On August 12, the Russian Air Force celebrated its centenary. Its Commander-in-Chief, Honored Military Pilot, Hero of Russia, spoke about the present day and prospects of one of the branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev.
– Viktor Nikolaevich, the Air Force has gone through different stages of development over its century-long history. What is characteristic of the current period, does it allow you to look into the future with optimism?
There is optimism. Currently, the Air Force has no problems in conducting combat training. We have practically everything that is necessary for intensive combat training, from aviation kerosene to funds for the repair and maintenance of aircraft. New aircraft are arriving. This hasn't happened for a very long time.
Over the course of three to four years, the average flight time of pilots, especially young ones, has been constantly increasing. We believe that the most important thing is the training of young people, and therefore we spare no effort and money on it. The fact is that a military pilot who has served, based on accumulated experience, can carry out combat training missions with less flight time, but a young lieutenant needs to fly and train more.
It is known: in order for a person to feel like a pilot, his minimum, as they say, biological norm for flying time per year must be at least 60 hours. Our lieutenant this year, I think, will have an average flight time of 85 hours. It's not bad. Especially if we remember that ten years ago the annual average flight time in our Air Force could hardly be maintained at 10–12 hours. I don’t even want to remember those times. But there was a shortage of aviation fuel, a lack of funds for routine repairs of aircraft.
Starting in 2009, we began to receive new aircraft. This year we plan to accept about 175–180 new aircraft and helicopters. They are supplied to air units and equipment maintenance equipment. Next year we will receive more than 200 new aircraft.
In total, under the State Armament Program by 2020, the Air Force will receive more than 1,000 new helicopters and approximately the same number of new aircraft. Thus, by 2020 our aircraft fleet will be renewed by almost 75%, and maybe even more.
– The press periodically raises the question of the future of the Air Force High Command. Some say that it may soon be transformed into a department of the General Staff. This is true?
I want to say with full responsibility: there is no talk of reorganizing the High Command into a department or some other structure. No one has ever given me such a task and I don’t think anyone will. Because this type of armed forces, like the Air Force, exists in almost any country - let it be, say, the USA or Honduras. And since there is an Air Force, there must be a corresponding governing body. So let military aviation veterans and those who serve in the Air Force not worry: the Commander-in-Chief was, is and will be.
In general, the updated structure of the Air Force has been formed. The reform of the Russian army is completed. Now we are only working on the interaction between the branches and branches of the Armed Forces and improving the quality of combat training.
– How do you assess the process of creating a promising aviation complex for front-line aviation? Are the troops waiting for this plane?
We carefully monitor how it is brought to mass production. It is already clear that this is truly a fifth-generation aircraft, an aircraft of the future. It has very great operational capabilities, both against air and ground targets. The Air Force, of course, really needs the PAK FA.
Sometimes you read in the press that we are behind the Americans in the development of a fifth-generation fighter. They say they have been flying such machines for a long time. I can say that we have not fallen behind. We are creating a world-class aircraft that, in a number of indicators, significantly exceeds the capabilities of its overseas counterparts.
– Is there any concern that the developers of the radar with an active phased array antenna or the engine engineers with the creation of a power plant for the PAK FA will not be on time?
There are no special concerns. I saw objective control data when working with the new radar, I know what engines are on the PAK FA and how they work. Yes, new design solutions are being developed, and the operation of various aircraft systems is being adjusted. But I have no fears that this aircraft will not go into production on time due to problems with the engine or the AFAR station.
Everything is in the process of testing, which is precisely what is needed in order to bring everything to its logical conclusion. I think that starting next year we will be able, together with the Sukhoi company, to begin joint military testing of a new aircraft. Including its weapons systems.
– With front-line aviation, there is clarity in this sense. What about long-range aviation? Will it receive a new generation strategic bomber?
Yes, there will be such cars. The appearance of a promising long-range aviation complex has already been formed -. Those strategic bombers that are now in service with our Air Force, I mean the Tu-95MS and the Tu-95MS, are excellent aircraft. They make it possible to solve the problems facing long-range aviation.
Tu-95 has been in operation for more than 40 years. The Americans, for example, have an equally old B-52. But the machine copes with the tasks assigned to it, and the US Air Force is not giving up on this bomber. Just like us from .
But be that as it may, the service life of any aircraft is limited. It ends someday anyway - in 10–20 or 50 years. Based on this, we are obliged, ready and doing everything to ensure that a new long-range aviation aircraft appears. And he will appear.
Of course, it is easier to upgrade a car than to create and build a new one. However, we must do this in order to keep up with the times and not fall behind others.
– What if, as they say, we look beyond the horizon? Are your experts thinking about what sixth-generation combat aircraft will be like?
Trends in the development of means of armed warfare, including combat aviation, give reason to believe that the next generation of military aircraft will become largely unmanned. This applies to fighters, front-line bombers, and strategic vehicles.
The fact is that the development of technology and information technology is proceeding at such a pace that a person - a pilot, an operator - even today sometimes has to act at the limit of his physical and psychological capabilities. What will happen tomorrow, at the next stage of scientific and technological progress? A person simply does not have time; he will not be able to realize all the capabilities of the new aircraft of the next generation. It already involuntarily transfers some of its functions to the machine - be it “artificial intelligence” or an on-board supercomputer.
Therefore, both here and abroad, work on unmanned aerial vehicles, including strategic drones, is in full swing. They are not particularly advertised. But we know that such projects are being developed and certain results have already been obtained. Every now and then, chronicles of military operations in one region or another of the world report targeted strikes by unmanned aircraft. Many UAVs are involved in operations carried out by the Americans and their allies in the Near and Middle East. Suffice it to recall how recently one of the US long-range drones turned out to be a trophy of Iranian air defense.
– Russia recently resumed flights of strategic bombers on air patrols over the neutral waters of the World Ocean. Will the number of these flights decrease?
In no case. On the contrary, we are increasing this area of combat training and the number of sorties. We carry out flights to air patrol zones over the Barents and Black Seas and in the Far East much more often. We are preparing flight personnel and practicing certain maneuvers aimed at increasing the country’s defense capability.
“Several years ago, our bombers made an impressive flight to Venezuela with several mid-air refuelings. Are similar events still planned?
Certainly. We are working on these issues - the implementation of flights to various regions of the world. It is impossible to do without them for one simple reason, because it is necessary to train the flight personnel - the crews of both strategic bombers and Il-78 tanker aircraft.
