Valga Air Base

The closure was a direct result of major geopolitical changes. The primary reason was the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of Estonia's independence in 1991. This led to a treaty requiring the withdrawal of all former Soviet (now Russian) military forces from Estonian territory. The air base was a Soviet military installation and had no operational role for the newly independent Estonian state.

The site is no longer an airport and has been extensively repurposed for civilian use. A large portion of the former base has been developed into the 'Valga Transport Logistics and Industrial Area' (Valga Transpordilogistika ja tööstusala), which hosts various commercial and industrial enterprises. The well-preserved main runway is frequently used for legal motorsports events, including drag racing and drifting. Additionally, parts of the vast airfield have been converted into a solar power farm, and the Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit) sometimes uses the area for training exercises.

During the Cold War, Valga Air Base was a significant frontline installation for the Soviet Air Force, strategically located near the border of the Baltic Military District. It was the home base for the 3rd Guards Aviation Regiment of Fighter-Bombers (3-й гвардейский авиационный полк истребителей-бомбардировщиков). This regiment was a key tactical aviation unit, operating a succession of aircraft over the decades, including the MiG-15, MiG-17, and Su-7. In its final years of operation from the early 1980s until its withdrawal in 1991, the regiment was equipped with advanced MiG-27 (K, M, and D variants) ground-attack aircraft.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Valga Air Base as a functioning airport for either civilian or military aviation. The significant and ongoing investment in its redevelopment as an industrial park, logistics hub, and energy production site makes a return to aviation operations highly improbable. The local and national focus is firmly on the economic development of the land for non-aviation purposes.