Russian Airborne Forces: history, structure, weapons. Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

Designed to operate behind enemy lines, destroy nuclear attack weapons, command posts, capture and hold important areas and objects, disrupt the control system and operation of the enemy rear, assist the Ground Forces in developing the offensive and crossing water barriers. Equipped with air transportable self-propelled artillery, missile, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, armored personnel carriers, combat vehicles, automatic small arms, communications and control equipment. The existing parachute landing equipment makes it possible to drop troops and cargo in any weather and terrain conditions, day and night from various heights. Organizationally, the airborne troops consist of (Fig. 1) airborne formations, an airborne brigade, and military units of special forces.

Rice. 1. Structure of the Airborne Forces

The Airborne Forces are armed with the ASU-85 airborne self-propelled guns; Sprut-SD self-propelled artillery guns; 122 mm howitzers D-30; airborne combat vehicles BMD-1/2/3/4; armored personnel carriers BTR-D.

Part of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation may be part of the joint armed forces (for example, the CIS Allied Forces) or be under a unified command in accordance with international treaties of the Russian Federation (for example, as part of the UN peacekeeping forces or collective CIS peacekeeping forces in zones of local military conflicts ).

Branch

The smallest military formation in - department. The squad is commanded by a junior sergeant or sergeant. Usually there are 9-13 people in a motorized rifle squad. In departments of other branches of the military, the number of personnel in the department ranges from 3 to 15 people. Typically, a squad is part of a platoon, but can exist outside of a platoon.

Platoon

Several branches make up platoon. Usually there are from 2 to 4 squads in a platoon, but more are possible. The platoon is headed by a commander with the rank of officer - junior lieutenant, lieutenant or senior lieutenant. On average, the number of platoon personnel ranges from 9 to 45 people. Usually in all branches of the military the name is the same - platoon. Usually a platoon is part of a company, but can exist independently.

Company

Several platoons make up company In addition, a company may also include several independent squads not included in any of the platoons. For example, a motorized rifle company has three motorized rifle platoons, a machine gun squad, and an anti-tank squad. Typically a company consists of 2-4 platoons, sometimes more platoons. A company is the smallest formation that has tactical significance, i.e. a formation capable of independently performing small tactical tasks on the battlefield. Company commander captain. On average, the size of a company can be from 18 to 200 people. Motorized rifle companies usually have about 130-150 people, tank companies 30-35 people. Usually a company is part of a battalion, but it is not uncommon for companies to exist as independent formations. In artillery, a formation of this type is called a battery; in cavalry, a squadron.

Battalion consists of several companies (usually 2-4) and several platoons that are not part of any of the companies. The battalion is one of the main tactical formations. A battalion, like a company, platoon, or squad, is named after its branch of service (tank, motorized rifle, engineer, communications). But the battalion already includes formations of other types of weapons. For example, in a motorized rifle battalion, in addition to motorized rifle companies, there is a mortar battery, a logistics platoon, and a communications platoon. Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel. The battalion already has its own headquarters. Usually, on average, a battalion, depending on the type of troops, can number from 250 to 950 people. However, there are battalions of about 100 people. In artillery, this type of formation is called a division.

Regiment

Regiment- This is the main tactical formation and a completely autonomous formation in the economic sense. The regiment is commanded by a colonel. Although regiments are named according to the types of troops (tank, motorized rifle, communications, pontoon-bridge, etc.), in fact this is a formation consisting of units of many types of troops, and the name is given according to the predominant type of troops. For example, in a motorized rifle regiment there are two or three motorized rifle battalions, one tank battalion, one artillery division (read battalion), one anti-aircraft missile division, a reconnaissance company, an engineering company, a communications company, an anti-tank battery, a chemical protection platoon , repair company, material support company, orchestra, medical center. The number of personnel in the regiment ranges from 900 to 2000 people.

Brigade

Just like the regiment, brigade is the main tactical formation. Actually, the brigade occupies an intermediate position between a regiment and a division. The structure of a brigade is most often the same as a regiment, but there are significantly more battalions and other units in a brigade. So in a motorized rifle brigade there are one and a half to two times more motorized rifle and tank battalions than in a regiment. A brigade can also consist of two regiments, plus battalions and auxiliary companies. On average, the brigade has from 2 to 8 thousand people. The brigade commander, as well as the regiment, is a colonel.