It is necessary to know our capabilities: what we are capable of, where our bottlenecks and weaknesses are, and where, on the contrary, our strategic aviation is strong. Any long-distance flight is not a walk. Each flight provides so much information that is sometimes impossible to obtain in any other way.
– What are the prospects for re-equipping military transport aviation?
The BTA fleet, especially light transport aircraft, is outdated. The An-24 has already completed its service. The An-26s remain for now. But they, poor things, work so much that any other machines, quite likely, would not be able to withstand it. These planes need replacement. There is also a medium military transport An-12. He worked very, very hard.
The situation is similar with the fleet of heavy IL-76 transport aircraft. They perform all the tasks assigned to them with dignity. But this aircraft was built at a time when they did not particularly look at efficiency characteristics.
What will replace the BTA veterans? These are light turboprop transport aircraft An-140. The Air Force has already purchased two such vehicles and will continue to purchase them. Planned purchases of An-148 and . As for the An-70, it is now entering factory testing; I think it will successfully pass all the upcoming “exams” and go into production.
Naturally, there are big plans for updating the IL-76 fleet. We have excellent PS-90 engines, which are twice as economical as those currently powering these aircraft.
The pride and beauty of the An-124 military transport aircraft is also planned to be modernized and produced in a new look. It will be purchased additionally and will be included in the BTA line.
– Units of the Russian Air Force are also deployed abroad, in particular in the Kyrgyz Kant. What are the prospects for this airbase?
No questions arise regarding Kant. The Kyrgyz side is interested in the Russian airbase continuing to function. Especially considering the US plans to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014. Under these conditions, its importance in the system of ensuring regional security will only increase. In any case, no one even thinks about removing the basis from Kant. There is a base and there will be a base.
– How is the armament of anti-aircraft missile forces progressing with S-400 systems?
This year we have already received two regimental sets. There will be more arrivals. The system is great. Before equipping the next regiment, the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern took the air defense system to the training ground. We delivered there the personnel of the unit that received the equipment. We conducted training, real-time adjustments with the creation of a specific target environment, and checked the readiness of people for combat duty. The regiment successfully completed all tasks and now takes its place in the overall air defense system in the Far East.
– Has work on the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system begun?
Below is a list of the Commanders-in-Chief of the USSR and Russian Air Forces in the post-war period. List of chiefs of the air fleet of the Red Army of the USSR from 1918 to 1946. To complete the picture, you can find out where it all began: lists and during the Civil War. To complete the picture, I also recommend material about.
Air Chief Marshal
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (04/1946 - 07/1949 and 01/1957 - 03/1969).
Soviet military leader, air chief marshal (1959), Hero of the Soviet Union (08/19/1944).
In military service since 1919. Graduated from infantry command courses (1920), the Higher Tactical Rifle School of the Red Army Command Staff (Vystrel courses, 1923), the Red Army Air Force Academy named after. prof. N.E. Zhukovsky (1932), Kachin Military Pilot School (extern, 1935).
Participant of the Civil War in Russia: Red Army soldier, commander of a marching company of a reserve regiment. After the war, he commanded a training company of the 12th Red Banner Infantry Course of the Volga Military District (1923-1928), a rifle battalion (1928-1930). Since 1930, as part of the Air Force of the Red Army: head of the operational department of the headquarters of the aviation brigade (from 06.1932), assistant head of the tactical department of the Research Institute of the Red Army Air Force (from 06.1933), squadron commander of the highest flight tactical courses of the Red Army (from 02.1934) , assistant chief for flight training (since 1938), chief of the higher aviation advanced training courses for flight personnel of the Red Army (since 05.1941).
During the Great Patriotic War: commander of the Air Force of the Southern Front (09-1941-05.1942), 4th Air Army (05-09.1942; 05.1943-1945), Air Force of the Transcaucasian Front (09.1942-04.1943). He was distinguished by his deep knowledge in the field of operational art, constant search for new things, and a creative approach to solving assigned problems. This allowed him to skillfully organize the interaction of air force formations with ground forces and provide effective assistance to combined arms and tank armies.
In the post-war period: Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (1946-1949), at the same time Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR. He made a great contribution to the re-equipment of military aviation with jet aircraft. Since 1950, he again commanded the air army, and from September 1951 he headed the air defense forces of the border line created within the Air Force. After the merger of these troops with the air defense forces in June 1953, the commander of the country's air defense forces was transferred to the post of commander of the Baku air defense region in May 1954. Since April 1956, Konstantin Andreevich Vershinin has been Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force; in January 1957, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR.
Since March 1969, in the group of inspectors general of the USSR Ministry of Defense.
Awards: 6 Orders of Lenin, Gold Star medal; Order of the October Revolution, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, 3 Orders of Suvorov 1st class, Order of Suvorov 2nd class, Order of the Patriotic War 1st class; USSR medals; foreign orders and medals.
Air Chief Marshal ZHIGAREV Pavel Fedorovich
, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (09-1949 - 01.1957).
Soviet military leader, air chief marshal (1955).
In military service since 1919. Graduated from the 4th Tver Cavalry School (1922), the Leningrad Military School of Observer Pilots (1927), and the Red Army Air Force Academy named after. prof. N.E. Zhukovsky (1932), postgraduate studies under her (1933), Kachin Military Aviation School (1934).
During the Civil War in Russia he served in the reserve cavalry regiment in Tver (1919-1920). After the war, he successively held positions: cavalry platoon commander, observer pilot, instructor and teacher at the pilot school, chief of staff of the Kachin Military Aviation School (1933-1934). In 1934-1936. commanded aviation units, from a separate squadron to an air brigade.
In 1937-1938 was in . Since September 1938, head of the combat training department of the Red Army Air Force, since January 1939, commander of the Air Force of the 2nd Separate Far Eastern Red Banner Army, since December 1940, first deputy, since April 1941, head of the Main Directorate of the Red Army Air Force.
During the Great Patriotic War: Commander of the Air Force of the Red Army (from 06/29/1941). He initiated the creation of mobile aviation reserves of the Civil Code at the beginning of the war, took a direct part in planning and directing the combat operations of Soviet aviation in the Battle of Moscow (12.1941-04.1942). Since April 1942, commander of the Air Force of the Far Eastern Front.
