Lebedovo Air Base

Economic reasons and military restructuring. After the end of the Cold War, the Russian armed forces underwent a massive reduction in size and budget. The need for extensive training flights for the Long-Range Aviation command diminished, making a separate, dedicated training airfield like Lebedovo redundant and economically unviable to maintain. Operations were consolidated at the main Engels-2 Air Base.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of decay. Satellite imagery confirms that the concrete runway, taxiways, and aircraft standings are still clearly visible but are heavily weathered, cracked, and being overgrown by grass and shrubs. Most of the support buildings and infrastructure have been dismantled, have fallen into ruin, or were scavenged for materials. The site is inactive and is slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding natural environment.

Lebedovo Air Base served as a crucial auxiliary and training airfield for the nearby Engels-2 Air Base, which is a primary strategic bomber hub for Soviet and later Russian Long-Range Aviation. Its main function was to support training operations, allowing bomber crews to practice take-offs, landings, and circuit patterns ('touch-and-go' maneuvers) without interfering with the operational readiness of the main base. It was used by crews flying strategic bombers stationed at Engels, which historically included the Tupolev Tu-16, Myasishchev M-4, Tupolev Tu-95, and potentially the Tupolev Tu-160. By offloading training traffic, it enhanced the safety and efficiency of the entire Engels air hub.

There are no known official plans or prospects for reopening Lebedovo Air Base. The Russian Air Force has focused its resources on upgrading and modernizing its active, strategic bases like the nearby Engels-2. The cost to restore the dilapidated runway and infrastructure of Lebedovo would be substantial, and there is no apparent strategic or operational need for its reactivation.