Division

Division- the main operational-tactical formation. Just like a regiment, it is named after the predominant branch of troops in it. However, the predominance of one or another type of troops is much less than in the regiment. A motorized rifle division and a tank division are identical in structure, with the only difference being that in a motorized rifle division there are two or three motorized rifle regiments and one tank, and in a tank division, on the contrary, there are two or three tank regiments and one motorized rifle. In addition to these main regiments, the division has one or two artillery regiments, one anti-aircraft missile regiment, a rocket battalion, a missile battalion, a helicopter squadron, an engineer battalion, a communications battalion, an automobile battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, an electronic warfare battalion, a logistics battalion, and a repair battalion. - a recovery battalion, a medical battalion, a chemical defense company and several different auxiliary companies and platoons. Divisions can be tank, motorized rifle, artillery, airborne, missile and aviation. In other branches of the military, as a rule, the highest formation is a regiment or brigade. On average, there are 12-24 thousand people in a division. Division commander, Major General.

Frame

Just as a brigade is an intermediate formation between a regiment and a division, so frame is an intermediate formation between the division and the army. The corps is a combined arms formation, that is, it usually lacks the characteristic of one type of force, although there may also be tank or artillery corps, that is, corps with a complete predominance of tank or artillery divisions in them. The combined arms corps is usually referred to as the "army corps". There is no single structure of buildings. Each time a corps is formed based on a specific military or military-political situation, and may consist of two or three divisions and a varying number of formations of other branches of the military. Usually a corps is created where it is not practical to create an army. It is impossible to talk about the structure and strength of the corps, because as many corps exist or existed, so many of their structures existed. Corps commander, Lieutenant General.

Army

Army is a large military formation for operational purposes. The army includes divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. Armies are usually no longer divided by branch of service, although tank armies may exist where tank divisions predominate. An army may also include one or more corps. It is impossible to talk about the structure and size of the army, because as many armies exist or existed, so many of their structures existed. The soldier at the head of the army is no longer called “commander”, but “commander of the army.” Usually the regular rank of army commander is colonel general. In peacetime, armies are rarely organized as military formations. Usually divisions, regiments, and battalions are directly included in the district.

Front

Front (district)- This is the highest military formation of the strategic type. There are no larger formations. The name “front” is used only in wartime for a formation conducting combat operations. For such formations in peacetime, or located in the rear, the name “okrug” (military district) is used. The front includes several armies, corps, divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. The composition and strength of the front may vary. Fronts are never subdivided by types of troops (i.e. there cannot be a tank front, an artillery front, etc.). At the head of the front (district) is the commander of the front (district) with the rank of army general.

The art of war in Russia, as throughout the world, is divided into three levels:

Tactics(the art of combat). A squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment solve tactical problems, i.e., fight.
Operational art(the art of fighting, fighting). A division, a corps, an army solve operational problems, that is, they wage a battle.
Strategy(the art of waging war in general). The front solves both operational and strategic tasks, that is, it wages major battles, as a result of which the strategic situation changes and the outcome of the war can be decided.

The one who has never left a plane in his life,
from where cities and villages seem like toys,
who has never experienced joy and fear
free fall, whistling in the ears, a stream of wind
beating in the chest, he will never understand
honor and pride of the paratrooper...
V.F. Margelov

Airborne troops (Airborne Forces), a highly mobile branch of the armed forces, designed to reach the enemy by air and conduct combat operations in his rear. The Russian Airborne Forces are a means of the Supreme Command and can form the basis of mobile forces. They report directly to the Airborne Forces commander and consist of airborne divisions, brigades, and departments. units and institutions.

CreationAirborne troops .

The history of the Airborne Forces dates back to August 2, 1930 - during an Air Force exercise of the Moscow Military District near Voronezh, a paratrooper unit consisting of 12 people was parachuted. This experiment allowed military theorists to see the prospect of the advantages of parachute units, their enormous capabilities associated with the rapid coverage of the enemy by air.

The Revolutionary Military Council of the Red Army determined one of the tasks for 1931: “... airborne landing operations must be comprehensively studied from the technical and tactical side by the Red Army Headquarters in order to develop and distribute appropriate instructions to the localities.” Attention was drawn to the need for a thorough development of the organizational structure and theory of the combat use of airborne troops.

The first unit of the Airborne Forces was an airborne detachment formed in 1931 in the Leningrad Military District, numbering 164 people. E.D. Lukin was appointed commander of the detachment. The creation of mass airborne troops began with a resolution of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR, adopted on December 11, 1932. It, in particular, noted that the development of aviation technology, as well as the results achieved in the design and dropping of fighters, cargo and combat vehicles from aircraft, require the organization of new combat units and formations of the Red Army. In order to develop the airborne business in the Red Army, train the relevant personnel and units, the Revolutionary Military Council decided to deploy a brigade on the basis of the airborne detachment of the Leningrad Military District, entrusting it with training instructors in airborne training and working out operational-tactical standards. At the same time, it was planned to form by March 1933 one airborne detachment in the Belarusian, Ukrainian, Moscow and Volga military districts. A new stage in the development of airborne troops began. And already at the beginning of 1933, special-purpose aviation battalions were formed in these districts. By the summer of 1941, the manning of five airborne corps, each numbering 10 thousand people, had ended. The combat path of the Airborne Forces is marked by many memorable dates. Thus, the 212th Airborne Brigade (commander - Lieutenant Colonel N.I. Zatevakhin) took part in the armed conflict on Khalkhin Gol. During the Soviet-Finnish War (1939-1940), the 201st, 204th and 214th Airborne Brigades fought together with the rifle units. The paratroopers carried out raids deep behind enemy lines, attacked garrisons, headquarters, communications centers, disrupted troop control, and attacked strongholds.

