New satellite imagery indicates a continued buildup of russian long-range aviation assets at the Belaya Air Base in the east of Siberia. The initial report, published by open-source analyst MT Anderson, highlighted the presence of 9 Tu-95MS bombers on the apron, with one either taxiing or recently landed.
MT Anderson also noted a "substantial presence" of the Tu-22, MiG-31, Su-27 aircraft, and at least one Tu-160 bomber, possibly up to four. Several An-26 transport planes were also spotted.
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However, another analyst responded with a detailed correction based on higher-resolution satellite imagery. According to their assessment, the actual composition of aircraft at the Belaya Air Base includes:
- 7 Tu-160 strategic bombers;
- 8 Tu-95MS bombers (including 6 recently relocated from the Olenya Air Base in Murmansk region and 2 more that arrived days ago);
- 42 Tu-22M3 bombers;
- 26 MiG-31 interceptors (all aircraft previously thought to be the Su-27 are in fact MiG-31 aircraft);
- Among the MiG-31 aircraft, two may be the K variant, capable of carrying the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile;
- 1 Il-76MD airlifter, 6 An-26 transport plane, and 1 An-12 transport aircraft.
The correction also clarified earlier visual misidentifications: a supposed Tu-95MS (number 7 and 10) bombers were actually the An-26 plane, and Il-76MD airlifter, due to its large wingspan, may have been mistaken for a bomber in the satellite imagery.
As Defense Express reported earlier, russia revived a strategic air base in Libya to control refugee trafic and support military ops. It was about the rehabilitation of an airbase near Matan al-Sarra on the border with Chad, abandoned since 2011. The base was located in an important staging point for controlling the traffic of migrants from Africa to Europe and to support operations in Sudan.
We also wrote, that russia wanted to lease an air base from Indonesia after landing its Il-76 and Tu-95 there a few times.
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