Kosa (Baltiysk Air Base) (ex. Neutief) (XMKB)

The air base was closed due to military restructuring and downsizing following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary reasons were significant budget cuts to the Russian military in the 1990s, the aging infrastructure of the base, and a re-evaluation of strategic needs in the Baltic region. The last active unit, the 49th Independent Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment, was disbanded around 1995, leading to the cessation of all flight operations.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. The runways and taxiways are cracked, overgrown with vegetation, and unusable for aviation. The most prominent features are the massive, derelict German-built hangars and various Soviet-era administrative buildings, all of which are crumbling. The former air base has become a popular, albeit unofficial, tourist destination for 'urban explorers', historians, and photographers drawn to its post-apocalyptic atmosphere and historical significance. The Baltiyskaya Kosa (Vistula Spit) itself is a nature reserve and tourist area, and the abandoned airfield is one of its main attractions. There is no active security, but the area is within a Russian border zone, which may require special permits for access.

The airfield has a rich and significant dual history.

**German Era (as Fliegerhorst Neutief, until 1945):** Constructed by the Luftwaffe in the 1930s, Neutief was a critical air and seaplane base during World War II. Its strategic location on the Vistula Spit (Frische Nehrung) at the entrance to the Vistula Lagoon (Frisches Haff) allowed Germany to control maritime and air traffic in the eastern Baltic Sea. It hosted various reconnaissance, bomber, and fighter units. The base gained particular importance in the final months of the war (early 1945) during the Soviet East Prussian Offensive. It served as one of the last operational airfields for the Luftwaffe, playing a vital role in the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of German soldiers and civilians from the besieged region in what was known as Operation Hannibal. The massive hangars built during this period are notable examples of German military engineering.

**Soviet/Russian Era (as Kosa Air Base, 1945-1995):** After the war, the Red Army took control of the base and it was integrated into the Soviet Baltic Fleet's Naval Aviation (AV-MF). It was renamed 'Kosa' (Russian for 'Spit'). Throughout the Cold War, it hosted various Soviet air units. Initially, it was home to fighter regiments providing air defense for the crucial naval base at Baltiysk. Later, it became a base for naval and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The most notable unit in its later years was the 49th Independent Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment (49-й ОПЛАП), which operated Beriev Be-12 'Chaika' (NATO reporting name: 'Mail') amphibious aircraft, perfectly suited for the base's land and sea access.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen the Kosa airfield for either military or civilian purposes. The cost of restoring the heavily degraded infrastructure, including runways, hangars, and support facilities, would be prohibitive. Furthermore, its location on a narrow, environmentally sensitive spit is not ideal for modern, heavy aircraft. Other active military air bases in the Kaliningrad Oblast, such as Chkalovsk and Chernyakhovsk, fulfill the current strategic needs of the Russian military. The future of the site is likely to remain as a decaying historical landmark and tourist attraction, with its fate tied to local tourism development rather than aviation.