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The base is home to the 4th State Centre for Aircrew Training and Field Tests (4th GTsPAPVI), formerly the 4th Centre for Combat Application and Crew Training. Components of the 4th Centre include the 968th Instructor-Research Aviation Regiment (968th IISAP) and the 237th Air Force Display Centre of the Russian Air Force. I. N. Kozheduba - Russian Falcons.[2][3]
The 4th Center of Combat Application and Conversion of Frontline Aviation, Russia's Top Gun school since around the 1960s, is the most well known unit on the base. Its chief, Col. Kharchevski, became famous after air combat exercises in the US and has become the personal pilot of President Putin.
From the 1960s to 1990, units stationed at Lipetsk include:
In 1992, the 968th Fighter Aviation Regiment arrived from Falkenberg in East Germany. It was flying Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 and Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft in the mid-1990s. In 1992-1993 it became first a Research-Instructor Fighter Aviation Regiment and then a Research-Instructor Mixed Aviation Regiment.[10][11] Flying solely MiG-29s by 2004, it later also flew Sukhoi Su-24M aircraft.[8]
NASA's FIRMS detected extensive fire at a Lipetsk air base depot on 9 August 2024 00:01:00 (UTC)
On 8 August 2024, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, the airbase was struck by a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack that caused numerous explosions and fires.[12][13] A warehouse containing guided aerial bombs and other facilities near the airbase were hit, with multiple sources of ignition resulting in a massive fire and multiple detonations, according to the Ukrainian general staff. Damage to the aircraft at the base was still being assessed the morning after the attack. The governor of Lipetsk reported detonations and said that six people had been injured.[14] The fire at the air base facility was confirmed by NASA's FIRMS.
On 20 October 2024, the air base was attacked by Ukrainian drones with Ukrainian officials reporting that the attack was aimed at fuel, equipment and ammunition stored on the base.[15]
Gallery
Falcons of Russia aerobatic team from Lipetsk Air Base
Falcons of Russia solo aerobatics during Tambov 2008 airshow
Falcons of Russia solo aerobatics during Tambov 2008 airshow
^"Ukraine updates: Putin orders reinforcements to Kursk – DW – 08/09/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09. Ledwidge said the Kursk region is very important for gas supplies, as it is a conduit into Ukraine. As for Lipetsk, he said it is home "to the main training base of the Russian aerospace forces." For to this reason, he said Ukraine views Lipetsk as a valid military target.