During the Soviet-Japanese War (1945), commander of the 10th Air Army of the 2nd Far Eastern Front. First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (04.1946-1948), Commander of Long-Range Aviation - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (1948-08.1949).
From September 1949 to January 1957, Pavel Fedorovich Zhigarev was Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, and from April 1953 he was also Deputy (from March 1955 - First Deputy) Minister of Defense of the USSR. Head of the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet. (01.1957-11.1959), head of the Military Command Academy of Air Defense (11.1959-1963).
Awards: 2 Orders of Lenin, 3 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov 1st class, Red Star; USSR medals.
Air Chief Marshal VERSHININ Konstantin Andreevich
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (01.1957 - 03.1969).
Air Chief Marshal KUTAHOV Pavel Stepanovich
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (03.1969 - 12.1984).
Soviet military leader, Chief Marshal of Aviation (1972), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (05/1/1943, 08/15/1984), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR (1966).
In military service since 1935. Graduated from the Stalingrad Military Pilot School (1938, with honors), the Higher Officer Flight Technical Courses (1949), and the Higher Military Academy (1957). Since 1938, flight commander of the 7th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Force of the Leningrad Military District. Participated in (1939). He made 131 combat missions.
During the Great Patriotic War: on the Leningrad, then Karelian fronts, deputy commander and commander of an air squadron. From July 1943, assistant, then deputy commander of the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment, and from September 1944, commander of the 20th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. In total, during the war he made 367 combat missions, conducted 79 air battles, personally shot down 14 enemy aircraft and 28 in group battles.
After the war, Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov commanded a fighter air regiment, then deputy commander, and from December 1950 - commander of a fighter air division. Deputy commander (11.1951 - 12.1953), commander of the fighter air corps (12.1953 - 12.1955). From December 1957, deputy commander for combat training, then 1st deputy, from August 1961 - commander of the 48th Air Army. First Deputy (07.1967 - 03.1969), Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR (03.1969 - 12.1984). He actively introduced combat experience into flight practice, made a great contribution to the development of the first generations of jet aircraft, to the development of tactics and operational art of the Air Force.
Awards: 4 Orders of Lenin, 2 Gold Star medals, Order of the October Revolution, 5 Orders of the Red Banner; Order of Kutuzov 1st class, Order of Alexander Nevsky, Order of the Patriotic War 1st class; 2 Orders of the Red Star, Order “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd class, medals of the USSR; foreign orders and medals.
Air Marshal EFIMOV Alexander Nikolaevich[R. 6.2.1923]
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (12.1984 - 07.1990).
Soviet military leader, air marshal (1975), twice Hero of the Soviet Union (10/26/1944, 08/18/1945), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR (1970), Doctor of Military Sciences, professor, laureate of the USSR State Prize (1984).
In military service since May 1941. Graduated from the Voroshilovgrad Military Aviation School of Pilots (1942), the Air Force Academy (1951), and the Military Academy of the General Staff (1957).
During the Great Patriotic War: pilot of the 594th assault aviation regiment, flight commander, squadron of the 198th assault aviation regiment. In total, during the war years he made 222 combat missions, during which he personally and as part of a group destroyed 85 enemy aircraft at airfields (which is the highest achievement among Soviet pilots of all types of aviation) and 7 aircraft were shot down in air battles, a large number of manpower were destroyed and enemy technology.
After the war, Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov continued to serve in aviation: commander of an attack air regiment, an aviation division. Deputy, First Deputy Commander (1959-10.1964), since October 1964 - Commander of the Air Army. First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (03.1969 - 12.1984), Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR (12.1984-07.1990). Chairman of the State Commission for the Use of Airspace and Air Traffic Control (1990-1993).
Since August 1993 - retired. Since 2006, Chairman of the Russian Committee of War and Military Service Veterans.
Awards: 3 Orders of Lenin, 2 Gold Star medals; Order of the October Revolution, 5 Orders of the Red Banner, Order of Alexander Nevsky, 2 Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st class; Order of the Red Star, “For service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd class, “For services to the Fatherland” 4th, 3rd and 2nd class, Courage; medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation; foreign orders and medals.
Air Marshal SHAPOSHNIKOV Evgeniy Ivanovich[R. 3.02.1942]
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (07.1990 - 08.1991).
State and military figure of the USSR and the Russian Federation, Air Marshal (1991), Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation.
In military service since 1959. Graduated from the Kharkov Higher Military School of Air Force Pilots (1963), the Air Force Academy (1969), and the Military Academy of the General Staff (1984). In 1963-1966. pilot, senior pilot, flight commander of a fighter aviation regiment, in the period 1969-1973. squadron commander, deputy wing commander for political affairs, fighter wing commander. Since 1975, deputy commander, since 1976 - commander of the fighter air division, in 1979-1982. Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Carpathian Military District for combat training - head of the combat training department. Deputy commander (1984-03.1985), commander of the Air Force of the Odessa Military District - deputy commander of the troops of this district for aviation (03.1985-06.1987), commander of the Air Force of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSVG) - deputy commander-in-chief of the GVSG for aviation (06.1987-05.1988), commander 1st Air Army GVSG (05-12.1988).
Since December 1988, Evgeny Ivanovich Shaposhnikov has been First Deputy Commander-in-Chief, and since July 1990, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. Minister of Defense of the USSR (08-12/1991), Commander-in-Chief of the United Armed Forces of the CIS (confirmed in office in February 1992). Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation (06-09.1993), since October - at the disposal of the President of the Russian Federation. In February 1994, he was appointed representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the state company for the export and import of weapons and military equipment "Rosvooruzhenie". Since November 1996, he was enrolled in the reserve of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for the joint-stock company (JSC) Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, and was the general director of the JSC. Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation on issues of space and aviation development (03.1997-03.2004). Since 2004, Advisor to the General Director of OJSC Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company. Chairman of the Board of the non-profit partnership “Flight Safety”.
Awards: Order of the Red Star, “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 2nd and 3rd class; medals of the USSR, Russia, orders of foreign states. Awarded the international public order "Golden Falcon".
Army General DEINEKIN Pyotr Stepanovich[R. 12/14/1937]
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (08.1991 - 01.1998).
Military leader of the USSR and the Russian Federation, Army General (1996), Hero of Russia (1997), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR, Doctor of Military Sciences, Professor.
