Ukraine turned over 8 Tu-160 bombers to Russia to pay off energy debts; these are now at Russia's Engels-2 air base.

Units stationed at Pryluky included:


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