Owais Crawford
Underground airports and hangars are typically used for military purposes, with many countries building underground hangar complexes to protect their aircraft. One notable example is Željava Air Base, formerly the largest underground airport and military base in Yugoslavia, situated on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today, it lies in ruins, but during its operation, it served as a strategic command center for defense and could withstand a direct hit from a 20-kiloton nuclear bomb. In addition to Željava Air Base, several other countries, including North Korea, Sweden, and China, have constructed underground hangars and airports to protect their military aircraft.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Countries with underground airports | Albania, China, Italy, North Korea, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Yugoslavia, Iran, Vietnam, South Africa, Pakistan, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican |
| Largest underground airport in the Balkans | Željava Air Base, Communist Yugoslavia |
| Location of Željava Air Base | Border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the city of Bihać |
| Construction cost of Željava Air Base | $6 billion |
| Year of construction of Željava Air Base | 1957-1965 |
| Destruction of Željava Air Base | 1991 |
| Reason for destruction of Željava Air Base | To avoid its use by any of the factions in the conflict |
| Conspiracy theories about underground airports | Denver International Airport is the headquarters for an underground government |
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What You'll Learn
- Željava Air Base, Yugoslavia's biggest underground airport, is now in ruins
- North Korea has at least 20 airfields with underground hangars
- Denver International Airport has mysterious tunnels and is rumoured to be the headquarters for an underground government
- Countries without space for airports include Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican
- Underground hangars are bigger and more protected than a hardened aircraft shelter
Željava Air Base, Yugoslavia's biggest underground airport, is now in ruins
Yugoslavia's biggest underground airport, the Željava Air Base, is now in ruins. The base was built between 1957 and 1965 at a cost of six billion dollars. It was a military marvel, with four exits capable of launching jets and was designed to withstand a direct hit by a 20-kiloton nuclear warhead. The base could house up to 1,000 people and had enough provisions to last 30 days. It was also equipped with an underground water supply and a power generator, with fuel supplied by deep pipes from an underground storage facility near the town of Bihać.
The Željava Air Base was situated on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the Gola Plješevica mountain. It was the largest underground hangar and military air base in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and one of the largest in Europe. The base was part of a dense network of military installations, with five auxiliary airfields and numerous radar and air defence outposts nearby.
During the Yugoslav Wars, the base was used by the Serbs in various operations. However, as the war progressed, the Croatian forces imposed circumstances that rendered the base useless for military use. On the eve of the war, Rudolf Perešin, an ethnic Croat fighter pilot stationed at the base, defected and escaped. Soon after, another pilot, Daniel Borović, also defected with his jet. As the Yugoslav National Army retreated from the region, they decided to destroy the functionality of the airbase to prevent its use by any of the factions in the conflict. They set off built-in explosive charges, and the demolition was later completed by the military of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, with an additional 56 tons of explosives detonated.
Today, the Željava Air Base lies in ruins, a costly and indestructible reminder of a bygone era. The site is popular for urban exploration, but it is risky due to the possibility of anti-personnel landmines in unexplored areas. The tunnels are polluted with PCB, and there may be smoke detectors inside that contain Americium-241, making a visit to the site a potential health hazard. Despite proposals to turn the airbase into a military training ground or restore some of its runways, the high cost of restoration and peace agreements banning the creation of military facilities within 15 kilometres of the borders have prevented any progress.
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North Korea has at least 20 airfields with underground hangars
North Korea is not the only country with underground hangars. Several other countries have used them, including Albania, China, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Yugoslavia, Iran, Vietnam, South Africa, and Pakistan. Underground hangars are typically built into the side of a mountain to protect military aircraft. They are larger and offer more protection than a hardened aircraft shelter (HAS).
An underground hangar complex may include tunnels with various elements of a military air base, such as fuel and weapon storage, rooms for maintaining aircraft systems, a communications centre, briefing rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, sleeping areas, and generators for electrical power.
One notable example of an underground airport is the Željava Air Base in Communist Yugoslavia. It was the largest underground airport in the Balkans and was designed to withstand a direct hit by a 20-kiloton nuclear warhead. The base could house up to 1,000 people and had provisions for 30 days. However, it was ultimately destroyed during the civil war in the region.
In addition to actual underground airports, there are also conspiracy theories about certain airports, such as Denver International Airport, which suggest the presence of underground bunkers or secret headquarters.
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Denver International Airport has mysterious tunnels and is rumoured to be the headquarters for an underground government
There are several underground airports and hangar complexes around the world. For example, the Željava Air Base in Yugoslavia was the largest underground airport in the Balkans. It was designed to sustain a direct hit by a 20-kiloton nuclear warhead and could house up to 1,000 people and provisions for 30 days. However, it was ultimately destroyed during the Yugoslav Wars.
