Karshi-Khanabad Air Base

Karshi-Khanabad Air Base

IATA: none – ICAO: UTSL

Location of air base in Uzbekistan

Summary
Airport type Military
Location Karshi, Uzbekistan
Elevation AMSL 1,365 ft / 416 m
Coordinates 38°50′01″N 065°55′17″E / 38.83361°N 65.92139°E
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 2,498 8,195 Concrete
Source: DAFIF[1][2]

Karshi-Khanabad, better known as K2, is an air base in southeastern Uzbekistan, just east of Karshi. It is home to the 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade of the Uzbek Air Force.

History

From 1954 to 1981, the 735th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Soviet Air Defence Force was stationed at the base.[3] It was equipped with Mig-15 (July 1950 – 1955), MiG-17 (1955-1969), and then Sukhoi Su-9 aircraft (1961-1980). In 1981 it was renamed the 735th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment, and in 1984 the 735th Bomber Aviation Regiment. From 1980-84 the regiment was equipped with the MiG-23M, and from 1984-1992 with the Su-24. The regiment was under control of the Air Forces of the Turkestan Military District from April 1980 to May 1988, and then under 49th Air Army and 73rd Air Army. From 1992 changes began to affect the regiment before it was merged with other units into the 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade.

Between 2001 and 2005 the United States Army, Air Force and Marine Corps used the base, also known as K2 and "Stronghold Freedom", for support missions against al-Qaeda in neighbouring Afghanistan. The 416th Air Expeditionary Operations Group was the host unit. On July 29, 2005, amid strained relations caused by the May 2005 unrest in Uzbekistan, the United States was told to vacate the base within six months. It was vacated by the United States in November 2005.[4][5][6]

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 1,365 feet (416 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 07/25 with a concrete surface measuring 2,498 by 40 metres (8,196 ft × 131 ft).[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Airport information for UTSL from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. ↑ Airport information for Karshi-Khanabad, Uzbekistan (UTSL / KSQ) at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective Oct. 2006).
  3. ↑ Michael Holm, '735th Bomber Aviation Regiment', accessed August 2011
  4. ↑ "US asked to leave Uzbek airbase". BBC News. July 30, 2005.
  5. ↑ "Last US plane leaves Uzbek base". BBC News. November 21, 2005.
  6. ↑ "Ceremony to close US military base held in Uzbekistan". RIA Novosti. November 21, 2005.

External links

Coordinates: 38°47′00″N 65°45′00″E / 38.78333°N 65.75000°E