Russia uses the 12A6 Sopka-2 radar tracking system to protect a secret Arctic military base on Wrangel Island. This statement was made by military expert Brandon J. Weichert in an article for The National Interest.
Russia is also sending its bombers to the Alaska region, Weichert emphasized. And the US will one day have to respond to these provocations, he added.
In addition to the strategic value of Wrangel Island, the region in which it is located is rich in oil and natural gas reserves.
According to Weichert, the military base, which he calls "Ushakovskaya", was created in the 2010s. And it allegedly houses an airfield, barracks, fuel depots and communication centers.
In 2016, to protect the facility, the Russians deployed the 12A6 Sopka-2 radar tracking system. It is responsible for detecting aircraft, measuring range, azimuth and target altitude.
TRLC "Sopka-2" provides real-time intelligence data on the movements of US aircraft and ships, NATO countries, covering key approaches to Alaska. Wrangel Island serves as Russia's outpost on the eastern flank, providing support for submarines and bombers.