New drone squadron protects Russian interests in the Arctic

Orlan-10 and Forpost (Outpost) unmanned aerial vehicles are already deployed close to the regional capital of Chukotka, said chief spokesman of the Eastern Military District Alexander Gordeyev.

'The unit will be soon replenished with new airborne devices capable of performing tasks at a distance of more than 1,500 kilometres,' he told TASS.

The aim of the deployment is 'visual monitoring of the combat readiness of units deployed to the Arctic zone, the condition of the military infrastructure facilities, the surveying of terrain, and air patrol'.

The new drone squadron is the latest in moves that are restoring Russia's military readiness in the vast Arctic region. As TASS explained: 'Until the 1990s, Russia had a ramified airfield infrastructure in the Arctic region. 

'Now the Russian Defence Ministry is restoring these Soviet-era airbases - the Temp [Speed] strategic airfield on Kotelny Island, air strips in Tiksi, Naryan-Mar, Alykel, Anadyr, Rogachev [Novaya Zemlya archipelago], (and) Nagursky settlement [Franz Josef Land] on the Kola Peninsula. 

'The groupings of the Air Force and the Aerospace Forces in the Arctic region are being expanded and six big military towns are being built. The military's actions in the Arctic region are coordinated by Russia's new Sever (North) Unified Strategic Command.'