In military service since 1955. Graduated from the Kharkov Special Air Force School (1955), Balashov Military Aviation School of Pilots (1957), Air Force Academy named after. Yu.A. Gagarin (1969), Military Academy of the General Staff (1982).
He served in the following positions: pilot of the Center for Combat Use of Aviation (1957-1962), commander of a strategic bomber crew (1962-1964). Deputy squadron commander (1969-05.1970), squadron commander (05.1970-08.1971), deputy regiment commander for flight training (08.1971-01.1973), commander of a separate special purpose guards aviation regiment (01.1973-11.1975). From November 1975 - deputy, then commander of the 13th Guards Dnepropetrovsk-Budapest Order of Suvorov 2nd degree heavy bomber aviation division, from 1982 - deputy, from 1984 - first deputy, from August 1985 - commander Air Army of the Supreme High Command. Commander of Long-Range Aviation (05.1988-10.1990). Since October 1990 - First Deputy, since August 1991 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - Commander of the Air Force (12.1991-08.1992).
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation (09.1992-01.1998). He made a great contribution to the preservation of the air component of the Armed Forces and the formation of the Air Force of the Russian Federation.
Since January 1998 in reserve, since December 2002 Pyotr Stepanovich Deinekin - retired. Head of the Department of the President of the Russian Federation for Cossack Issues (09.1998-02.2003). In subsequent years, he was vice-president of Avikos CJSC and chairman of the Board of Directors of Afes SO OJSC.
Awards: medal "Gold Star"; Order "For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR" 2nd and 3rd class, "For Military Merit"; medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation.
Colonel General of Aviation KORNUKOV Anatoly Mikhailovich
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (01 - 02.1998).
Military leader of the Russian Federation, Army General (2000), Candidate of Military Sciences, State Prize laureate.
In military service since 1959. Graduated from the Chernigov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (1964, with honors), the Military Command Academy of Air Defense (1980, in absentia) and the Military Academy of the General Staff (1988). He began his military service in October 1964 in the Baltics as a senior pilot in an air defense fighter regiment. Since 1968, deputy squadron commander for political affairs - senior pilot of the 54th Guards Air Defense Fighter Aviation Regiment. Since 1970 in the Far East. In 1971-1972 squadron commander, 1972-1974. - Deputy commander of the air regiment, since January 1974 - commander of the air regiment of the air defense division. In September 1976 - February 1978, deputy commander of the air defense corps for aviation - chief of corps aviation. Deputy Chief of Aviation of the 11th Separate Air Defense Army (02.1978-06.1980), commander of the 40th Fighter Air Division of the Air Force of the Far Eastern Military District (06.1980-01.1985).
Since January 1985, in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, commander of the 71st Air Force Fighter Corps (01.1985-07.1988). Since July 1988, First Deputy Chief of Aviation of the Air Defense Forces. Since June 1989, first deputy commander, then commander of the 11th Separate Air Defense Army - deputy commander of the Far Eastern Military District (FMD) for air defense, member of the Far Eastern Military District Military Council (07.1990-09.1991). Since September 1991, commander of the Moscow Air Defense District.
Since January 1998, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, since March 1998, Commander-in-Chief of a new branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the Air Force. He made a great contribution to the formation of a new type of Armed Forces and the further development of the United Air Defense System of the CIS member states.
Since January 2002, Anatoly Mikhailovich Kornukov has been in reserve. Advisor to the General Director of NPO Almaz-Antey on military-technical policy issues (since 2002).
Awards: Orders “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 2nd and 3rd class, “For Military Merit”, “For Services to the Fatherland” 3rd and 4th class; medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation.
The Air Force is a new branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation since March 1998.
The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation (RF) dated July 16, 1997 determined the formation of a new type of Armed Forces (AF) on the basis of the existing Air Defense Forces (ADF) and the Air Force (Air Force). By March 1, 1998, on the basis of the control bodies of the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force, the Directorate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force and the Main Headquarters of the Air Force were formed, and the Air Defense and Air Force Forces were united into a new branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the Air Force.
Army General KORNUKOV Anatoly Mikhailovich[R. 01/10/1942]
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (03.1998 - 01.2002).
Army General MIKHAILOV Vladimir Sergeevich[R. 6.10.1943]
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (01.2002 - 05.2007).
Military figure of the Russian Federation, Army General (2004), Hero of Russia (06/13/1996), Honored Military Pilot of the USSR, laureate of the Prize named after. G.K. Zhukova (2002).
In military service since September 1962. Graduated from the Yeisk Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (1966, with a gold medal), the Air Force Academy named after. Yu.A. Gagarin (1975), Military Academy of the General Staff (1991). Since 1966, he served in the following positions: instructor-pilot, senior instructor-pilot, flight commander, squadron commander. Since 1974, deputy commander and commander of the aviation regiment. Deputy head of the Yeisk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots for combat training (1977-1980), head of the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (1980-1985). In 1985-1988 in various positions in combat training of aviation units and formations of the Moscow Military District. Since 1988, deputy and first deputy commander of the district air force for combat training and military educational institutions, since 1991, commander of the air force of the North Caucasus military district, since 1992 - commander of the air army. Active participant in the armed conflict on the territory of the Chechen Republic (1994-1996).
From April 1998, First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, from January 2002 to May 2007 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation. Honorary citizen of the city of Borisoglebsk (2000). Laureate of the Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov Prize (2002). During his service, he mastered about 20 types of aircraft, the total flight time was about 6 thousand hours.
In stock since May 2007.
Awards: medal "Gold Star"; Order “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR”, 3rd class, “For Personal Courage”, “For Military Merit”; medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation.
Colonel General ZELIN Alexander Nikolaevich[R. 6.05.1953]
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (05.2007 - 04.2012).
Military figure of the Russian Federation, Colonel General, Honored Military Pilot of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Military Sciences.
Graduated from the Kharkov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (1976, with honors), the Air Force Academy named after. Yu.A. Gagarin (1988), Military Academy of the General Staff (1997). He served in the following positions: pilot of the 787th Fighter Aviation Regiment, deputy commander, commander of the 115th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment. First Deputy Commander of the 23rd Air Force Air Force and Air Defense, commander of the 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Division of the North Caucasus Military District, 50th Air Force and Air Defense Corps, commander of the 14th (2000-2001) and 4th (2001- 2002) by the Air Force and Air Defense armies.
