Liepas Air Base

Military and political. The air base was a Soviet military installation that was abandoned following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. All Russian (formerly Soviet) military forces were required to withdraw from the newly independent Republic of Latvia, a process that was completed by August 31, 1994. The base was handed over to Latvian authorities and subsequently fell into disuse.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. The runway, taxiways, and aircraft shelters remain visible on satellite imagery but are heavily weathered, cracked, and being reclaimed by nature, with trees and vegetation growing through the concrete. Over the years, many of the concrete slabs from the runway and taxiways have been systematically removed by local residents and businesses for use as construction material. The site is now unofficially used for activities such as urban exploration, amateur photography, airsoft games, and illegal street racing. The territory is largely unmaintained and considered hazardous.

The facility at these coordinates is more accurately known as Līgatne Air Base (also referred to as Skaļupe). The name 'Liepas Air Base' is less common, though it is located near the village of Liepa. The ICAO code 'LV-7721' is not an official ICAO designation and was likely a local or internal identifier.

During the Cold War, Līgatne Air Base was a key strategic installation for the Soviet Air Forces' Long-Range Aviation. Its primary functions were:

- **Forward Operating Base:** It served as a 'bounce' or 'staging' airfield (аэродром подскока) for nuclear-capable heavy bombers, primarily the Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' and later the Tupolev Tu-22M 'Backfire'. Its forward location allowed these bombers to reduce flight time to targets in Western Europe and the North Atlantic.
- **Nuclear Weapons Storage:** The site contained a special weapons storage facility, a hardened 'Granit' type bunker, designed to store and prepare nuclear bombs for the bombers stationed there. This made it a high-value target and a site of extreme strategic importance.
- **Infrastructure:** The base featured a large concrete runway approximately 2,500 meters long, a parallel taxiway, and a network of dispersals with at least 20 hardened aircraft revetments to protect aircraft from attack.

None. There are no known official plans or realistic prospects for reopening the site as an operational airport. The reasons for this are:

- **Prohibitive Cost:** The entire infrastructure is severely degraded and would require a complete reconstruction, including runway, taxiways, and support facilities.
- **Environmental Concerns:** Decades of military use, including fuel and potential contaminant storage, would necessitate an extensive and costly environmental cleanup.
- **Lack of Demand:** Latvia is well-served by Riga International Airport (EVRA) for civilian traffic and the modernized Lielvārde Air Base (EVGA) for military operations. There is no economic or strategic need for another large airfield in this region.