Smarhon Air Base

The air base was closed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary reason was the large-scale military restructuring and downsizing undertaken by the newly independent Republic of Belarus. The inherited Soviet military force was too large and expensive for the new state to maintain. The specific event leading to the closure was the disbandment of the 405th Fighter Aviation Regiment, the sole unit stationed at the base.

The air base is abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery confirms the main 2500-meter runway, taxiways, and hardened aircraft shelters (revetments) remain largely intact but are in a state of significant disrepair and overgrown with vegetation. The site is not maintained for aviation use. Parts of the former airfield and its technical zone have been repurposed for industrial and commercial activities, including a wood processing plant. The runway is occasionally used by locals for informal car racing and driver training. The adjacent military garrison town (known as a 'gorodok') has been converted into civilian housing.

Smarhon Air Base was a significant strategic military airfield for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO). From its establishment in 1952 until its closure, it was the home base of the 405th Fighter Aviation Regiment (405 IAP). This regiment was an integral part of the 2nd Air Defence Corps of the 2nd Air Defence Army, tasked with intercepting hostile aircraft and protecting the western airspace of the USSR. Throughout the Cold War, the regiment operated various interceptor aircraft, culminating with the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD in its final years. The base was a critical node in the dense air defense network of the Warsaw Pact, guarding against potential NATO air incursions.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Smarhon Air Base for either military or civilian aviation. The infrastructure has severely deteriorated over 30 years of disuse, and a full restoration would require substantial financial investment. The Belarusian Air Force has consolidated its forces at other active airfields, making the reactivation of Smarhon strategically unnecessary at present.