INFar EastVyears of the Great Patriotic War.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, all five airborne corps took part in fierce battles with invaders on the territory of Latvia, Belarus, and Ukraine. During the counter-offensive near Moscow, to assist the troops of the Western and Kaliningrad fronts in the encirclement and defeat of the Vyazma-Rzhev-Yukhnov group of Germans at the beginning of 1942, the Vyazma airborne operation was carried out with the landing of the 4th Airborne Command (commander - Major General A.F. Levashov, then Colonel A.F. Kazankin). This is the largest airborne operation during the war. In total, about 10 thousand paratroopers were thrown behind German lines. Units of the Airborne Corps in cooperation with the cavalrymen of General P.A. Belov, who broke through behind enemy lines, fought until June 1942. The paratroopers acted boldly, boldly and extremely persistently. In almost six months, the paratroopers marched through the rear of the Nazi troops for about 600 km, destroying up to 15 thousand enemy soldiers and officers. The military merits of the paratroopers during the Great Patriotic War were highly appreciated. All airborne formations were given the rank of guards. Thousands of soldiers, sergeants and officers of the Airborne Forces were awarded orders and medals, and 296 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union .

Airborne Forces in the post-war years.

During this period, the Airborne Forces began to be built on other organizational and technical principles, but always taking into account the experience of those who during the war created the airborne school of victory, glory and professionalism. In the 1950s, during the exercises of airborne units, special attention was paid to new methods of defense behind enemy lines, the survivability of landing forces, interaction with advancing troops when crossing water obstacles, and landing operations in conditions of the use of nuclear weapons. Military transport aviation is equipped with An-12 and An-22 aircraft, which are capable of delivering armored vehicles, cars, artillery, and large supplies of materiel behind enemy lines. Every year the number of exercises involving airborne assaults increased. In March 1970, a major combined arms exercise "Dvina" was held in Belarus, in which the 76th Guards Airborne Chernigov Red Banner Division took part. In just 22 minutes, more than 7 thousand paratroopers and over 150 units of military equipment were landed. And from the mid-70s, the Airborne Forces began to intensively “cover themselves with armor.”

Russia also required the training and combat capability of paratroopers at a higher level - in the UN peacekeeping mission. Now there is no battalion of Russian paratroopers in the former Yugoslavia. “Rusbat 1” was located in the Serbian Krajina, on the border of Serbia and Croatia. "Rusbat 2" - in Bosnia, in the Sarajevo region. According to the UN, Russia's "blue berets" are an example of training, discipline and reliability.

For the glorious and difficult history of the Airborne Forces, the people and the army love and respect this courageous branch of the military. The Airborne Forces are troops of a harsh moral and ../fotos/foto-after_gpw-2.html physical climate, which taught the paratrooper the principle of “serve until the end”, “until accomplished”, “until victory”. History confirms that everything comes to its own time. Paratroopers of the 30s, 40s, and 80s contributed to the defense of the Fatherland and to increasing the country's defense capability. It will continue to be so

Paratrooper training.

One of the main tasks in organizing combat training for the Airborne Forces is to teach a paratrooper to shoot accurately. And from any position, on the go, from a short stop, day or night. Shoot like a sniper and use ammo sparingly. In a real battle, a paratrooper often fires single shots from a machine gun. Every cartridge he has is worth its weight in gold.

The military work of a paratrooper is not easy: with full combat gear, a forced march to a shooting range or training ground and there on the move - combat shooting as part of a platoon or company. And a battalion tactical exercise with landing and live fire is three days of tension, when you cannot relax for a minute. In the Airborne Forces, everything is as close as possible to a combat situation: a parachute jump from an airplane; gathering at the landing site - as in battle, especially at night; searching for your airborne combat vehicle (AFV) and bringing it into combat position - just like in war.

