Ukraine Strikes Russian Aircraft Repair Facility Overnight

Key Points:

• Ukraine’s Defense Forces targeted the 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant (123 ARZ) in Russia’s Novgorod region overnight on November 10, a key facility servicing Russian military transport and A-50 AEW&C aircraft.
• The plant, Russia’s primary repair center for Il-76, Il-78, and L-410 transport planes, had previously been hit by drones in March, causing significant damage including to a $330 million A-50 aircraft.
• Following the recent strike, fires were reported at the facility, with emergency services responding, though the full extent of damage remains under assessment by Ukrainian authorities.
• Ukraine’s General Staff emphasized that the attack will prolong the grounding of Russian transport and special-mission aircraft by complicating repair efforts, thereby impacting Russia’s military aviation capabilities.
• The 123 ARZ, part of Rostec’s United Aircraft Corporation, is the only Russian plant capable of comprehensive repairs for transport aircraft and operates its own airfield for aircraft testing and maintenance operations.