The KAL 007 airliner shootdown in 1983 by a Soviet Su-15 Flagon interceptor was one of the reasons USAF fighter jets returned to Misawa. Those 1960’s-vintage Soviet fighters were based at Dolinsk-Sokol Air Base on Sakhalin Island, about 20 miles north of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, between the towns of Dolinsk and Sokol. An ageing fighter jet, the Flagons were soon replaced by MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors of the 777th Fighter Aviation regiment of APVO.
MIG-31 Foxhound in flight carrying AA-9 Amos air-to-air missiles under its belly (militaryfactory.com)
In addition, there was a MiG-23 Flogger regiment of APVO to the north at Smirnykh Air Base, and three anti-aircraft missile regiments on Sakhalin, the most pertinent being the 752nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment at Kohutuvo, near Yuzhno-Sakalinsk. The SA-2 Guideline Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) was common still then, and one can still see an old SA-2 site on Google Earth on the southeast side of Cape Crillon, the southernmost point of Sakhalin island, which is the largest island in the Russian Federation. Cape Crillon is about 30 miles from Japan’s Cape Soya on Hokkaido Island. Not to mention some air defenses with the ground forces based on the island, missile and gun.
Cape Crillon on the southernmost tip of Sakhalin Island (Wikipedia)
The 777th FAR operated the Foxhound at Dolinks-Sokol through the 14TFS era, but was withdrawn after the Cold War. The base has not been maintained well, looking at it in Google Earth shows a number of dilapidated buildings, empty shells without roofs. The runway and a few facilities are kept in operational condition in order to support deployments from the mainland. There are still some Foxhounds in the Far East, modernized MiG-31BM/BSM’s in the Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk areas, as well as Flankers in Vladivostok and up at Komsomolsk.
Of note, in December, 2020, Foxhounds deployed to Anadyr Air Base near the Bering Strait – there is some concern about the hypersonic-missile carrying capability of the MIG-31 (it can carry a single Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (Dagger) missile). (see reference below)
MIG-31 Foxhound with aerial refueling probe extended. (iamnotresponsible.com)
In addition, Google Earth imagery shows the presence of a modern air defense unit at the air base, probably a battalion of the Khomutovo-based 1724th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment equipped with the S-400 Triumph (aka SA-21 Growler) SAM system. A fire control radar, a radar mobile mast system and eight Transporter Erector Launchers were observed in the southwest side of the base on Google Earth imagery viewed on 25 February 2021.
S-400 Triumph SAM regiment operational components. (thearmy.com)
In addition to the S-400 units, it’s likely there are also Pantsir-S self-propelled gun/missile systems deployed with them for short-range air defense, as referenced in a Russian press announcement of 9 January 2021 which announced that four S-300 regiments and 24 Pantsir-S systems were delivered to three air defense units, including one stationed in South Sakhalin region. The Pantsir S carried the SA-22 Greyhound SAM and 30mm cannons. (see references)
Pantsir system near SA-21 Growler Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) provides a point defense capability for the longer-ranged SAM system. (Pinterest)
The Cold War-era fighter interceptors on Sakhalin were not replaced after the end of that long struggle, but this new advanced SAM with a 215-miles range provides a ground-based air defense intercept capability against a variety of aerial target types. In some ways it’s reasonable substitute and cost-effective, though one can’t exactly use such missiles to fly out and observe an unidentified aircraft in one’s airspace. But since Dolinsk-Sokol appears to be a reserve base, fighters from the mainland can deploy and operated in austere conditions if needed.
Undated image of Dolinsk-Sokol Air Base (Wikimapia)
Back in the Cold War days, the potential adversary occupied the lower part of the Kurile Island chain claimed by Tokyo as Japan’s Northern Territories, and still the case today. Russian retention of this small group of islands remains in the way of Japan and Russia concluding a peace treaty ever since the end of World War II.
Recent developments reveal Russian efforts to reinvigorate their military presence in these disputed isles, with modern fighter aircraft (Upgrade 1) and sophisticated ground-based air defense missiles (Upgrade 2).