Particular attention in the Airborne Forces is paid to the moral, psychological and physical training of personnel. Every morning the paratroopers begin with intense physical exercises, intensive physical training classes are regularly held, and after two or three months the young soldier feels an unprecedented surge of strength, acquires resistance to motion sickness and great physical exertion. An indispensable part of every physical training lesson is hand-to-hand combat. Training battles are carried out in pairs, as well as with a superior “enemy” in numbers. Running and forced marches develop excellent endurance in a person. It’s not for nothing that they say in the Airborne Forces: “A paratrooper runs as long as he can, and after that, as long as necessary.”

personal fear of jumping, with insufficient psychological preparation to overcome fear. The Airborne Forces command considers the principle true: each paratrooper is obliged to personally stow his own parachute. This greatly increases responsibility, and after two or three training maneuvers, the warrior is able, under the supervision of an instructor, to prepare the parachute for the jump. The training program for ground training of a parachutist includes training the body, the vestibular system to resist motion sickness, will, and instilling courage, determination, and courage. Preparation for a jump lasts long hours, days, and sometimes weeks, but the jump itself is just a short moment in the life of a paratrooper.

Combat capabilities
airborne troops.

To carry out their assigned tasks, the Airborne Forces are equipped with combat vehicles, self-propelled artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, as well as control and communications equipment. The existing parachute landing equipment makes it possible to drop troops and cargo in any weather and terrain conditions, day and night from various heights. Before the collapse of the USSR, the Airborne Forces included 7 airborne divisions.

Today, airborne troops form the reserve of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces. In their composition four airborne divisions, one airborne brigade, Airborne training center, combat support units and Ryazan Institute of Airborne Forces.

Management training sessions are organized on the basis of forward formations. During them, demonstration regimental exercises are carried out with landing, crossing a water obstacle, marching 150 kilometers on new BMD-3 vehicles and live firing.

In addition to combat training missions, paratroopers perform important peacekeeping missions. Today, one and a half thousand paratroopers are in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the same number of personnel are in Abkhazia. A maneuverable military group of 500 people has been formed in Dagestan. By the way, this group performed tasks near Bamut during the fighting in Chechnya. Nowadays the units are used to protect airfields, air defense radar stations and other important facilities.

The combat path of the 76th Airborne Division.

The creation day of the 76th Guards Chernigov Red Banner Airborne Division is September 1, 1939.

The first commander of the division was Colonel Vasily Vasilyevich Glagolev. The base for the deployment of the 157th Rifle Division (its primary name) was the 221st Black Sea Rifle Regiment of the 74th Taman Rifle Division, created in 1925 on the basis of the 22nd Iron Krasnodar Rifle Division.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the division was part of the troops of the North Caucasus Military District and, with the outbreak of hostilities, received the task of preparing a defensive line along the Black Sea coast.

On September 15, 1941, the division was sent to help the heroic defenders of Odessa. On September 22, the formation's units replaced the defenders and by dawn took up their starting positions for the offensive. During this offensive, the division completed its task and captured the Ilyichevka state farm and the village of Gildendorf. The Military Council of the Odessa Defense Region highly appreciated the combat performance of the division in its first battle for the city. The commander of the defensive area expressed gratitude to the personnel of the formation for their courage and bravery. Thus the division's baptism of fire took place.

By November 20, 1941, the division returned to Novorossiysk and took part in the Feodosia landing operation, which the Transcaucasian Front carried out jointly with the Black Sea Fleet. As a result of this operation, the Kerch Peninsula was cleared of the enemy and great support was provided to besieged Sevastopol.

From July 25 to July 30, 1942, the division conducted active combat operations to destroy the Nazis who crossed to the left bank of the Don. For successful military operations and the liberation of the village of Krasnoyarsk, the commander of the North Caucasus Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union S.M. Budyonny expressed gratitude to the personnel.

By August 4, 1942, the formation retreated to the northern bank of the Aksai River. From August 6 to 10, his units fought continuous battles, trying to knock the enemy off the bridgeheads they had captured and preventing them from developing the offensive. In these battles, machine gunner Private Ermakov distinguished himself. On his combat account there were over 300 exterminated Nazis. In the name of Afanasy Ivanovich Ermakov, a modest and fearless machine gunner, a glorious list of Heroes of the Soviet Union was opened in the division. This title was awarded to Ermakov by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on November 5, 1942.

Since September 1942, the division as part of the 64th Army occupied the defense at the Gornaya Polyana - Elkhi line.

On January 10, 1943, the formation of the troops of the Stalingrad Front launched a decisive offensive to destroy the encircled enemy.

Until July 3, 1943, units of the division were part of the Bryansk Front in the area of the city of Belev, Tula Region.

On July 12, units of the formation began crossing the Oka using improvised means. By the end of the day, the guards captured the bridgeheads and destroyed more than 1,500 enemy soldiers and officers, 45 firing points, 2 tanks, and captured 35 Nazis. Among others, the personnel of the 76th Division were awarded the gratitude of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

On September 8, the division departs from the Orel region near Chernigov. Over three days of continuous offensive, it advanced 70 kilometers and at dawn on September 20 approached the village of Tovstoles, three kilometers northeast of Chernigov, and then, having captured the city, continued its attack to the west. By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of September 21, 1943 No. 20, the division was thanked and given the honorary name Chernigov.

