Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu said that the new runway will serve for implementing very complex tasks, such as testing the aircraft in more suitable conditions and putting them into service on a tight schedule.
Sergei Shoigu said that over 600 new aircraft and almost 1,000 helicopters will be provided to the Russian Armed Forces in the near future.
The new runway at the Chkalov State Flight Test Centre is four kilometres long and 60 metres wide, making it the longest military runway in the country. At the same time, the runway is adapted for use by aircraft of any type and size, which can land and take off in any weather.
Sergei Shoigu watched the Su-30SM multirole fighter aircraft and MiG-29SMT fighter of the Russian Air Force take off from the new runway for the first time.
The Defence Minister watched the new Su-34 strike aircraft land on the new runway for the first time arriving from the Chkalov Aviation Plant in Novosibirsk and accompanied by the returning Su-30SM and MiG-29SMT fighter aircraft.
Source: Ministry of Defence
