Iranian Air Force Commander: Oghab-44 Airbase was built to protect strategic aircraft

The underground Oghab-44 airbase was designed and built to protect the Iranian army's strategic aircraft, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, commander of the Iranian Air Force, said.

"Based on the principles of passive defense, we decided to protect our fighters from possible attacks and designed and built such bases to protect strategic aircraft," Vahedi said, according to IRNA.

The Air Force commander noted that the Ogab-44 has all the capabilities of an airbase deep underground.

"Of course, this is one of our dozens of underground bases and we will introduce other bases in the future," he added.

The Air Force unveiled its first underground military base on February 7, Tasnim reported.

The tactical subterranean airbase named Oghab-44 (Eagle-44) can accommodate and prepare various aircraft – including fighter jets, bombers, and unmanned aerial vehicles – for missions. 

This large underground base consists of various sections, such as an alert area, command post, warplane hangars, repair and maintenance center, navigation and airport equipment, and fuel tanks.