As part of the 1st Belorussian Front, on July 17, 1944, the division began an offensive northwest of Kovel. On July 21, the vanguards of the formation began to advance north, towards Brest, with fierce fighting. On July 26, troops advancing from the north and south united 20 - 25 kilometers west of Brest. The enemy group was surrounded. The next day, the division began active operations to destroy the encircled enemy. For reaching the State Border of the USSR and liberating the city of Brest, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

On January 25, 1945, as part of the 2nd Belorussian Front, with a rapid march, division units blocked the exit from the city of Torun of an encircled 32,000-strong enemy group. The enemy group defending Toruń, a powerful stronghold on the Vistula, ceased to exist.

On March 23, the division stormed the city of Tsoppot, reached the Baltic Sea and turned its front to the south. By the morning of March 25, as part of the corps, the division captured the city of Oliva and rushed to Danzig. On March 30, the liquidation of the Danzig group was completed.

Having marched from Danzig to Germany, on April 24 the division concentrated in the Kortenhuten area, 20 kilometers south of Stettin. At dawn on April 26, the formation on a wide front crossed the Rondov Canal and, having broken through the enemy’s defensive line, cleared the city of Preclav from the Nazis by the end of the day.

On May 2, the division captured the city of Güstrow, and on May 3, having covered another 40 kilometers, it cleared the cities of Karov and Buttsov of the enemy. Advance detachments reached the Baltic Sea and, on the outskirts of the city of Wismar, met with units of the airborne division of the Allied Expeditionary Army. At this point, the 76th Division ended combat operations against the Nazi troops and began patrol duty on the coast.

During the war years, 50 soldiers in the division received the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and over 12 thousand were awarded orders and medals.

Immediately after the war, the 76th division was redeployed from Germany to the territory of the Soviet Union, and at the same time it was transformed into an airborne division.

In the spring of 1947, the division was redeployed to the city of Pskov. Thus began a new stage in the history of the connection.

Year after year the skill of paratroopers improved. If earlier the main task was training in parachute jumps, and actions on the battlefield were practiced without landing, then in 1948 company tactical exercises with practical landing began. In the summer of the same year, the first demonstration battalion tactical exercise with landing was held. It was led by the division commander, later the legendary commander of the Airborne Forces, General V.F. Margelov.

The division's personnel took part in the Dnepr exercise. The guards demonstrated high military skills, earning the gratitude of the command.

With each subsequent year, the division increased its combat skills. In March 1970, the division's personnel took part in the major combined arms exercise Dvina. The actions of the paratroopers were highly appreciated by the command.

The guards-paratroopers of the formation also demonstrated high skill during the Autumn-88 exercises.

In the period from 1988 to 1992, the division's paratroopers had to “extinguish” interethnic conflicts in Armenia and Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Baltic states, Transnistria, North and South Ossetia.

In 1991, the 104th and 234th Guards Parachute Regiments were awarded the USSR Ministry of Defense Pennant "For Courage and Military Valor". Previously, the USSR Ministry of Defense Pennant was awarded to the division as a whole and its artillery regiment.

The events in Chechnya in 1994-1995 are written like a black page in the history of the division. 120 soldiers, sergeants, warrant officers and officers died, having fulfilled their military duty to the end. For the courage and heroism shown during the special task of establishing constitutional order in the territory of Chechnya, many guardsmen-paratroopers were awarded orders and medals, and ten officers were awarded the high title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Two of them - the commander of the reconnaissance company of the guard, Captain Yuri Nikitich, and the commander of the guard battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Pyatnitskikh, were awarded this high rank posthumously.

On November 17, 1998, one of the oldest regiments of the division in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - the 1140th Twice Red Banner Artillery Regiment celebrated its 80th anniversary. Formed on the basis of the 22nd artillery battalion of the 22nd Iron Krasnodar Rifle Division, which traces its history back to 1918, the artillery regiment went through a glorious battle path, and 7 Heroes of the Soviet Union were trained in its ranks. The artillery soldiers celebrated their anniversary with high performance in combat training; the regiment was recognized as the best in the Airborne Forces.

Since August 18, 1999, the personnel of the formation took part in the liquidation of illegal armed gangs on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan and the Chechen Republic as part of a regimental tactical group. During this period of time, the paratroopers of the formation had to take part in many military operations, including the liberation of the settlements of Karamakhi, Gudermes, Argun, and the blocking of the Vedeno Gorge. In most operations, the personnel received high praise from the Joint Command of the group of forces in the North Caucasus, showing courage and heroism.

Their memory will forever remain in our hearts.

The history of the famous connection continues. It is carried out by young guardsmen, successors to the military glory of front-line soldiers. It is supplemented by their military deeds by soldiers, sergeants and officers who today carry out their honorable service under the combat order-bearing Banner of the division.

