MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia is building an airfield for the Military Transport Aviation (VTA) of the country's Air Force on the Franz Josef Land archipelago for the first time, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
Klimov added that the airfield with a 2,500-meter runway will be used seasonally when the land is covered in snow. The airfield will be used for transportation of personnel and cargo to the Arctic region.
Franz Josef Land is an uninhabited archipelago consisting of more than a hundred of islands. It is one of Russia's most remote Arctic territories.
Klimov said the military is already clearing up the site ahead of the first landings. The island's rocky ground will be a challenge for Russian pilots who have been instructed to land only in optimal weather conditions. They are now training landings at a base airport in mainland Russia.