Остров Итуруп = Ostrov Iturup = Iturup Island = Etorofu-to of the disputed “Northern Territories.” (bmpd.livejournal.com)
Upgrade 1
Back when the 14TFS flew in the Cold War, perhaps our nearest erstwhile adversaries were at Iturup Island (Etorofu-to), home to the 41st Fighter Aviation Regiment (PVO) of MiG-23 FLOGGER G (MiG-23ML) jets, about 45 strong, at an airfield named Burevestnik. (See the earlier post, “How the “Other Guys” Organized their Fighter Units,” at: https://14tfs.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/how-the-other-guys-organized-their-fighter-units/ )
Soviet MiG-23 ML FLOGGER G pilot of the 41st Fighter Aviation Regiment stands next to his aircraft at Burevestnik Airfield during the Cold War. (Courtesy liveinternet.ru)
Burevestnik was a rather remote outpost, even for the Soviet Far East. It is located on the eastern side of Iturup near the Pacific Ocean, on the south side of aforementioned Hitokappu Bay. This bay was the final assembly and departure point for the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Kido Butai, the carrier task force that assembled there on 22 November 1941 and departed on 26 November in order to attack Hawaii on 7 December 1941.
Imperial Japanese Navy battleship Kirishima (left), aircraft carrier Kaga (center right), and battleship Hiei (right background) at Hitokappu Bay, Etorofu Island, Kuriles three days before departing for the attack on Pearl Harbor. (ja.wikipedia.org)
The 41st FAR upgraded to the ultimate version of the MiG-23, FLOGGER K (MiG-23MLD), in 1990. But after the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union faded away, the new Russian government saved some on the defense budget and withdrew the FLOGGER regiment in 1994.
“The decision was said in the Russian press to come as good news to its pilots, as the failure of the MiG-23’s single R-35 turbojet engine would be “the last failure in the pilot’s life”, and that a ship or submarine would come by three days after the accident at best. The Russian article also described Burevestnik as a bare-base facility, with no hangars, and aircraft “rusting year-round under the open sky”.”
The old civilian air terminal at the Northwest corner of Burevestnik Airfield has seen better days. (ja.wikipedia.org)
Military helicopters and civilian air service continued to use Burevestnik until 2014, when the newly-constructed Iturup Airport opened for operations near the town of Kurilsk, over 20 miles northeast from Burevestnik, inland from the ocean and sea sides. Burevestnik reportedly remains a military base, some helicopters are there and it can serve as an alternate or reserve facility as needed.
Space view of Burevestnik Airfield/Air Base on Iturup Island (Etorofu-to) (racingtotheredlight.com)
The new airport features a single runway over 7,500 feet long with instrument landing aids, a necessity in the climate with the fog that rolls in and covers the field. With this new airfield at Iturup, in early 2018 the Russian Ministry of Defense arranged to create a joint air facility, opening the way for military use of the facility and a renewed fighter aircraft presence in the islands.
View of the civilian air terminal at new Iturup Airport/Yasny Air Base circa 2014. (bmpd.livejournal.com)
That is not to say Russian fighter jets haven’t ventured to the Kuriles since the 41st FAR closed shop in 1994. For example, in March, 2018, Japan’s Foreign Ministry protested the use of old Burevestnik by a pair of Su-35S (FLANKER E) fighters.
Still from video below of Su-35 fighters airborne over the Russian Far East, circa 2018.
And snow? Who needs to clear it first? We don’t need any stinking snow removal equipment! As seen in this video taken when at Burevestnik, posted in YouTube in September, 2018 (note, appears to be a composite video as some clips show external stores, possibly rocket pods for air-to-ground training):
But in August, 2018 a flight of Su-35S FLANKER fighters arrived at Iturup Airport to commence “experimental combat duty.” Since then it appears a flight or detachment of Su-35S fighters has a regular presence at what is also referred to as Yasny Air Base. Review of Google Earth images on this day showed three FLANKER fighters parked on the ramp near the civilian air terminal at Iturup Airfield.