Currently, contract servicemen (contract soldiers) are serving in the division.

Modern airborne forces

The fundamental changes in the military-political situation in the world that have occurred in recent years have entailed a fundamental revision and clarification of views on ensuring the military security of the state, forms, methods and means of achieving it. Realistically assessing the position of Russia, the size of its territory, the length of its borders, the current
Given the state of the Armed Forces, one should proceed from the need to have deployed groups of troops that would be guaranteed to ensure the security of Russia in all strategic directions.

In this regard, the importance of mobile forces, capable of moving by air in the shortest possible time during a period of threat to any strategic direction within the borders of the Russian Federation, is sharply increasing, providing cover for sections of the state border and facilitating timely deployment
and the creation of a group of Ground Forces, to carry out tasks to suppress armed conflicts and stabilize the situation in remote regions of Russia. The Airborne Forces have a high degree of strategic and operational-tactical mobility. Their formations and units are completely air transportable, autonomous in combat, they can be used on any terrain, and parachuted into areas inaccessible to ground forces. The Supreme High Command and the General Staff, using the Airborne Forces, can respond in a timely and flexible manner in any operational or strategic direction.

Currently, the main tasks of the Air Force
airborne troops are:
In peacetime- holding peace independently
creative operations or participation in multilateral
actions to maintain (establish) peace in re-
according to the UN, CIS in accordance with international
obligations of the Russian Federation.
During the threatened period- strengthening of covering troops
state border, participation in ensuring
operational deployment of troop groups on
threatened directions, parachute drop
landings in hard-to-reach areas; strengthening of security
and defense of important government facilities; struggle
with special enemy troops; assistance
other troops and security agencies in the fight against
terrorism and other actions in order to ensure
national security of the Russian Federation.

During hostilities- landing of various
composition and purpose of airborne assault forces and
conducting combat operations behind enemy lines for
grasping and holding, incapacitating or destroying
destruction of important objects, participation in the destruction or blockade
attacking enemy groups that have broken through
operational depth of our troops, as well as in blockades
roving and destroying landing air
landings.

Airborne troops represent the basis on which universal mobile forces can be deployed in the future. In a number of documents and instructions, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief demanded that the Government and the Ministry of Defense, when developing plans for military reform, provide for the development of the Airborne Forces. In particular, to ensure that they are staffed with personnel, weapons and equipment, ready for immediate action, and to prevent Russia from losing its leading position in the development of weapons and military equipment for the Airborne Forces. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief confirmed that the Airborne Forces are his reserve, the basis of the forces for conducting peacekeeping operations.
The command and headquarters of the Airborne Forces have developed a plan for their further construction, which provides for the development of the Airborne Forces as an independent branch of the Russian Armed Forces, capable of quickly bringing its units and subunits into combat readiness to carry out tasks for their intended purpose. The main task of reforming the Airborne Forces is to optimize the organizational structure in accordance with the established strength. The main efforts are directed: firstly, to the modern training of future commanders of parachute units, the forge of which is the only Ryazan Airborne Institute in the world. Secondly: to increase the combat capabilities of formations, units and subunits, their air mobility, ability to conduct independent combat operations, both as airborne assault forces and as part of Ground Forces groups and peacekeeping contingents. Priority attention will be paid to parachute regiments and battalions, control systems, communications and reconnaissance, as well as equipping troops with new generation combat vehicles. In the future, it is planned to reform the Airborne Forces in two directions: to reduce the number of formations intended for parachute landing; to create, on the basis of some airborne formations and units, airborne assault formations and units for operating on helicopters, as well as special operations forces.

Now the Blue Berets form the combat basis of the present and future army of Russia. The Airborne Forces are part of the mobile forces and are always ready for battle. The history of the Airborne Forces continues.

Hi all! Today we will touch upon such a topic as military service under contract in the Russian Airborne Forces. Namely, we will consider such issues as vacancies under contract in the Airborne Forces in 2019, those who serve under contract in the airborne forces, as well as the conditions for serving under contract in the Airborne Forces for military personnel and members of their families. The Airborne Forces will take a special place in our article.

Contract service in airborne regiments, divisions, military units, brigades

Contract service in the Airborne Forces is a job for real men!

Currently, the structural strength includes four full-fledged divisions, and there are also separate regiments, airborne and air assault brigades.

For those who have decided to connect their life, or at least part of it, with service in the Airborne Forces, I highly recommend studying the composition of the Airborne Forces and the locations of the units and subunits of the Russian Airborne Forces.

