{{Short description|Russian Navy reconnaissance base in Murmansk Oblast, Russia}} {{use dmy dates |date=June 2025}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Olenya<BR>Olenegorsk/Vysokiy | ensign = Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg | ensign_size = 90px | native_name = Оленегорск/Высокий | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = Olenegorsk, Murmansk Oblast | country = Russia | image = NASA FIRMS 2024-10-17 Olenya.png | alt = | caption = Satellite imagery of Olenya air base | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Air Base | coordinates = {{Coord|68|09|06|N|33|27|54|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Russia Murmansk Oblast#Russia | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Murmansk Oblast | pushpin_label = Olenya | pushpin_label_position = | ownership = Ministry of Defence | operator = Russian Aerospace Forces | controlledby = Long-Range Aviation | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = <!--facility/installation code --> | built = <!--{{Start date|1957}} --> | used = 1957 - present<!--{{End date|2009}}--> | builder = | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = | battles = | events = | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group --> | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | designations = | website = | footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code --> <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = XLMO | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|214|m|0}} | r1-number = 18/36 | r1-length = {{Convert|3500|m|0}} | r1-surface = Concrete | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> <!-- end airfield information --> }} '''Olenya''' (also '''Olenegorsk''') is a major Russian Navy reconnaissance base, located on the Kola Peninsula 92&nbsp;km south of Murmansk. As of 2020, units at the base were subordinate to the Long-Range Aviation branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gfsis.org/maps/russian-military-forces |title = Russian Military Forces: Interactive Map}}</ref> The base and its staff settlement (Vysoky, Murmansk Oblast), across Lake Permusozero from the city of Olenegorsk, are served by the Olenegorsk rail station (formerly Olenya station). Olenya has served as the headquarters for five MRAD (Naval Reconnaissance Air Division), and has hosted two reconnaissance regiments. Its 3500-meter runway is the longest on the Kola Peninsula, making it a key facility for intercontinental flights across the North Atlantic basin.

The base is home to the 40th Composite Aviation Regiment as part of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scramble.nl/planning/orbats/russian-federation/russian-federation-aerospace-forces#UL07499|title=Russian Air Force - Olenegorsk/Vysokiy (--)|website=www.scramble.nl|access-date=10 December 2022}}</ref>

==History== Olenya was first detected by US intelligence in 1957, and was listed as having a runway length of 3350&nbsp;m (11,000&nbsp;ft).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170123205450/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP61S00750A000400020092-3.pdf Cable, October 22, 1957], CIA-RDP61S00750A000400020092-3, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, 1957.</ref> The base served as a forward deployment field for Long Range Aviation and was one of nine Arctic staging facilities for nuclear strikes on the United States.<ref name="sal80">[https://web.archive.org/web/20170123165859/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80T01355A000100140001-2.pdf STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATIONS RELATED ACTIVITIES SUMMARY REPORT (SANITIZED)], June 1, 1980, CREST: CIA-RDP80T01355A000100140001-2, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.</ref> An analysis in 1966 revealed 21 Tupolev Tu-16 Badger aircraft.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170124020024/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78T05161A001300010042-9.pdf OLENEGORSK AIRFIELD, USSR (Sanitized)], CIA-RDP78T05161A001300010042-9, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, June 1, 1966.</ref> Near the airfield is the Olenegorsk Radar Station ballistic missile early warning site, which entered service in 1971. A number of surface-to-air missile sites were operational near Olenya during the Cold War.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170123020934/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78T05439A000500280082-0.pdf OLENEGORSK SAM SITE BO6-0 USSR], CIA-RDP78T05439A000500280082-0, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, August 1, 1965</ref> During the 1960s and 1970s, Olenya was used as a refueling stop on the Moscow to Havana Tupolev Tu-114 route.

As of 2006, Google Earth imagery showed nearly 40 Tupolev Tu-22M bombers on the airfield, but by 2018 only four of the aircraft appeared serviceable with another 27 aircraft awaiting disposal.

On 7 October 2022, satellite photos showed 7 Tu-160 and 4 Tu-95 at the air base.<ref>{{cite web |title=Faktisk.no: Satellittbilder viser 11 strategiske bombefly 20 mil fra Norge |url=https://www.tu.no/artikler/faktisk-no-satel-litt-bilder-viser-11-strategiske-bombefly-20-mil-fra-norge/522966 |website=Tu.no |publisher=Teknisk Ukeblad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012143059/https://www.tu.no/artikler/faktisk-no-satel-litt-bilder-viser-11-strategiske-bombefly-20-mil-fra-norge/522966 |archive-date=12 October 2022 |language=no |date=12 October 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>en.defence-ua.com: [https://en.defence-ua.com/analysis/russian_tu_95ms_tu_160_strategic_bombers_are_currently_deployed_in_the_very_spot_to_simultaneously_threaten_ukraine_and_nato_photo-4553.html ''Russian Tu-95MS, Tu-160 Strategic Bombers are Currently Deployed in the Very Spot to Simultaneously Threaten Ukraine and NATO (Photo)'']</ref>

==Stationed units== Units stationed at the airfield during the Cold War included:<ref>{{cite web| title = Aviatsiya VMF | publisher = Aviabaza KPOI. | url = http://airbase.ru/squad/russia/sea/}}</ref> * 924th Naval Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (924 MRAP), operating Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft. * 88th Separate Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (88 OMAPIB), operating Mikoyan MiG-27 aircraft, disbanded August 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/shap/88apib.htm|title=88th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment|accessdate=1 June 2025}}</ref> * Operational Group Arctic (OGA), maintaining standby facilities for Tupolev Tu-95 bomber aircraft.