Since August 2002 - Head of the Air Force Aviation Directorate - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force for Aviation. Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation (05/09/2007-04/26/2012). Provided leadership for the transition to the new look of the Russian Air Force.
Mastered more than 10 types of aircraft, including Su-34 and Yak-130 aircraft.
Awards: Order of the Red Star, “For Military Merit”, “For Merit to the Fatherland”, 4th class; St. George 2nd century; medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation.
Colonel General BONDAREV Viktor Nikolaevich[R. 7.12.1959]
Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force (from May 6, 2012), Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces (from August 1, 2015)
Military figure of the Russian Federation, Colonel General, Hero of Russia (04/21/2000).
In military service since 1977. Graduated from the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (1981), the Air Force Academy named after. Yu.A. Gagarin (1992), Military Academy of the General Staff (2004).
He served in the following positions: instructor-pilot, flight commander at the Barnaul Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, senior navigator, squadron commander at the Flight Training Center, deputy commander of the attack air regiment.
Participant in combat operations in Afghanistan as part of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops. Commander of the 899th Guards Assault Orsha Twice Red Banner Order of Suvorov Air Regiment, III degree (09.1996-10.2000). Participant in the armed conflict on the territory of the Chechen Republic (1994-1996, 1999-2003).
Since October 2000, deputy commander, since 2004 - commander of the 105th mixed aviation division, since 2006 - deputy commander, since June 2008 - commander of the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army. Chief of the Air Force General Staff (07.2011-06.05.2012). Since May 6, 2012 - Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Federation.
Since August 2015 - Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation.
Awards: medal "Gold Star"; Order “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR”, Courage; medals of the USSR and the Russian Federation.
Major General Kobylash Sergey Ivanovich
Chief of Aviation of the Russian Air Force (since 11/13/2013).
Sergey Kobylash was born on April 1, 1965 in Odessa. Graduated from the Yeisk Higher Military Aviation School named after V.M. Komarov in 1987, Air Force Academy named after. Yu.A. Gagarin in 1994, Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in 2012.
Combat pilot, served as a pilot, senior pilot, flight commander, deputy squadron commander, squadron commander, deputy regiment commander, regiment commander, 1st category base commander, head of the operational-tactical and army aviation department of the Air Force High Command, deputy chief of air force aviation . Participated in the operation to force Georgia to peace in the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 2008.
He is qualified as a sniper pilot. The total flight time is more than one and a half thousand hours. Mastered the following types of aircraft: L-29, Su-7, Su-17 and its modifications, Su-25.
Awards: Hero of the Russian Federation, Order of Courage, “For Military Merit”, "For military merit", medal "For Courage" and other departmental medals.
The Military Space Forces are a new branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation since August 2015.
In August 2015, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, on the basis of formations and military units of the Air Force (Air Force) and the Aerospace Defense Forces (VKO), a new type of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was formed - the Military Space Forces: the department of the Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces and Main headquarters of the Aerospace Forces.
Colonel General was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 394 of August 1, 2015 Victor Bondarev, Chief of Staff - Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces - Commander of the Space Forces, Lieutenant General Alexander Valentinovich Golovko, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces - Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrey Vyacheslavovich Yudin.
On November 22, 2017, Colonel General was appointed to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces instead of Viktor Bondarev Sergey Vladimirovich Surovikin.
The current military districts remain unchanged, formations, formations and military units of the Air Force and Aerospace Defense Forces have been transformed into three branches of the Military Space Forces: air force, space force, air and missile defense forces.
The importance of air power in modern warfare is enormous, and the conflicts of recent decades clearly confirm this. The Russian Air Force is second only to the American Air Force in the number of aircraft. Russian military aviation has a long and glorious history; until recently, the Russian Air Force was a separate branch of the military; in August last year, the Russian Air Force became part of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation.
Russia is undoubtedly a great aviation power. In addition to its glorious history, our country can boast of a significant technological base, which allows us to independently produce military aircraft of any type.
Today, Russian military aviation is going through a difficult period of its development: its structure is changing, new aircraft are entering service, and a generational change is taking place. However, the events of recent months in Syria have shown that the Russian Air Force can successfully carry out its combat missions in any conditions.
History of the Russian Air Force
The history of Russian military aviation began more than a century ago. In 1904, an aerodynamic institute was created in Kuchino, and one of the creators of aerodynamics, Zhukovsky, became its director. Within its walls, scientific and theoretical work was carried out aimed at improving aviation technology.
During the same period, the Russian designer Grigorovich worked on the creation of the world's first seaplanes. The first flight schools were opened in the country.
In 1910, the Imperial Air Force was organized, which existed until 1917.
Russian aviation took an active part in the First World War, although the domestic industry of that time lagged significantly behind other countries participating in this conflict. Most of the combat aircraft flown by Russian pilots of that time were manufactured at foreign factories.
But still, domestic designers also had interesting discoveries. The first multi-engine bomber, the Ilya Muromets, was created in Russia (1915).
The Russian air force was divided into air squads, which included 6-7 aircraft. The detachments were united into air groups. The army and navy had their own aviation.
At the beginning of the war, aircraft were used for reconnaissance or adjusting artillery fire, but very quickly they began to be used for bombing the enemy. Soon fighters appeared and air battles began.
Russian pilot Nesterov made the first aerial ram, and a little earlier he performed the famous “dead loop”.
The Imperial Air Force was disbanded after the Bolsheviks came to power. Many pilots served in the Civil War on different sides of the conflict.
In 1918, the new government created its own Air Force, which took part in the civil war. After its completion, the country's leadership paid great attention to the development of military aviation. This allowed the USSR in the 30s, after large-scale industrialization, to return to the club of the world's leading aviation powers.
New aircraft factories were built, design bureaus were created, and flight schools were opened. A whole galaxy of talented aircraft designers appeared in the country: Polyakov, Tupolev, Ilyushin, Petlyakov, Lavochnikov and others.
In the pre-war period, the armed forces received a large number of new types of aircraft, which were not inferior to their foreign counterparts: MiG-3, Yak-1, LaGG-3 fighters, TB-3 long-range bomber.
By the beginning of the war, Soviet industry had produced more than 20 thousand military aircraft of various modifications. In the summer of 1941, USSR factories produced 50 combat vehicles per day, three months later the production of equipment doubled (up to 100 vehicles).
