34th Mixed Aviation Division
Division Overview
The 34th Mixed Aviation Division is a formation of Russian Naval Aviation assigned to the Baltic Fleet and based in Kaliningrad Oblast. Re-established during the mid‑2010s reversal of the earlier air-base system, it commands fixed-wing assault and fighter regiments at Chkalovsk Air Base, with rotary-wing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and air transport elements operating in Kaliningrad Oblast. Core missions are maritime strike and interdiction, regional air defense over the Kaliningrad exclave and the Baltic Sea approaches, tactical reconnaissance, ASW and search-and-rescue (SAR), and intra-theater airlift in support of Baltic Fleet operations.
Location Analysis
Chkalovsk Air Base, located just north of Kaliningrad city, is the division’s principal fixed-wing operating location, positioned for rapid access to Baltic Sea airspace and to corridors bordering Poland and Lithuania. Donskoye Air Base, near the coast northwest of Kaliningrad, supports naval helicopter operations for ASW, SAR, and shipboard detachments. Both sites underwent infrastructure improvements in the mid‑2010s that enhanced runway surfaces, aprons, and support facilities, consolidating the Baltic Fleet’s naval aviation posture within the Kaliningrad enclave.
Unit Composition (Reported)
Subordinate units reported under the division include: the 4th Guards Naval Assault Aviation Regiment with 16 Su‑24M/MR, 8 Su‑30M2, and 5 Su‑30SM; the 689th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment with 13 Su‑27SM3, 3 Su‑27UP, 2 Su‑27UB, 6 Su‑27P, and 3 Su‑27; a separate ASW helicopter squadron operating Ka‑27PL/PS, Ka‑29, and Ka‑27M; and a separate air transport squadron operating Mi‑8 series helicopters, An‑140‑100, and An‑26. Exact aircraft counts in Russian units are seldom published officially and can vary due to maintenance, rotation, and modernization.
Aircraft and Helicopter Capabilities
The Su‑24M is an all-weather strike aircraft optimized for low-level penetration and maritime strike; the Su‑24MR is a tactical reconnaissance variant equipped with dedicated sensors. The Su‑30SM/SM2 is a multirole fighter capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and maritime missions; Russian Ministry of Defense releases from 2016 onward document Su‑30SM deliveries to the Baltic Fleet, and early 2023 announcements reported initial Su‑30SM2 deliveries to Naval Aviation. The Su‑27P/UB and upgraded Su‑27SM/SM3 provide regional air defense and interception. The Ka‑27PL conducts ASW with dipping sonar and sonobuoy systems; the Ka‑27PS performs SAR and utility tasks; the Ka‑27M incorporates a modernized avionics suite and multifunction radar for improved maritime target detection; the Ka‑29 supports naval assault and transport. The Mi‑8 series provides utility lift and liaison; An‑26 and An‑140‑100 furnish light/medium transport for personnel and cargo.
Infrastructure Capabilities
Chkalovsk Air Base features a concrete runway suitable for sustained operations by heavy fighter/strike aircraft, extensive parking aprons, maintenance hangars, storage for aviation fuel and munitions, and standard military airfield navigation and ATC aids. Donskoye Air Base provides rotary-wing pads, sheltered parking, maintenance facilities for naval helicopters, and proximity to Baltic Fleet coastal infrastructure, facilitating embarkation of helicopter detachments aboard surface combatants and support ships. These installations collectively enable fixed-wing maritime strike and air defense operations, ASW patrols, SAR coverage, and logistical support across the Baltic Fleet’s operating areas.
Operations and Mission Sets
The division supports maritime interdiction and anti-ship strike, regional airspace control and interception, tactical reconnaissance over sea and littoral areas, ASW patrols and barrier coverage, SAR, and routine transport tasks. Fighter elements conduct alert duty and intercept missions in the Baltic region; strike and multirole aircraft perform maritime strike training and joint exercises with Baltic Fleet surface forces; ASW helicopters provide submarine search, localization, and tracking in support of fleet task groups and coastal defense; transport assets sustain movement of personnel and materiel within Kaliningrad Oblast and to other Russian airfields as tasked.
Modernization and Procurement Timeline (2016–2024)
Public reporting indicates the Baltic Fleet’s Naval Aviation began receiving Su‑30SM multirole fighters from 2016, enhancing maritime strike and air defense capacity at Chkalovsk. In early 2023, the Ministry of Defense announced initial deliveries of the upgraded Su‑30SM2 to Naval Aviation. Upgrades of legacy fighters included Su‑27SM3 aircraft fielded to the Baltic Fleet in the mid‑2010s. Ka‑27M modernization—featuring new radar, mission systems, and communications—has been delivered in batches to Naval Aviation since 2016, with the Baltic Fleet among the recipients noted in official releases. Airfield infrastructure at Chkalovsk underwent significant refurbishment in the mid‑2010s to support the reconstituted regimental structure and newer aircraft.
Command Relationships and Integration
The division is part of Russian Naval Aviation under the Baltic Fleet, integrating with fleet surface and coastal forces for maritime operations. Fighter and air defense tasks are coordinated with Aerospace Forces (VKS) air-defense assets stationed in Kaliningrad Oblast, which include long-range surface-to-air missile regiments and radar sites. Maritime strike, ASW, and reconnaissance missions are synchronized with Baltic Fleet task groups, coastal surveillance sensors, and fleet headquarters to support situational awareness and deterrence in the Baltic maritime domain.
Logistics and Sustainment Considerations
Sustainment is centered on Chkalovsk and Donskoye, where maintenance echelons, fuel and ordnance storage, and technical support units are collocated with flight operations. Fixed-wing and rotary assets can stage to other military airfields in western Russia as directed. Transport aircraft (An‑26, An‑140‑100) and Mi‑8 helicopters provide intra-theater lift and liaison support, including movement of personnel, spares, and small cargo to fleet facilities in Kaliningrad Oblast. Helicopter units maintain procedures and equipment for shipboard deployment and maintenance while embarked.
Data Reliability and Variant Notes
Official Russian sources rarely publish comprehensive, current aircraft counts by regiment, and inventories are dynamic due to rotations, overhauls, and deliveries. Open-source imagery and Ministry of Defense statements from 2016–2024 confirm Su‑30SM in Baltic Fleet service and report Su‑30SM2 deliveries to Naval Aviation in 2023; the Su‑30M2 variant is primarily documented with Aerospace Forces units, and its presence in Naval Aviation is not widely corroborated. The Su‑27UP designation is not standard in open literature; Su‑27UB (two-seat trainer/combat) and Su‑27PU (an earlier interceptor conversion later associated with Su‑30) are documented variants. If precise, current tail numbers, shelter occupancy, or classified basing details are required, they are not publicly available, and such information cannot be provided.