Pristan Naval Air Base

The air base ceased active aviation operations following the disbandment of its primary resident unit, the 555th Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment. This closure was a direct result of the massive military downsizing, strategic reorganization, and severe budget cuts that swept through the Russian Armed Forces in the years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Many specialized units and their corresponding bases were deemed economically unsustainable or were consolidated into larger facilities.

The airfield is currently inactive and in a state of dereliction. Satellite imagery confirms that the runway and numerous helipads are unmaintained, cracked, and partially overgrown, rendering them unusable for any regular flight operations. While the core aviation infrastructure is abandoned, the site remains under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defence. Some of the administrative buildings and barracks in the associated military town (Shkotovo-22) may still be in use for non-aviation purposes, such as storage or housing for other military units, but the base serves no operational role as an airfield.

Pristan Naval Air Base was a key installation for the Soviet Pacific Fleet's Naval Aviation arm. Its strategic location near the major naval port of Vladivostok made it crucial for coastal defense and maritime operations in the Sea of Japan. The base was primarily home to the 555th Separate Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment (555-й ОПЛВП). This unit's main mission was Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), tasked with protecting Soviet ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and surface fleets by hunting for and tracking American, Japanese, and other NATO submarines. The regiment operated a fleet of specialized naval helicopters, including the Kamov Ka-25 'Hormone', the more advanced Kamov Ka-27 'Helix', and the amphibious Mil Mi-14 'Haze'. These aircraft were vital assets for maintaining Soviet naval dominance in the region during the Cold War.

There are no known official plans or credible reports suggesting any prospect of reopening Pristan Naval Air Base. The Russian military's current strategy for its Pacific Fleet aviation involves modernizing and consolidating its forces at larger, active airfields like Knevichi and Nikolayevka. The significant financial investment required to restore the decayed infrastructure of a specialized and relatively small base like Pristan makes its reactivation strategically and economically unviable. Its role has been absorbed by other, more capable and modern facilities.