Zvezda Airfield

Economic reasons following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The airfield was a military test facility tied to a local defense plant. With the severe reduction in state military orders and funding, the associated plant's activities scaled back dramatically, making the specialized test airfield redundant and economically unviable to maintain.

The airfield is closed and abandoned for aviation use. The primary runway, taxiways, and some aircraft hardstands are still physically intact but are in a state of significant disrepair, with visible cracks and vegetation growth. The site has been repurposed for industrial and commercial use. Satellite imagery and local reports show that the runway and adjacent areas are used for open-air storage of industrial goods, shipping containers, and construction materials. The long, straight runway also makes it a popular, albeit unofficial, venue for illegal street racing, drifting, and driver training.

Zvezda Airfield was a significant Soviet-era military test airfield (испытательный аэродром). Its primary purpose was to support the nearby defense-industrial complex in Chapayevsk, which was involved in producing aviation-related equipment, likely avionics, guidance systems, or munitions. The airfield was used for flight testing of new systems installed on various tactical aircraft. Aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-17, Su-24, and Mikoyan MiG-23/27 were reportedly operated from the airfield for these test and evaluation purposes. It featured a substantial concrete runway approximately 2,500 meters long, capable of handling high-performance military jets.

Extremely low to non-existent. There are no known official plans, proposals, or funding allocated for the restoration and reopening of Zvezda Airfield. The significant decay of the runway surface and the lack of any modern aviation infrastructure would require massive capital investment. Furthermore, its original military purpose is now obsolete, and its proximity to the large, operational Kurumoch International Airport (UWWW) in Samara negates any potential need for a regional civil airport at this location.