For the first time, Russia has allowed a foreign military presence at its secretive Anadyr Air Base. This development, which occurred at the end of July, was revealed following an analysis of satellite images by the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo. The images, reviewed on July 24, showed a Russian Tu-95MS bomber and Chinese aircraft, including a Y-20 transport from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force, departing from the base. The investigation into this area was prompted by a joint mission involving Chinese bombers with Russia near Alaska.
Currently, Chinese Xian H-6 bombers have a maximum range of about 6,000 km, making it challenging for them to reach high latitudes without an international base for refueling. At the time, Russian-Chinese bombers were intercepted by NORAD, leading to the deployment of US Air Force F-16s and F-35s, as well as Canadian CF-18s.
Russian analyst Sergey Ishchenko commented on the unprecedented nature of this development, emphasizing the strategic importance of Anadyr Airport. It is vital to Russia’s nuclear forces, housing sensitive military information, including special munitions, fuel, and crucial systems for flight control, communication, and identification. The air defense and electronic warfare systems at this base are also of utmost importance. Foreign access to such bases, especially involving combat aircraft, has been historically restricted.
Anadyr Airport, initially built during the Soviet era, fell into disrepair after 1991 but was revitalized in 2018 after a 15-year restoration. This included the historic landing of two Tu-160 “White Swan” missile carriers, which traveled 7,000 kilometers from Engels, a major long-range aviation hub in Russia. This significant achievement enhanced Russia’s strategic reach and reduced flight time to key US sites, making Anadyr a crucial base for long-range aviation.
Ishchenko noted that accommodating such heavy aircraft as the Tu-160 at Anadyr was challenging, with extensive upgrades needed to the runway and supporting infrastructure. The Tu-160s had to land almost empty, circling to burn excess fuel before refueling and arming at a massive underground facility nearby, built in the 1950s for nuclear protection.
The appearance of Chinese strategic aviation in Chukotka has surprised many, especially given the ongoing joint patrols of Russian and Chinese aircraft near the US coast. This collaboration suggests a strengthening of strategic interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces.
This development comes amid discussions about potential Russian support for China in the event of a Taiwan conflict. Avril Haynes, the US Director of National Intelligence, has noted that while direct Russian involvement in such a conflict is uncertain, Russia may not remain passive. Becca Wasser from the New American Security think tank also suggests that Russia might engage in diversionary military actions elsewhere in response to a potential clash over Taiwan.
“China may look to Russia, its growing strategic partner, to initiate a secondary area of conflict to divert the United States and some of its allies,” Wasser explained. “This tactic would help cut down the amount of American resources and focus on China.” Whatever happens in the coming years, however, there is no doubt that Chinese fighter jet access to Russia’s secret Anadyr airport is the necessary resource that Beijing needs to “keep” Washington under surveillance from a much closer distance than before.
