Russia’s new Arctic naval base built in 6 months
The construction of the new base in Tiksi is almost completed, Northern Fleet commander Nikolay Yevmenov says.
Yevmenov in early September 2018 met with regional authorities to discuss the building of the base. Less than half a year later, the naval base is almost ready for operations.
According to the Northern Fleet, the buildings on site are built with modules and will house air defense units. They are now 95 percent ready, a press release informs (in Russian).
The complex includes 11 objects, among them a dormitory, an administrative building, a diesel-run power station, water and fuel reservoirs, cantina, garages and more. All the buildings are interconnected with each other, enabling easy passage between the facilities.
Similar base complexes have previously been built in the archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and the New Siberian Islands.
Naval commander Yevmenov daily receives status reports on the construction process. When announcing the plans for the base last year, he promised that it would be built in the record-short six-month period.
One hundred soldiers
The base is located on the coast of the Laptev Sea, near the town of Tiksi, in Russia’s eastern Arctic.
Tiksi is located on 71 degrees north, where the great river Lena runs into the Arctic Ocean. It has a population of about 4,600 people.
The new Tiksi garrison will be part of the Northern Fleet’s 45th Army and include anti-air forces. There will be 100 soldiers living on site, the government of Yakutia informed.
“These will be radio-technical and anti-aircraft units, which will be able to fully cover the Arctic air space as a shield”, Yevmenov said. He also made clear that the new garrison in Tiksi is part of a grand plan for the whole region.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada’s defence minister says military upgrades part of plan to strengthen Arctic sovereignty, CBC News
Finland: Finnish Defence Minister tells party leaders shrinking fighter fleet would be “irresponsible”, Yle News
Norway: NATO’s Arctic dilemma: Two visions of the Arctic collide as NATO and Russia flex muscles, Eye on the Arctic special report
Russia: Troops in Russia’s High Arctic undergo “military-patriotic” training, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden to buy U.S.-made Patriot air defence systems, Radio Sweden
United States: Climate change a threat to bases across the U.S., Defense Dept. says, Alaska Public Media
