Severomorsk-2 Naval Air Base

Military restructuring and economic reasons. The closure was a direct consequence of the large-scale reduction and reorganization of the Russian Armed Forces in the post-Soviet era of the 1990s. The primary unit at the base, the 403rd Independent Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment, was disbanded in 1998 due to severe budget cuts. With its main operational unit gone, the airfield was deemed redundant, and its functions were consolidated with other Northern Fleet air bases, such as the larger Severomorsk-1.

The airfield is inactive and in a state of significant disrepair. Satellite imagery confirms that the runway, taxiways, and aircraft hardstands are cracked, weathered, and overgrown with vegetation, rendering them unusable for aviation. The site remains under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defence and is part of the larger Severomorsk closed administrative-territorial formation. It is reportedly used as a storage and disposal site for decommissioned military and aviation equipment for the Northern Fleet. While the core airfield is derelict, some of the surrounding buildings and infrastructure may be used for logistical support by other military units in the area.

Severomorsk-2, also known as Safonovo-1, was a key naval air base for the Soviet Northern Fleet during the Cold War. Its strategic location on the Kola Peninsula made it vital for maritime operations in the Barents Sea and the North Atlantic. The base's primary mission was anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime patrol, tasked with detecting and tracking NATO submarines, particularly ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). It was the long-time home of the 403rd Independent Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment (403 OPLAP). This regiment operated a succession of aircraft critical to ASW missions, including the Beriev Be-12 'Chaika' amphibious aircraft and later the Ilyushin Il-38 'May' maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. The operations from Severomorsk-2 were integral to protecting the Soviet Union's own SSBN bastions in the Arctic.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Severomorsk-2 as an active airfield. The Russian military has been investing heavily in modernizing its key Arctic military infrastructure, but this effort has been focused on upgrading existing, operational bases like Severomorsk-1, Severomorsk-3, Rogachevo, and Nagurskoye. The extensive degradation of the runway and infrastructure at Severomorsk-2 would require a massive capital investment to restore, making its reactivation economically and strategically unfeasible compared to enhancing current facilities.