The Ramenskoye Airfield, near Moscow, has been the heart of Soviet and Russian aviation for 60 years. Until recently, it was also highly secretive. The facility is capable of testing every type of aircraft Russia has. It has three runways; one stretches for 3.3 miles, making it the longest in Europe. The Gromov Flight Research Institute (the Russian acronym is LII) was founded there in 1941 and is viewed as the Edwards Air Force Base of Russia—the nation's premier aviation test and engineering site. Virtually all major design bureaus are present. Since 1993, Russia has held a biennial air show there, lifting the curtain somewhat. Still, Ramenskoye remains the tightly secured center of development of Russia's new and highly advanced aircraft.
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