In 2020, the Tu-22M3-based unit may now be the 40th Mixed Aviation Regiment<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gfsis.org/maps/russian-military-forces|title = Russian Military Forces: Interactive Map|website=www.gfsis.org}}</ref> operating in both a maritime-attack and land-strike role.

==Notable events== The Tu-95V aircraft carrying the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated, took off from the airbase on 30 October 1961.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1961_1130 Испытания водородной бомбы. Полный фильм - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYG4p-ybN-M | time=8:58 | access-date=June 6, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

After a training flight on 22 January 2019, a Tu-22M3 broke up upon making a hard landing in inclement weather at the airbase. Two of the four crew members died in the crash, and a third died on his way to the hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Three servicemen die in Tu-22 bomber incident at airfield near Kaluga|url=https://tass.com/emergencies/1269273|access-date=2021-03-23|website=TASS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=One crewmember survives incident with Tu-22M3 bomber near Kaluga, says source|url=https://tass.com/emergencies/1269303|access-date=2021-03-23|website=TASS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26178/dramatic-video-of-russian-tu-22m3-crash-landing-in-bad-weather-emerges |title=Dramatic Video Of Russian Tu-22M3 Crash Landing In Bad Weather Emerges (Updated) |first=Tyler |last=Rogoway |website=The Drive |date=26 January 2019 |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127110250/http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26178/dramatic-video-of-russian-tu-22m3-crash-landing-in-bad-weather-emerges |archive-date=27 January 2019 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

According to TASS, the first test launch of the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ("dagger", a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile) in the Arctic took place mid-November 2019 from the airbase. Reportedly, the launch was carried out by a MiG-31K, where the missile hit a ground target at Pemboy proving ground, reaching a speed of Mach 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/7234431 |title=Источники: испытания гиперзвуковой ракеты "Кинжал" впервые проведены в Арктике|website=TASS|date=30 November 2019|accessdate=30 November 2019|language=ru}}</ref>

== Russo-Ukrainian War == {{Main|Russo-Ukrainian War|}}

In July 2024 Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence claimed they attacked the base with a drone and hit a Tu-22M3 bomber. The attack is not confirmed by independent sources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian drone hit Tu-22M3 bomber at Olenya airfield, intel report claims |url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2024/07/ukrainian-drone-hit-bomber-olenya-airfield |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=The Independent Barents Observer |language=en}}</ref>

On 1 June 2025, as part of Operation Spider's Web, a swarm of Ukrainian short-range drones attacked the airbase, causing multiple explosions and fire. First-person videos published on various social media platforms, showing drones attacking various Tupolev long-range bombers. A similar attack targeted the Belaya, Ivanovo Severny, and Dyagilevo air bases at the same time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-01 |title=Russian Key Strategic Airbases Under Massive Attacks. Here’s What We Know |url=https://united24media.com/latest-news/russian-key-strategic-airbases-under-massive-attacks-heres-what-we-know-8797 |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=UNITED24 Media |language=en}}</ref>

The Tu-22M3 contingent at Olenya was reportedly reinforced in 2025 when bombers, likely from the Belaya air base in Siberia, were deployed to the region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/group-of-tu22m3-bombers-redeployed-to-kola/441285|title=Group of Tu-22M3 bombers redeployed to Kola|first=Thomas|last=Nilsen|date=25 November 2025|access-date=5 December 2025|website=The Barents Observer}}</ref> Tu-95MS Bear bombers have reportedly also used Olenya in carrying out strikes in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/seven-bombers-from-olenya-targeted-ukraine-in-mass-missile-strike/439507|title=Seven bombers from Olenya targeted Ukraine in mass missile strike|first=Thomas|last=Nilsen|date=30 October 2025|access-date=5 December 2025|website=The Barents Observer}}</ref>

== See also == {{Portal|Russia|Aviation}} * List of military airbases in Russia * Olenya Bay which is located at {{coord|69|13|N|33|23|E}} and is {{convert|2|NM}} northwest of the Russian Shipyard Number 10 at Polyarny and was known as the "Olenya Guba Submarine Base, Olenya Bay, USSR" during the Soviet era<ref>{{cite web |author=National Photographic Interpretation Center |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78B04560A002200010025-7.pdf |title=Olenya Guba Submarine Base, Olenya Bay, USSR |work=Central Intelligence Agency |date=2006-01-17 |orig-year=May 1964 |access-date=2025-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123140414/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78B04560A002200010025-7.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-23 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commonscatinline}}

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Category:Installations of the Russian Navy Category:Russian Air Force bases Category:Soviet Naval Aviation bases Category:Airports in Murmansk Oblast Category:Soviet Long Range Aviation bases Category:Military airbases established in 1957