Russia is upgrading infrastructure at a military airfield in the Kaliningrad region to better protect its aircraft from potential strikes.
According to a satellite image shared by AviVector on X (formerly Twitter), construction of four new aircraft hangars began in late April 2026 at the Chkalovsk naval air base.
The new hangars feature arched interiors and reinforced square end walls.
The protective shelters are similar in design to hardened aircraft shelters previously built at other Russian military airfields.
The Chkalovsk airfield is located 4 km northwest of the city of Kaliningrad. It hosts the Russian Baltic Fleet’s 72nd Air Base and is home to the 689th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.
These units operate Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole fighter jets, Sukhoi Su-24M frontline bombers, and other aircraft types.
Most likely, the construction of the protective hangars reflects an effort by the Russian command to shield its aircraft from potential strikes, particularly drone attacks.
The use of hangars will also prevent satellites and other optical reconnaissance systems from determining whether the hangars are empty or occupied, or how many aircraft are stationed at the air base.
However, the use of corrugated metal sheets in these structures does not provide sufficient protection against shrapnel, as the material is relatively thin.
Kaliningrad
Today, the Kaliningrad region is a semi-exclave of Russia, as it has no land border with the country’s mainland and is connected to it only by sea. Its area is approximately 15,000 square kilometers.
Russia has turned Kaliningrad into a heavily fortified military outpost, from which it seeks to project pressure and threats toward countries in the Baltic region.