These FLANKER fighters belong to the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment based at Dzemgi Air Base, Komsomolsk-on Amur. The 23rd FAR is subordinate to the 303rd Mixed Aviation Division headquartered at Khurba Air Base, south of Komsomolsk, which belongs to the 11th Air and Air Defense Forces Army headquartered in Khabarovsk.
Su-35S on the parking ramp at Iturup Airport/Yasny Air Base, 3 August 2018 (bmpd.livejournal.com)
At the arrival ceremony held in August 2018 which welcomed the fighters to Iturup, official government and military representatives spoke. “Mikhail Mitrofanov, Acting Director of Yasny Airport, Vadim Rokotov, Acting Head of the Kurilsky District Administration, and Oleg Solovyov, Deputy Commander of the 11th Air Force and Air Defense Army, Chief of Aviation, arrived to congratulate the pilots, technicians and engineers of the ground service on the significant event.
The first remarks were made by Mikhail Mitrofanov: “A huge number of people have made efforts to make our airport able to receive the defenders of the sky. The beginning of duty is another reason to feel the power of Russian weapons. Let your service be easy and cloudless, and good luck always accompanies you in life.”
Under the sound of the beginning rain, Vadim Rokotov continued the congratulations. “They say that rain is a good omen for any undertaking. Let’s hope that this will fully come true for our pilots, ” said the acting head of the administration. On Iturup, representatives of different branches of the armed forces are serving, now they are joined by fighter pilots. I congratulate you on joining this large family.”
Vadim Rokotov assured that the district authorities, for their part, will do everything to “make life comfortable and interesting for those who live here and come to defend the Fatherland.”
In turn, Colonel Oleg Solovyov expressed gratitude to the government of the Sakhalin region, the authorities of the Kuril Region, and the airport staff for their assistance and support in preparing for the deployment of the unit.
Experimental combat duty is the first step to the main (permanent) duty to protect the borders. In the next two months (until the first of October), pilots and technical engineers, employees of the airport ground service need to bring the synergy of joint actions to realization.
The flight crew was read the order of the command, then to the sounds of the march, the defenders of the sky marched in formation and within an hour began practicing taxiing on the strip…
The photographed Su-35S fighters with red tail numbers “21,” “23” and “24,” apparently, are aircraft built in 2015 (the original red tail numbers from “04” to “06”), in 2016, were part of the Russian aviation group in Syria.”
It would take a quantitative/qualitative analysis using some kind of reasonable methodology to determine how a flight of FLANKER E compares with a full regiment of FLOGGER K, beyond the scope of this article and writer. But it’s noteworthy to see the return of Russian jet fighters to the Kuril Islands, long after the departure of the FLOGGER K in 1994.
Upgrade 2
Back in the Cold War Kuriles, some ground-based air defenses associated with army units on Iturup Island (Etorofu-to) were present along with the MiG-23s. This was smaller stuff, hand-held and some vehicle mounted, perhaps as seen here in these vehicles moving along Hitokappu Bay, Iturup. Larger, longer-ranged stuff could be found further west on Sakhalin Island, not in the bleak Kuriles back then.
A column of tracked and wheeled military vehicles in column along the beach at Hitokappu Bay, Iturup Island, turn inland in 1982, belonging to the Soviet 18th Machine Gun Artillery Division. (Flickr.com)
But recently, some big stuff arrived on Iturup. In December, 2020, the Japanese Government protested Russia’s deployment of advanced S-300V4 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) to the island, likely a unit (unit size/strength not given) belonging to the 38th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade based at Birobidzhan. This advanced SAM system, also known as the SA-23 GLADIATOR/GIANT (name depending on which missile variant used), is a long-range air defense system that initially came into service in the mid-1980s as the SA-12a/b, and developed into the more capable SA-23 since then. It was designed to protect army maneuver formations in the field, as opposed to a dedicated air defense system belonging to the air force for defense of a given geographic area.
S-300V4 SAM system on the move on Iturup Island (Etorofu-to), December, 2020 (topwar.ru )
The 38th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade was established at Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonomous Oblast in the Far East circa December, 2019, in place of the former 1724th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. Armed with the S-300V4, the brigade’s formation in this location west of Khabarovsk along the Trans-Siberian Railway was reported complete by September 2020.