The war for the USSR Air Force began with a series of crushing defeats - a huge number of aircraft were destroyed at border airfields and in air battles. For almost two years, German aviation had air supremacy. The Soviet pilots did not have the proper experience, their tactics were outdated, like most of the Soviet aviation equipment.
The situation began to change only in 1943, when the USSR industry mastered the production of modern combat vehicles, and the Germans had to send their best forces to protect Germany from Allied air raids.
By the end of the war, the quantitative superiority of the USSR Air Force became overwhelming. During the war, more than 27 thousand Soviet pilots died.
On July 16, 1997, by decree of the President of Russia, a new type of military force was formed - the Air Force of the Russian Federation. The new structure included air defense troops and the air force. In 1998, the necessary structural changes were completed, the Main Headquarters of the Russian Air Force was formed, and a new commander-in-chief appeared.
Russian military aviation participated in all conflicts in the North Caucasus, in the Georgian war of 2008, in 2019, Russian Aerospace Forces were introduced into Syria, where they are currently located.
Around the middle of the last decade, active modernization of the Russian air force began.
Old aircraft are being modernized, units are receiving new equipment, new ones are being built and old air bases are being restored. The fifth generation fighter T-50 is being developed and is in its final stages.
The pay of military personnel has been significantly increased, today pilots have the opportunity to spend enough time in the air and hone their skills, and exercises have become regular.
In 2008, the reform of the air force began. The structure of the Air Force was divided into commands, air bases and brigades. The commands were created on a territorial basis and replaced the air defense and air force armies.
Structure of the air force of the Russian Air Force
Today, the Russian Air Force is part of the military space forces, the decree on the creation of which was published in August 2019. The leadership of the Russian Aerospace Forces is exercised by the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and direct command is exercised by the Main Command of the Aerospace Forces. The commander-in-chief of the Russian military space forces is Colonel General Sergei Surovikin.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force is Lieutenant General Yudin, he holds the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
In addition to the air force, the Aerospace Forces include space forces, air defense and missile defense units.
The Russian Air Force includes long-range, military transport and army aviation. In addition, the Air Force includes anti-aircraft, missile and radio technical troops. The Russian Air Force also has its own special troops, which perform many important functions: provide reconnaissance and communications, engage in electronic warfare, rescue operations and protection against weapons of mass destruction. The Air Force also includes meteorological and medical services, engineering units, support units and logistics services.
The basis of the structure of the Russian air force are brigades, air bases and commands of the Russian Air Force.
Four commands are located in St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Khabarovsk and Novosibirsk. In addition, the Russian Air Force includes a separate command that manages long-range and military transport aviation.
As mentioned above, the Russian Air Force is second only to the US Air Force in size. In 2010, the strength of the Russian air force was 148 thousand people, about 3.6 thousand different pieces of aircraft were in operation, and about 1 thousand more were in storage.
After the 2008 reform, air regiments turned into air bases; in 2010, there were 60-70 such bases.
The Russian Air Force is assigned the following tasks:
- repelling enemy aggression in the air and outer space;
- protection from air strikes of military and government control points, administrative and industrial centers, and other important infrastructure facilities of the state;
- defeating enemy troops using various types of ammunition, including nuclear;
- conducting intelligence operations;
- direct support for other branches and branches of the Russian Armed Forces.
Military aviation of the Russian Air Force
The Russian Air Force includes strategic and long-range aviation, military transport and army aviation, which, in turn, is divided into fighter, attack, bomber, and reconnaissance.
Strategic and long-range aviation is part of the Russian nuclear triad and is capable of carrying various types of nuclear weapons.
. These machines were designed and built back in the Soviet Union. The impetus for the creation of this aircraft was the development by the Americans of the B-1 strategist. Today, the Russian Air Force has 16 Tu-160 aircraft in service. These military aircraft can be armed with cruise missiles and free-fall bombs. Whether Russian industry will be able to establish serial production of these machines is an open question.
. This is a turboprop aircraft that made its first flight during Stalin’s lifetime. This vehicle has undergone deep modernization; it can be armed with cruise missiles and free-falling bombs with both conventional and nuclear warheads. Currently, the number of operating machines is about 30.
. This machine is called a long-range supersonic missile-carrying bomber. Tu-22M was developed in the late 60s of the last century. The aircraft has variable wing geometry. Can carry cruise missiles and nuclear bombs. The total number of combat-ready vehicles is about 50, another 100 are in storage.
The fighter aviation of the Russian Air Force is currently represented by the Su-27, MiG-29, Su-30, Su-35, MiG-31, Su-34 (fighter-bomber) aircraft.
. This machine is the result of a deep modernization of the Su-27; it can be classified as generation 4++. The fighter has increased maneuverability and is equipped with advanced electronic equipment. Commencement of operation of the Su-35 - 2014. The total number of aircraft is 48 aircraft.
. The famous attack aircraft, created back in the mid-70s of the last century. One of the best aircraft in its class in the world, the Su-25 has participated in dozens of conflicts. Today there are about 200 Rooks in service, with another 100 in storage. This aircraft is being modernized and will be completed in 2020.
. A front-line bomber with variable wing geometry, designed to overcome enemy air defenses at low altitude and supersonic speed. The Su-24 is an obsolete aircraft; it is planned to be written off by 2020. 111 units remain in service.
. The newest fighter-bomber. There are currently 75 such aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force.
Transport aviation of the Russian Air Force is represented by several hundred different aircraft, the vast majority developed in the USSR: An-22, An-124 Ruslan, Il-86, An-26, An-72, An-140, An-148 and others models.
Training aviation includes: Yak-130, Czech aircraft L-39 Albatros and Tu-134UBL.
The largest helicopters remaining in service are the Mi-24 (620 units) and Mi-8 (570 units). These are reliable, but old Soviet cars, which can be used for some time after minimal modernization.
Prospects for the Russian Air Force
Work is currently underway on the creation of several aircraft, some of them are in the final stages.
The main new product, which should soon enter service with the Russian Air Force and significantly strengthen it, is the Russian T-50 fifth-generation front-line aviation complex (PAK FA). The aircraft has already been shown to the general public several times, and prototypes are currently being tested. Information appeared in the media about problems with the T-50 engine, but there was no official confirmation of this. The first T-50 aircraft should enter service in 2019.
