Russian air defense units based on Alexandra Land Island now fully combat-ready 22010151 TASS

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Defence & Security News - Russia
 
Russian air defense units based on Alexandra Land Island now fully combat-ready
Russian air defense units based on the Alexandra Land island of Russia’s northernmost Franz Josef archipelago are fully combat-ready, Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vladimir Korolyov said on Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. "The air defense units on combat duty in Russia’s northernmost point are fully combat-ready and able to accomplish assigned missions," the Fleet’s press office quoted the commander as saying.
     
Russian air defense units based on Alexandra Land Island now fully combat ready 640 001Units of the Northern Fleet’s air defense division took up combat duty on the Alexandra Land Island in November 2014
     
Large-scale construction of an up-to-date hi-tech military installation in under way on the Island to accommodate units of various services and branches, the Fleet’s commander said.

"No one has implemented projects like this at such a high latitude before and the contractor building the installation on the island is constructing virtually all the facilities ahead of schedule," Korolyov said.

Units of the Northern Fleet’s air defense division took up combat duty on the Alexandra Land Island in November 2014. The units’ personnel is now stationed at a temporary garrison. The servicemen go on combat duty at a duty shift building, which has been already constructed and meets all necessary requirements.

An up-to-date closed-cycle administrative and housing facility, which will occupy a total area of 14,000 square meters, is being built now. The construction of military facilities on the Alexandra Land Island is expected to be completed as early as in 2016.

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to develop a single basing system for new-generation surface ships and submarines, strengthen the border and establish a new governmental body for pursuing Russia’s policy in the Arctic.

In particular, the 99th tactical group is based on Kotelny Island and the 80th separate motor-rifle brigade is stationed in the settlement of Alakurtti in the Murmansk Region in Russia’s extreme north-west.

Radar posts and air direction centers are to be deployed on the Alexander I Island of the Franz Josef archipelago, Novaya Zemlya archipelago, Wrangel Island and Cape Schmidt. The Federal Security Service’s coastal defense troops are planned to be strengthened as well.

The reconstruction of air defense infrastructure on Arctic islands is to be completed by October 2015. A self-contained force will be formed in the Arctic in 2018, the press office said.
     
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