Orion Base

Orion Base
Gridreference	Di08
Mapcoordinates	4867.679199, 11720.029297

Orion Base is a military airbase located on the island of Everon.

Overview

Established at Everon's only airport, Orion Base supported military operations by U.S.-led NATO forces throughout the Malden Islands Crisis. It is located only a short distance away from the village of Saint Phillipe to its south.

After the end of the Cold War, Orion Base would be repurposed to serve as a transit hub for cargo aircraft flying between Malden and NATO bases in Western Europe. Private air travel agencies would also be permitted to operate from the airbase, ferrying tourists and domestic travellers in-and-out of the country.

Runway

W	Length	Width	E
18 →	1,150 m	36 m	← 36

History

Orion Base was established after U.S.-led NATO troops liberated the main airport on June 20th, 1985.

Disembarking from their troop carriers and boats onto the north-eastern and north-western beaches, ground forces were able to eliminate the Soviet defenders and destroyed the anti-aircraft batteries protecting the runway. Gunships subsequently flew in to mop up the remaining Soviets and helped drive off an attempted counterattack.

Aircrews rush to ferry troops to the front line (1985)

In the span of less than twenty four hours, Orion Base would become fully operational. Heavy armour units were also shipped in to spearhead the offensive south towards Montignac. Their tanks would be fundamental in helping to break Soviet defences in the central and southern regions of the island several days later.

As reinforcements from Malden gradually arrived, Orion Base would serve as a pickup/drop-off point for ground troops being airlifted to the rapidly changing front line.

Trivia

• It is unclear if Orion Base continues to remain operational by 2006-2007 given the supposedly deteriorating security status on Everon; a situation hinted at by a U.S. officer in the intro for the second mission of Armed Assault's Rahmadi Conflict campaign.
  • Given the shifting priorities of the NATO alliance by the events of ArmA 3's campaigns, along with the sustained drawdown of overseas U.S. military bases by the early-mid 2020s (caused by the ongoing economic depression throughout NATO countries), it is unlikely that Orion Base would still be standing by the 2030s.

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