Crimea's Belbek Military Airfield 1st Phase Successfully Built - Russian Defense Ministry

The construction of the first phase of Belbek military airfield in Crimea has been completed, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday, adding that the first landing of an aircraft on a new runway was successful

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd November, 2018) The construction of the first phase of Belbek military airfield in Crimea has been completed, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday, adding that the first landing of an aircraft on a new runway was successful.

"Specialists of the military construction complex of the Russian Defense Ministry completed the construction of a new 3,450-meter [2.14-mile] runway ... Today, the first all-weather aircraft of the military transport aviation An-148 landed at the military airfield Belbek in the Crimea," the ministry said.

It noted that the construction of a strategic facility was carried out under the instructions of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces, President Vladimir Putin.

The construction was finished one month ahead of schedule, the ministry stressed, adding that the new runway allows landing of all types of military and civilian aircraft, including heavy transport aircraft.

According to the Defense Ministry's data, five taxiways and seven parking aprons for aircraft Il-96 and A319 class aircraft were built at the airfield complex. The airfield is located 400 meters from the Black Sea coast.