Pryluky Air Base: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Pryluky accepted the USSR's first [[Tu-160]] (Blackjack) in April 1987, building its fleet up to 19 by 1994. By the mid 1990s, the Pryluky Regiment had lost its value as a combat unit. The 184th GvTBAP's 19 "Blackjacks" were effectively grounded because of a lack of technical support, spare parts and fuel. At this point in time, Ukraine considered the Tu-160s more of a bargaining chip in their economic negotiations with Russia. Certainly, they were of very limited value to Ukraine from a military standpoint, but discussions with Russia concerning their return bogged down. Between October 1999 and February 2000 Ukraine turned over 8 Tu-160 bombers to [[Russia]] to pay off energy debts; these are now at Russia's [[Engels-2 (air base)|Engels-2]] air base. The last of Ukraine's strategic bombers, a Tu-160, was destroyed by agreement with the United States in February 2001.

As of 2012, the PrilukiPryluky airbase is abandoned. Almost all equipment has been dismantled, including radar and lighting equipment. At the request of the United States, earthen revetments, bomb shelters, two fuel and lubricant depots, and other facilities at the air base were also destroyed. A [[Tupolev Tu-16]] monument still remains.

==References==