Climate change in the Arctic is impacting Russia's Arctic plans. As temperatures rise, thawing permafrost has increased the cost of repairs to existing facilities and infrastructure, especially runways. The rate of construction of new facilities more suited to the changing climate situation has also increased Russia's expenditures, which impacts the execution of their strategy.
According to GEOINT analysis of 34 Russian airfields in the Arctic, 41% of sites in this study were observed to be under some type of repair, 79% currently present indicators of damage to airfield surfaces, and 29% have been either abandoned or repurposed as something other than a usable airfield.
Read more of this report at Tearline.mil.
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