Among the promising projects, it is also worth noting the Il-214 and Il-112 transport aircraft, which should replace the outdated Anas, as well as the new MiG-35 fighter, they plan to begin delivering it to the troops this year.
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Lieutenant General Yudin A.V. born on April 2, 1962 in the city of Armavir, Krasnodar Territory. In 1983 he graduated from the Armavir Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. He served as a pilot, senior pilot, and flight commander of the Baltic Military District.
In 1989, he was transferred to the Western Group of Forces as a flight commander of a fighter aviation regiment. Since December 1989, deputy commander of the aviation squadron of the 16th Air Army.
In 1996 he graduated from the Air Force Academy. Yu.A. Gagarin Moscow Military District.
From 1996 to 2008, he served as an aviation squadron commander, deputy commander of a fighter aviation regiment, commander of a fighter aviation regiment, deputy division commander, and commander of an air defense division of the Far Eastern Military District.
Since 2008, student of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
In 2010, he was appointed head of the Air Force Combat Training Directorate.
Since 2011, Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Eastern Military District.
Since May 2012 - Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Southern Military District.
By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation and Order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 389 dated June 11, 2014, the commander of the forces of the Air Force and Air Defense Association of the Southern Military District, Major General Andrey Vyacheslavovich Yudin, was awarded the next military rank of lieutenant general.
Since September 2015, he has been appointed to the post of Commander of the Air Force - Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Married. Has three children.
The Russian Federation is a powerful aviation power with its own history, whose air force is capable of resolving any conflicts that pose a threat to our country. This has been clearly demonstrated by the events of recent months in Syria, where Russian pilots are successfully fighting against the ISIS army, which poses a terrorist threat to the entire modern world.
Story
Russian aviation began its existence in 1910, but the official starting point was August 12, 1912 when Major General M.I. Shishkevich took control of all units in the Aeronautical Unit of the General Staff, which had been organized by that time.
Having existed for a very short period of time, the military aviation of the Russian Empire became one of the best air forces of that time, although aircraft manufacturing in the Russian state was in its infancy and Russian pilots had to fight on foreign-made aircraft.
"Ilya Muromets"
Despite the fact that the Russian state purchased aircraft from other countries, Russian soil has never been poor in talented people. In 1904, Professor Zhukovsky founded an institute for the study of aerodynamics, and in 1913, the young Sikorsky designed and built his famous bomber "Ilya Muromets" and a biplane with four engines "Russian Knight", designer Grigorovich developed various hydroplane designs.
The aviators Utochkin and Artseulov were very popular among the pilots of that time, and the military pilot Pyotr Nesterov amazed everyone by performing his legendary “dead loop” and became famous in 1914 by ramming an enemy plane in the air. In the same year, Russian pilots conquered the Arctic for the first time during flights to search for the missing pioneers of the North from Sedov’s expedition.
The Russian air force was represented by Army and Naval aviation, each type had several aviation groups, which included air squads of 6-10 aircraft each. Initially, the pilots were only engaged in adjusting artillery fire and reconnaissance, but then using bombs and machine guns they destroyed enemy personnel. With the appearance of fighters, battles began to destroy enemy aircraft.
1917
By the fall of 1917, Russian aviation consisted of about 700 aircraft, but then the October Revolution broke out and it was disbanded, many Russian pilots died in the war, and most of those who survived the revolutionary coup emigrated. The young Soviet republic founded its own air force in 1918, called the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet. But the fratricidal war ended and they forgot about military aviation; only at the end of the 30s, with the course towards industrialization, did its revival begin.
The Soviet government intensively took up the construction of new aviation industry enterprises and the creation of design bureaus. In those years, brilliant Soviet aircraft designers – Polikarpov, Tupolev, Lavochkin, Ilyushin, Petlyakov, Mikoyan and Gurevich.
To train and train pilots, flying clubs were founded as initial pilot training schools. After receiving piloting skills in such institutions, the cadets were sent to flight schools and then assigned to combat units. More than 20 thousand cadets were trained in 18 flight schools, technical personnel were trained in 6 institutions.
The leaders of the USSR understood that the first socialist state was in dire need of an air force and took all measures to quickly increase the aircraft fleet. At the turn of the 40s, wonderful fighters appeared, built at the Yakovlev and Lavochkin Design Bureaus - these are Yak-1 And LaG-3, Ilyushin Design Bureau commissioned the first attack aircraft, designers under the leadership of Tupolev created a long-range bomber TB-3, and the design bureau of Mikoyan and Gurevich completed flight tests of the fighter.
1941
The aviation industry, on the threshold of war, produced 50 aircraft per day in the early summer of 1941 and three months later doubled the production of aircraft.
But for Soviet aviation, the beginning of the war was tragic; most of the aircraft located at airfields in the border zone were destroyed right in the parking lots without having time to take off. In the first battles, our pilots, lacking experience, used outdated tactics and, as a result, suffered heavy losses.
It was possible to turn this situation around only in mid-1943, when the flight crew acquired the necessary experience and aviation began to receive more modern equipment, such aircraft as fighters Yak-3, La-5 And La-7, modernized attack aircraft with Il-2 air gunner, bombers, long-range bombers.
In total, more than 44 thousand pilots were trained and graduated during the war, but the losses were enormous - 27,600 pilots were killed in battles on all fronts. By the end of the war, our pilots gained complete air superiority.
After the end of hostilities, a period of confrontation began, known as the Cold War. The era of jet aircraft began in aviation, and a new type of military equipment appeared - helicopters. During these years, aviation developed rapidly, more than 10 thousand aircraft were built, the creation of fourth generation fighter projects was completed and Su-29, development of fifth-generation machines began.
1997
But the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union buried all initiatives; the republics that emerged from it divided all aviation among themselves. In 1997, the President of the Russian Federation, by his decree, announced the creation of the Russian Air Force, which united the air defense and air force forces.
Russian aviation had to participate in two Chechen wars and the Georgian military conflict; at the end of 2015, a limited contingent of the air force was redeployed to the Syrian Republic, where it successfully conducts military operations against global terrorism.
