Daraut Kurgan Airport

The closure was primarily due to a combination of economic and strategic reasons. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the newly independent Kyrgyzstan lacked the financial resources and the strategic imperative to maintain a network of remote military airstrips. The Soviet Border Troops, who were the likely primary users, were restructured, and funding for such forward operating bases was eliminated. There was no viable civilian or commercial demand to justify the cost of its upkeep.

The site is currently abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Satellite imagery confirms the presence of a clearly defined but unpaved runway. The surface is dirt and gravel, heavily weathered, and likely unusable for most fixed-wing aircraft without significant renovation. There are no remaining buildings, markings, or infrastructure on the site. The land is not being used for any other discernible purpose, such as agriculture or construction, and has essentially reverted to an empty, undeveloped plot with the faint outline of its former runway.

Daraut Kurgan Airport was a strategic Soviet-era military airstrip. Its location in the Alay Valley, a critical corridor near the borders with Tajikistan and China, made it an important logistical hub for the Soviet Border Troops. Operations primarily involved light transport aircraft (such as the Antonov An-2) and helicopters (like the Mil Mi-8). The airfield was used for:
- Resupplying remote border outposts with food, equipment, and ammunition.
- Transporting personnel and rotating border guard detachments.
- Medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) from isolated mountain regions.
- Providing air support and reconnaissance for border patrol operations.
It played a key role in projecting Soviet military presence and control over this remote and mountainous frontier.

There are no known or publicly announced plans to reopen or redevelop the Daraut Kurgan airfield. The prospects for its reopening are extremely low. The significant investment required to restore the runway and build modern support facilities is not justifiable given the lack of economic or strategic demand. The transportation needs of the small local population are met by ground transport via the A371 road, which runs through the valley. Therefore, the airfield is expected to remain derelict for the foreseeable future.