In Sweden, the Swedish Air Force began constructing an underground hangar at Göta Wing in 1941, which was completed in 1944. After World War II, there were plans to build underground hangars at every suitable air force base, but these proved too expensive. Instead, only select air bases were equipped with underground hangars, including one at Södertörn Wing in 1947.
North Korea has at least 20 airfields with underground hangars, including Onchon Air Base, Kang Da Ri Airport, and Sunchon Airport.
Now, coming to the Denver International Airport, it has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories since its construction, including rumours of mysterious tunnels and underground bunkers. Some people believe that the airport is the headquarters for a secret society or an underground government. There are rumours of a tunnel connecting the airport to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) located 100 miles away. The airport acknowledges the existence of several subterranean levels, including trains carrying passengers between concourses and a defunct automated baggage system.
Adding to the intrigue are rumours of buried buildings, a time capsule with symbols linked to the Freemasons, and a horse statue nicknamed "Blucifer" that has been involved in accidents. The airport's layout, with runways resembling a swastika when viewed from above, has also sparked speculation about ties to Nazism. The airport has embraced these conspiracy theories in its marketing campaigns, with signs and advertisements alluding to the mysteries.
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Countries without space for airports include Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican
While many countries have underground hangars, there is only one underground airport that has been identified – the now-defunct Željava Air Base in Yugoslavia. This airport was the largest underground airport in the Balkans and was in operation between 1965 and 1991.
Some countries, however, do not have the space to build airports. For instance, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican are all small, landlocked countries with limited space. These countries have to rely on their neighbouring countries for air travel.
Monaco, for example, is a tiny city-state surrounded by France on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. With limited land availability, the country does not have an airport of its own. Similarly, San Marino is a small country located within Italy, with no space for an airport. Andorra is nestled in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, and its rugged terrain makes it challenging to build a large infrastructure project like an airport. Liechtenstein is another small, landlocked country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria, with limited space for large-scale projects. Lastly, the Vatican, the world's smallest country, is surrounded by Rome, Italy, and does not have the territory to accommodate an airport.
These countries, despite their lack of space for airports, have found alternative solutions for air travel, often relying on nearby international airports in neighbouring countries.
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Underground hangars are bigger and more protected than a hardened aircraft shelter
An underground hangar is a type of hangar for military aircraft, usually dug into the side of a mountain for protection. It is bigger and more protected than a hardened aircraft shelter (HAS). A HAS is a reinforced hangar designed to house and protect military aircraft from enemy attacks, including conventional, nuclear, chemical, and biological strikes. However, they have limitations, such as size constraints and vulnerability to precision-guided munitions.
Underground hangars offer several advantages over hardened aircraft shelters. Firstly, they provide increased space and can accommodate larger aircraft. For example, the Chiashan Air Force Base in Hualien boasts an extensive underground hangar system capable of housing two hundred aircraft. In contrast, HASs are typically too small for large aircraft like strategic transport and surveillance planes.
Secondly, underground hangars offer enhanced protection compared to HASs. Their mountain-side locations and extensive tunnel systems provide a natural layer of defence. In addition to aircraft storage, underground hangar complexes may include tunnels containing fuel and weapon storage, maintenance rooms, communications centres, briefing rooms, and even living quarters for personnel. This comprehensive infrastructure further contributes to the security and functionality of the underground hangar.
The construction of underground hangars also takes into account the potential impact of nuclear weapons. For instance, underground hangars in Switzerland were designed to withstand close hits by tactical nuclear weapons, with heavy-duty blast doors and 25 to 30 meters of rock cover. This level of protection surpasses that offered by hardened aircraft shelters, making underground hangars a more formidable defence against nuclear threats.
Several countries have recognised the benefits of underground hangars, including Albania, China, Italy, North Korea, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Yugoslavia, Iran, Vietnam, South Africa, and Pakistan. These countries have invested in underground hangar complexes to enhance the security and capabilities of their military air forces.
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Frequently asked questions
The world's biggest underground airport was Željava Air Base in Yugoslavia. It was built between 1957 and 1965 and was the largest underground airport and military base in Yugoslavia and one of the largest in Europe.
The underground airport was designed to protect the country from foreign aggression and could survive a direct hit from a 20-kiloton nuclear bomb. It also served as a strategic command centre for defence and housed a long-range radar early warning system.
There are several other countries that have used underground hangars, including Albania, China, Italy, North Korea, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Iran, Vietnam, South Africa and Pakistan.
Yes, there are several conspiracy theories surrounding the Denver International Airport in the United States. Some people believe that the airport is the headquarters for a secret underground government or a military base, and that there are mysterious tunnels underneath it.
