Engels-2 (air base)
Engels-2 (Russian: Энгельс) is a strategic bomber military airbase in Russia located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of Saratov. Engels is a major bomber operations base, and is Russia's sole operating location for the Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO: Blackjack) strategic bomber. The base has a 3,500-metre (11,500 ft) runway and about 10 large revetments. It is named after the nearby city of Engels, which is named after the Communist philosopher, Friedrich Engels.
| Engels-2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Энгельс-2 | |||||||||
| Engels, Saratov Oblast in Russia | |||||||||
Engels-2 Location of Engels-2 Engels-2 Engels-2 (Russia) | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°28′52″N 046°12′38″E | ||||||||
| Type | Air base | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator | Russian Aerospace Forces | ||||||||
| Controlled by | Long-Range Aviation | ||||||||
| Condition | Operational | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1952 | ||||||||
| Built by | Soviet Armed Forces | ||||||||
| In use | 1954–present | ||||||||
| Battles/wars | 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Garrison | 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: none, ICAO: XWSG | ||||||||
| Elevation | 37 metres (121 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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The base is home to the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment with the Tu-160M and 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment with the Tupolev Tu-95MS (NATO: Bear-H) of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division.
Aircraft from the 121st and 184th attacked Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.