Russian airbase activity – Update, Dec 2024
The images show strong radar backscatter throughout October highlighted in blue, and throughout November in a semitransparent blue. These highlights typically indicate the presence of any equipment – from the material box up to the fighter aircraft. The strong backscatter occurs from the geometry of these objects, whereas no signal is present at the flat empty tarmacs.
The small airport in Armavir seems to be used a little bit more again after a low in mid-2024. We can definitely identify a use of the helipads, as well of the main tarmacs.
Gvardeyskoye shows a significant increase in its activity index in November. Especially the south-western part seems to be used much more and we can identify which of the boxes store something.
The most significant increase in activity is at the Khalino airbase in Kursk. The airport is probably used much more for the Russian counter-offensive in Kursk now. However, there is another very plausible theory for the increase. There was a Ukrainian strike with 6 ATACMS on the 25th of November. The increase might show the aftermath of this attack, where the debris and cleanup work also show an increased radar signal.
The last airport showing a significant increase in activity is the Saky airbase on the occupied Crimean Peninsula. Especially the boxes in the south-west seem to store much more material than before. Maybe a drone visit would be favorable right now.