So, according to official information from the website of the Russian Ministry of Defense mil.ru, the Airborne Forces consists of:

76th Guards Air Assault Division, stationed in Pskov:

military unit 32515 104th Guards Air Assault Regiment
military unit 74268 234th Guards Air Assault Regiment
military unit 45377 1140 artillery regiment and others

military unit 65451 98th Guards Airborne Division, located in Ivanovo:

military unit 62295 217 Guards Parachute Regiment
military unit 71211 331st Guards Parachute Regiment (location: Kostroma)
military unit 62297 1065th Guards Artillery Red Banner Regiment (location Kostroma)
military unit 65391 215th separate guards reconnaissance company and others

7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division, location – Novorossiysk:

military unit 42091 108th air assault regiment
military unit 54801 247 air assault regiment (location: Stavropol)
military unit 40515 1141 artillery regiment (location in Anapa) and others

106th Guards Airborne Division - Tula:

military unit 41450 137th parachute regiment
military unit 33842 51st parachute regiment
military unit 93723 1182 artillery regiment (location: Naro-Fominsk) and others

Airborne regiments and brigades:

military unit 32364 11th separate guards airborne brigade, stationed in the city of Ulan-Ude
military unit 28337 45th separate guards special purpose brigade - Moscow
56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Location: Kamyshin city
military unit 73612 31st separate guards air assault brigade. Located in Ulyanovsk
military unit 71289 83rd separate guards airborne brigade. Location – Ussuriysk
military unit 54164 38th separate guards airborne communications regiment. Located in the Moscow region, in the village of Medvezhye Ozera

Cuban contract service in airborne special forces in the 45th special forces brigade

Let's start with the brigade, which, apparently, every second candidate aspires to join. Namely, in the 45th brigade (regiment) of the Airborne Forces. To avoid repetition, I’ll immediately give you a link to the material where we have already told you everything about this military unit in the article

Contract service in the Tula Airborne Forces

For many, the contract in the Airborne Forces became a successful springboard and a good lesson in life.

The next most popular is the 106th Guards Airborne Division, which is located in the hero city of Tula. Full name 106th Guards Airborne Tula Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division.

The division includes units:

parachute regiments
communications department,
material support division (MS),
medical squad,
engineering unit

Accordingly, it’s quite a lot for contract service in the 106th Airborne Division.

Contract servicemen serving under contract in the Airborne Forces in the city of Tula, during their service, live in separate living quarters (cubbies) for 4-6 soldiers. Those who do not want to live on the territory of the unit, as well as family military personnel, have the right to rent housing in the city itself. In this case, they are paid monetary compensation for renting housing.

Also, every serviceman can use it to solve their housing problems.

Since the unit is located in the city itself, there are no problems with employment of members of military families.

Airborne Forces contract service Ryazan

Those who wish to serve in the Airborne Forces in Ryazan should contact the 137th Parachute Regiment, military unit 41450 Regimental address: Ryazan - 7 Oktyabrsky Gorodok

The conditions for entering a contract in an airborne regiment are the same as for other candidates for a contract.

In 137 PDP, in addition to regular units, for example, PDB, there is:

special center,
airborne training ground

Military unit 41450 has a club, a library, a museum of military glory, a stadium and a gym.

There is a garrison military hospital on the territory of the Ryazan garrison.

There are also no problems with employing family members of contract workers. The military unit is located within the city limits. Accordingly, the state fulfills them in full.

Contract service Pskov Airborne Forces

The next place for future contract soldiers to serve is the oldest unit of the Airborne Forces, namely the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, located in the city of military glory Pskov.

As part of the 76th Guards. The DSD has the following divisions:

three air assault regiments
Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
separate reconnaissance battalion
separate communications battalion
repair and restoration battalion and others

The conditions of service and living conditions for contract servicemen are the same as in other military units of the Airborne Forces

Service under contract of the Airborne Forces Ulyanovsk

For those who have chosen to serve in the Airborne Forces and also live or are ready to move to the city of Ulyanovsk, they are lucky, because the 31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade (31 Air Assault Brigade) is located here, military unit 73612 address Ulyanovsk, 3rd Engineering travel

The 31st Airborne Brigade includes:

parachute and air assault battalions
artillery battalion
engineer company

Since 2005, all units of the brigade have been staffed exclusively by contract soldiers.

Contract in the Airborne Forces in Crimea

Back in 2016, the then commander of the Airborne Forces, Vladimir Shamanov, announced that during 2017, the 97th Airborne Assault Regiment would be recreated in Dzhankoy, Crimea. But there is no information about this yet.

Monetary allowances for military personnel under contract in the Airborne Forces

In addition to the basic payments that are due to every serviceman of the Russian Army, the Airborne Forces are entitled to, namely in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 2700 dated December 30, 2011, the salary of a contract soldier of the Airborne Forces is increased by 50 percent of the salary for a military position, provided that the serviceman has fulfilled the norm of parachute jumps established by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation for the past year.

For military personnel, for each complicated parachute jump, the allowance increases by 1 percent.

