Klokovo Airfield (TYA)

Klokovo Airfield (TYA/UUWV) serves as a military air base on the northern fringe of Tula at 499 feet elevation, housing the 490th Separate Tulsky Helicopter Regiment operating Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-6, and Mi-26 helicopters for Russian military transport operations. Originally hosting the 374th Independent Military Transport Aviation Regiment with Il-76 and An-22 heavy cargo aircraft, this combined military-civil facility ceased commercial passenger operations in 1992, with the former terminal now repurposed as retail space.

The single runway 08/26 accommodates military helicopter operations and occasional general aviation activities, though no scheduled civilian services operate from this field located just 180 kilometers south of Moscow. The western portion houses active military installations while the eastern areas retain infrastructure from the Soviet-era civil aviation operations, creating a unique dual-heritage facility that once connected Tula to the broader Soviet transportation network before economics favored Moscow's airports.

Operational characteristics center exclusively on military aviation requirements, with the helicopter regiment conducting transport missions, training exercises, and emergency response operations throughout central Russia. The proximity to Moscow's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports—reachable in 2-3 hours by ground transport—eliminated commercial viability for civilian operations, leaving Klokovo to serve strategic military purposes while Tula residents utilize Moscow's extensive aviation infrastructure.

Strategic importance lies in maintaining rotary-wing aviation capabilities for Russia's Central Military District, supporting rapid deployment of forces, disaster response, and maintaining readiness near the capital. The facility exemplifies post-Soviet aviation transition where regional airports lost civilian relevance to major hubs while retaining military significance, preserving infrastructure that could theoretically resume civilian operations during national emergencies while primarily serving defense requirements in Russia's densely populated European core.