Gurzandzagal East Airport

The air base was closed and abandoned following the complete withdrawal of Soviet/Russian military forces from Mongolia, which concluded between 1990 and 1992 after the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Mongolian military did not have the resources or strategic need to maintain such a large and remote facility.

The site is completely abandoned and in a severe state of decay. High-resolution satellite imagery shows the concrete runway, taxiways, and aircraft revetments are still clearly visible but are cracked, weathered, and being reclaimed by nature. All associated buildings, including barracks, hangars, and support facilities, are in ruins. The site is unused and serves as a derelict relic of the Cold War era.

This was a major Soviet Air Force forward operating base, likely constructed in the 1970s during the period of high tension following the Sino-Soviet split. It was a key strategic asset for the Soviet 23rd Air Army, designed to project air power near the border with China. The base was home to Soviet fighter-bomber regiments, with historical evidence suggesting it housed aircraft such as the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27. Its extensive infrastructure, including a long runway and dozens of hardened aircraft shelters, underscores its importance as a front-line military installation during the Cold War.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The remote location, the immense cost required to repair the dilapidated infrastructure, and the lack of any current economic or strategic justification make its reactivation extremely unlikely. It remains an abandoned military ghost town.