Domna is a Russian Aerospace Forces airbase in Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia located 27 km southwest of Chita. It is a large, hardened facility with six areas of revetments probably holding 50 fighter aircraft. MiG-23 aircraft from Domna were deployed to Shindand, Afghanistan in the late 1980s.
Domna | |||||||
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Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai in Russia | |||||||
Domna Shown within Zabaykalsky Krai Domna Domna (Russia) | |||||||
Coordinates | 51°55′0″N 113°7′0″E / 51.91667°N 113.11667°E | ||||||
Type | Air Base | ||||||
Site information | |||||||
Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||
Operator | Russian Aerospace Forces | ||||||
Controlled by | 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army | ||||||
Site history | |||||||
In use | 1971 - present | ||||||
Airfield information | |||||||
Identifiers | ICAO: UIAD | ||||||
Elevation | 695 metres (2,280 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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The base is home to the 120th Composite Aviation Regiment, flying Mikoyan MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-25s.[1]
In 1937-1938, the personnel of the TB-3 heavy bomber aviation squadron, based in the Domna garrison, were the first in the country to undergo retraining and master the most modern aircraft of that time - SB high-speed bombers.
In 1939, the 38th High-Speed Bomber Aviation Regiment, based at the airfield, took part in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol. With the outbreak of war on June 22, 1941, the regiment, which was armed with 45 SB aircraft, began dismantling the aircraft and from June 22 to 26 was sent to the front in five echelons. Under regiment commander Mikhail Moiseevich Svinarev (1910 - 08/04/1942), the regiment was part of the 28th Aviation Division.
Units stationed at Domna include:
The units at the base are now part of the 11th Air and Air Defence Forces Army of the Eastern Military District.
Four Su-30SM fighter aircraft from Domna were deployed to Khmeimim Air Base, Syria, on September 18, 2015.[4]
Domna means "blast furnace" in Russian.