The nineties were a period of degradation of Russian aviation; this process was stopped only in the early 2000s, Air Force Commander-in-Chief Major General A.N. Zelin in 2008 described the situation in Russian aviation as extremely difficult. The training of military personnel was significantly reduced, many airfields were abandoned and destroyed, aircraft were poorly maintained, and training flights practically ceased due to lack of finance.
year 2009
Since 2009, the level of training of personnel began to rise, aviation equipment was modernized and overhauled, the purchase of new aircraft and the renewal of the aircraft fleet began. The development of the fifth generation aircraft is nearing completion. The flight crew began regular flights and are improving their skills; the material well-being of the pilots and technicians has increased.
The Russian Air Force consistently conducts exercises, improving combat skills and prowess.
Structural organization of the air force
On August 1, 2015, the air force organizationally joined the military space forces, of which Colonel General Bondarev was appointed commander-in-chief. The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces is currently Lieutenant General Yudin.
The Russian air force consists of the main types of aviation - long-range, military transport and army aviation. Radio technical, anti-aircraft and missile forces are also included in the Air Force. The most important functions of providing reconnaissance and communications, protection against weapons of mass destruction, conducting rescue operations and electronic warfare are performed by special troops also included in the air force. In addition, it is impossible to imagine the Air Force without engineering and logistics services, medical and meteorological units.
The Russian Air Force is designed to perform the following missions:
- Repel any attacks by the aggressor in the air and space.
- Providing air cover for launch sites, cities and all significantly important objects,
- Conducting reconnaissance.
- Destruction of enemy troops using conventional and nuclear weapons.
- Close air support for ground forces.
Back in 2008, a reform of Russian aviation took place, which structurally divided the air force into commands, brigades and air bases. The command was based on the territorial principle, which abolished the air force and air defense armies.
Today, commands are located in four cities: St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don. A separate command exists for long-range and military transport aviation, located in Moscow. By 2010, there were about 70 former aviation regiments, and now air bases, in total there were 148 thousand people in the air force and the Russian Air Force is second in number only to US aviation.
Military equipment of Russian aviation
Long-range and strategic aircraft
One of the brightest representatives of long-range aviation is the Tu-160, which bears the affectionate name “White Swan”. This machine was produced during the Soviet Union, develops supersonic speed and has a variable sweep wing. According to the developers, it is capable of overcoming enemy air defenses at ultra-low altitude and delivering a nuclear strike. The Russian Air Force has only 16 such aircraft and the question is: will our industry be able to organize the production of such machines?
The Tupolev Design Bureau's aircraft first took to the air during Stalin's lifetime and has been in service ever since. Four turboprop engines allow long-distance flights along the entire border of our country. Nickname " Bear"Deserved because of the bass sound of these engines, it is capable of carrying cruise missiles and nuclear bombs. There are 30 of these machines left in service in the Russian Air Force.
A long-range strategic missile carrier with economical engines is capable of supersonic flights, equipped with a variable sweep wing, the production of these aircraft was launched back in the last century in the 60s. 50 vehicles and a hundred aircraft are in service Tu-22M preserved.
Fighter aircraft
The front-line fighter was produced in Soviet times, belongs to the first aircraft of the fourth generation, later modifications of this aircraft numbering about 360 units are in service.
On the base Su-27 A vehicle was released that had an electronic electronic equipment, capable of identifying targets on the ground and in the air at a great distance and transmitting target designations to other crews. There are a total of 80 such aircraft in stock.
Even deeper modernization Su-27 became a fighter, this aircraft belongs to the 4++ generation, it has high maneuverability and is equipped with the latest electronics.
These aircraft entered combat units in 2014; the air force has 48 aircraft.
The fourth generation of Russian aircraft began with MiG-27, more than two dozen modified models of this vehicle have been produced, with a total of 225 combat units in service.
Another fighter-bomber that cannot be ignored is the newest aircraft, which is in service with the Air Force in the amount of 75 units.
Attack aircraft and interceptors
- this is an exact copy of the F-111 aircraft of the US Air Force, which has not been flying for a long time; its Soviet analogue is still in service, but by 2020 all machines will be decommissioned; now there are about a hundred similar machines in service.
Legendary Stormtrooper Su-25 "Rook", which has high survivability, was developed in the 70s so successfully that after so many years of operation they are going to modernize it, since they do not yet see a worthy replacement. Today, 200 combat-ready vehicles and 100 aircraft are mothballed.
The interceptor develops high speed in a matter of seconds and is designed for a long range. The modernization of this aircraft will be completed by the twentieth year; in total there are 140 such aircraft in units.
Military transport aviation
The main fleet of transport aircraft are aircraft from the Antonov Design Bureau and several modifications from the Ilyushin Design Bureau. Among them are light transporters and An-72, medium-duty vehicles An-140 And An-148, solid heavy trucks An-22, An-124 And . About three hundred transport workers perform tasks to deliver cargo and military equipment.
Training aircraft
Designed after the collapse of the Union, the only training aircraft went into production and immediately gained a reputation as an excellent training machine with a program for simulating the aircraft for which the future pilot is retrained. In addition to it, there is a Czech training aircraft L-39 and an aircraft for training transport aviation pilots Tu-134UBL.
Army aviation
This type of aviation is represented mainly by Mil and Kamov helicopters and also by the machine of the Kazan Helicopter Plant “Ansat”. After being discontinued, the Russian army aviation was replenished with one hundred and the same number. Most of the helicopters in combat units are proven and Mi-24. Eights in service - 570 units, and Mi-24– 620 units. The reliability of these Soviet machines is beyond doubt.
Unmanned aircraft
The USSR attached little importance to this type of weapon, but technological progress does not stand still and in modern times drones have found worthy use. These aircraft conduct reconnaissance and film enemy positions, destroy command posts without risking the lives of the people controlling these drones. The Air Force has several types of UAVs - these are "Bee-1T" And "Flight-D", an outdated Israeli drone is still in service "Outpost".
Prospects for the Russian Air Force
In Russia, several aircraft projects are in development and some are close to completion. Undoubtedly, the new fifth-generation aircraft will arouse great interest among the general public, especially since it has already been demonstrated. PAK FA T-50 is undergoing the final stage of flight testing and will enter combat units in the near future.
An interesting project was presented by the Ilyushin Design Bureau; the aircraft and aircraft developed by its designers are replacing the Antonov aircraft and removing our dependence on the supply of spare parts from Ukraine. The newest fighter is being commissioned, test flights of new rotary-wing aircraft are being completed and Mi-38. We started developing a project for a new strategic aircraft PAK-DA, they promise that it will be lifted into the air in 2020.