An S-300V4 SAM system of the type operated by the 38th Air Defense Missile Brigade at Birobidzhan, Russia. (Teller Report)
Russian news reported that this fourth version of the S-300V (V = Voyska, ground forces), the S-300V4 which entered service in 2014, is capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and by October 2020 was deemed capable of engaging hypersonic missiles. (See video of the deployment to Iturup in the S-300V4 link below).
“The S-300V SAM system is often mistaken for the S-300PM [SA-10 Grumble] and PMU, but they are unlike as chalk and cheese,” expert Anton Lavrov says. “The S-300V is an Air Defense Artillery system. It defends vehicular convoys, field artillery positions and headquarters, while the ‘ordinary’ S-300 covers key industrial facilities, bridges, dams and electric power plants. The S-300V is more maneuverable, with virtually all of its vehicles being tracked. Each S-300 battery has a radar that acquires targets and illuminates them for missiles, and the S-300V has a radar like that mounted on each of its launchers.”
Being mounted on tracked vehicles, the S-300V4 system enjoys good mobility, even better than its air defense cousin’s mobile SA-10 GRUMBLE SAM system. From Iturup, the range of the S-300V4 is up to 215 nautical miles (400km), according to one source (S-300 reference below).
It’s unclear exactly where on Iturup the S-300V4 missiles are based, but it would appear to be near Burevestnik Airfield where a new military facility has been constructed about a mile northeast of the airfield, near the seaward end of the old helicopter field runway. U-shaped revetments appear on Google Earth imagery which appear similar to those seen in the video report of the deployment in the S-300V4 link below. This would be a peacetime position, optimum for maintenance and training – for exercises and real-world this unit would likely deploy to the field elsewhere on the island.
An S-300V4 SAM system vehicles trundling along on Iturup Island in December 2020. The lead vehicle appears to be a radar unit followed by a firing unit. (m5dergi.com)
Coupled with upgrades to coastal defense missiles in the disputed “Northern Territories, Russian military forces presence and modernization in this disputed territory are significant, from military, political and economic perspectives.
And further west across the Sea of Okhotsk, at Khomutuvo just south of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Sakhalin, an S-400 SAM system of the 1724th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment was apparently deployed in the summer of 2020. This advanced SAM system, also with a maximum range of about 215 nautical miles (400km) is known in NATO as the SA-21 GROWLER has been in service since 2007.
S-400 SAM system base just east of Khomutuvo, Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East. (bmpd.livejournal.com)
An S-400 system was also deployed as an upgrade to Khabarovsk’s 1529th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment in October, 2020. All of these signal Moscow’s determination to modernize forces in the Far East despite the country’s economic challenges.
Of note, in a series of changes to the Russian Constitution enacted in the summer of 2020, a clause banning concessions of territory was included. This change presumably justifies Russian retention of the disputed Kuril Islands (Northern Territories), the Crimea, and the Kaliningrad Oblast (Königsberg)on the Baltic Sea. Given the deployment of modern military equipment to the Northern Territories, it appears the Russians are determined to retain these disputed islands.
It now looks like the fate of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s largest surface combatant, the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev (ex-Frunze) has been decided, after years in reserve and rumors of scrapping which emerged in April, 2019 (see reference below), per this new article carried in the “Cruisers” group in Facebook a few days ago:
Heavy nuclear missile cruiser “Admiral Lazarev” sent for scrapping
Russian CGN Admiral Lazarev languishes in the Russian Far East near Vladivostok ((Overtdefense.com)
February 18 2021
The heavy nuclear missile cruiser “Admiral Lazarev” of project 1144 “Orlan” has been sent for scrapping, the cutting of the ship will begin this year, follows from the materials of the portal of state purchases.
According to the documents, the utilization of the cruiser will be carried out at the 30th shipyard. The ship should be installed on the cutting slip by the end of August this year. The contract for the disposal of the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev with the 30th shipyard was signed by Rosatom. The cost of disposal is estimated at 5 billion rubles, the work should be completed by November 30, 2025.
