Building a Runway in a hurry (need some advise) ?

Question

I am working on a book that deals with a civil war in Russia. Yes im sure they have tons of runways throughout siberia and russia but thats not my problem.

In the story the US gets involved and needs to get supplies, fighters, and troops into certain areas in a hurry. A lot of easy to reach runways are out of commission or occupied by the enemy.

So lets say the US needs to build one out in frozen tundra (I havent decided what season it will be set in)

Ive seen pictures of fighters landing on ice and snow.

But im sure thats not the best answer to the problem. I need something that will handle any kind of air craft.

Here's my question

Years ago I heard of something that might be the answer.

It involves something that resembles Snow Chains.

Word is they would be laid out and could handle fighters and cargo planes.

Can anyone tell me if this is real?

what is it called?

would that be the best answer?

Answer 1

call your buddy at mossad, I am sure they have a lot of information includes few imagine scenario of israel attacking russia.  

Answer 2

They have various pre-fab metal grids that can be laid down on a roughly prepared surface (gravel and substrate to provide level surface, drainage and appropriate support).

some old pictures below, but I think they have much impoved versions as well as really quick-dry cements and other surfaces.

Answer 3

As long as the runway is long enough to accomidate the plane (Because of weight and speed and the distances in order to land and safely stop) Cargo Planes such as a C-130 can land on packed snow...They will attach a sky to the front to make this easier...Look at planes landing at the South pole...(check this site: http://www.polar.ch2m.com/singlehtmltext... C-130 can also land on hard dirt packed run ways...The new C-17 was disigned for short take off on these types of run ways...Check out "Pathfinders" in the Army ...Their job is to establish run ways, drop zones (for airborne paratroopers), and Helicopter landing zones...Look for Pathfinder FM (Field manual)...Now Jet fighter are a different story...Because of the speeds involved they need improved runways and juck on the runway can cause failure of the engine...The answer to this is not snow chains...but pre-fabricated runways...they are metal sheets...which are preferated with holes...and have hooks and clamps along the side, front and back...the ground is leveled flat...and these sheets are layed down as a temp. runway...They were called "Marston Mats" look this up and you will see many examples of it..The seabees were famose for this during WWII...The cool thing with these Marston Mats is that you could weld them together to make sheds or supply bins.

Answer 4

SNBR is totally correct this is more info when i was in borneo lots of Shacks were built with this prefabricated emergency runway and here in Australia some there some still being used on remote farms  know by the town where it was designed and developed as Marston mat and the British called it PSP all the same stuff

Perforated steel plank the link gives some good images