The conversation about the disposal of Admiral Lazarev has been going on for a long time. The cruiser was withdrawn from the Pacific fleet in 1999, and five years later in Bolshoy Kamen, nuclear power plants were unloaded from it, part of the equipment was removed, after which the ship was mothballed. In 2014, the ship underwent dock repairs in order to maintain buoyancy.
In 2015, it was reported that the ship would be scrapped, since it was morally obsolete and physically worn out, and it was no longer able to wait for a queue to restore technical readiness for several years. At that time, the ship repair enterprises of the Far East were not ready to repair such a large ship, and the transportation of the immobilized cruiser to Severodvinsk was recognized as problematic.
TARKR “Admiral Lazarev” – Project 1144 “Orlan” heavy nuclear missile cruiser. Built at the Baltic Shipyard. Launched on May 26, 1981, entered the Pacific Fleet on October 31, 1984 under the name “Frunze”, renamed into “Admiral Lazarev” on April 22, 1994.
Admiral Lazarev awaits her fate in the Russian Far East (Poandpo.com)
With the ultimate, imminent fate of battle cruiser Admiral Lazarev apparently decided, this leaves the Russian Pacific Fleet with the Slava-class guided-missile cruiser (CG) Varyag (ex-Chernova Ukraina) as its largest surface combatant. Varyag serves as the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, and in service it has actually been the largest active combat there for more than 20 years, given Admiral Lazarev’s long time lingering in the Russian mothball fleet.
This Slava-class CG actually joined the Pacific Fleet in 1990, though it is only half the tonnage and 200 feet shorter in length than the much larger Admiral Lazarev. Still, Varyag has a formidable weapons array, including SA-N-6 GRUMBLE surface-to-air missiles, if not in the same number as her bigger cousin.
Flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, guided-missile cruiser Varyag (SinoDefenseForum)
As you can read in the Wikipedia article, Varyag has quite an active service life compared to Admiral Lazarev’s active/in-service years, 1989 to 1999. She’s made a number of deployments and port visits suggesting the design is more reliable and/or easier to maintain than the larger CGN. So the modern day 14FS Samurai still have her in the neighborhood for a while it seems.
In looking for information on CG Varyag, I ran across this VLOG about Vladivostok, the main base of the Russian Pacific Fleet. It gives some idea of the conditions in the Russian Far East port city where this fleet resides:
While cruising through Instagram today ran across some apparently recent photos of a trio of 14th Tactical Fighter Squadron Samurai veterans still flying with the 457th Fighter Squadron (Spads) at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Talk about a good return on the taxpayers’ investment! By the way, the rumor mill has it the USAF may purchase some new F-16s as the fleet ages…
In serial number order then, some recently posted gucci snaps of Samurai Vipers still serving:
First a look at 85-1553 as her pilot greases her in for a landing, aircraft in landing configuration with some air-to-air training stores carried. Hat tip and photo credit to “thor.aviation” on Instagram. Image posted circa 10 February 2021.
Next, a look at 85-1554, clean jet, no external stores or pylons. Hat tip and photo credit to “yaruspotter” on Instagram. Image posted circa 10 February 2021.
And lastly, a “moon shot” look at 85-1556, loaded with the usual external stores of the workhorse that is the Viper. Hat tip and photo credit to “sef_right_aviation” on Instagram. Image posted circa 10 February 2021.
And a hat tip to “thor.aviation” for this great snap of the 13th TFS Panther’s original family model, 85-1513, still flying with the Spads. Image posted on Instagram 16 December 2020.
Having the opportunity for familiarization/observer flights with the Samurai in our old tubs, 571 and 573, I can relate to the spirit shown in this “thor.aviation” photo of 513 as the afterburner kicks in on that 16 Dec 2020 incentive flight, also posted in Instagram! Kerosene cowboys on a fighter ranch!
And a hand salute to the pilots and maintainers of the AF Reserve Command’s 301st Fighter Wing who keep these 20th Century Samurai (and a Panther too) Vipers soaring – well done!
Cold War Samurai – The 14th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1987 - 1991 