It is worth noting that in the 45th Airborne Brigade (Regiment), military personnel receive an additional 50% of their salary for military service in a special forces unit.

Airborne Forces contract service reviews

Our Airborne Forces are rapidly developing. More and more models of modern military equipment are coming into service. This means that the Airborne Forces will constantly require professional military personnel.

Regarding the reviews, I would like to say that it depends on the military unit where the service will take place, and sometimes on the military man himself. What can you say about this? How is your contract in the Airborne Forces?

The Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation are a separate branch of the Russian armed forces, located in the reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the country and directly subordinate to the Commander of the Airborne Forces. This position is currently held (since October 2016) by Colonel General Serdyukov.

The purpose of the airborne troops is to operate behind enemy lines, carry out deep raids, capture important enemy targets, bridgeheads, disrupt enemy communications and control, and carry out sabotage behind enemy lines. The Airborne Forces were created primarily as an effective instrument of offensive warfare. To cover the enemy and operate in his rear, the Airborne Forces can use airborne landings - both parachute and landing.

The airborne troops are rightfully considered the elite of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. In order to get into this branch of the military, candidates must meet very high criteria. First of all, this concerns physical health and psychological stability. And this is natural: paratroopers carry out their tasks behind enemy lines, without the support of their main forces, the supply of ammunition and the evacuation of the wounded.

The Soviet Airborne Forces were created in the 30s, the further development of this type of troops was rapid: by the beginning of the war, five airborne corps were deployed in the USSR, with a strength of 10 thousand people each. The USSR Airborne Forces played an important role in the victory over the Nazi invaders. Paratroopers actively participated in the Afghan War. The Russian Airborne Forces were officially created on May 12, 1992, they went through both Chechen campaigns, and participated in the war with Georgia in 2008.

The flag of the Airborne Forces is a blue cloth with a green stripe at the bottom. In its center there is an image of a golden open parachute and two aircraft of the same color. The flag was officially approved in 2004.

In addition to the flag, there is also an emblem of this branch of the military. This is a golden-colored flaming grenade with two wings. There is also a medium and large Airborne Forces emblem. The middle emblem depicts a double-headed eagle with a crown on its head and a shield with St. George the Victorious in the center. In one paw the eagle holds a sword, and in the other - a flaming airborne grenade. In the large emblem, Grenada is placed on a blue heraldic shield framed by an oak wreath. At its top there is a double-headed eagle.

In addition to the emblem and flag of the Airborne Forces, there is also the motto of the Airborne Forces: “Nobody but us.” The paratroopers even have their own heavenly patron - Saint Elijah.

Professional holiday of paratroopers - Airborne Forces Day. It is celebrated on August 2. On this day in 1930, a unit was parachuted for the first time to carry out a combat mission. On August 2, Airborne Forces Day is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The Russian airborne troops are armed with both conventional types of military equipment and models developed specifically for this type of troops, taking into account the specifics of its tasks.

It is difficult to name the exact number of the Russian Airborne Forces; this information is secret. However, according to unofficial data received from the Russian Ministry of Defense, it is about 45 thousand fighters. Foreign estimates of the number of this type of troops are somewhat more modest - 36 thousand people.

History of the creation of the Airborne Forces

The homeland of the Airborne Forces is the Soviet Union. It was in the USSR that the first airborne unit was created, this happened in 1930. First, a small detachment appeared, which was part of a regular rifle division. On August 2, the first parachute landing was successfully carried out during exercises at the training ground near Voronezh.

However, the first use of parachute landing in military affairs occurred even earlier, in 1929. During the siege of the Tajik city of Garm by anti-Soviet rebels, a detachment of Red Army soldiers was dropped there by parachute, which made it possible to release the settlement in the shortest possible time.

Two years later, a special purpose brigade was formed on the basis of the detachment, and in 1938 it was renamed the 201st Airborne Brigade. In 1932, by decision of the Revolutionary Military Council, special-purpose aviation battalions were created; in 1933, their number reached 29. They were part of the Air Force, and their main task was to disorganize the enemy rear and carry out sabotage.

It should be noted that the development of airborne troops in the Soviet Union was very stormy and rapid. No expense was spared on them. In the 1930s, the country was experiencing a real parachute boom; parachute jumping towers stood at almost every stadium.

During the exercises of the Kyiv Military District in 1935, a mass parachute landing was practiced for the first time. The following year, an even more massive landing was carried out in the Belarusian Military District. Foreign military observers invited to the exercises were amazed by the scale of the landings and the skill of the Soviet paratroopers.

Before the start of the war, airborne corps were created in the USSR, each of them included up to 10 thousand soldiers. In April 1941, by order of the Soviet military leadership, five airborne corps were deployed in the western regions of the country; after the German attack (in August 1941), the formation of another five airborne corps began. A few days before the German invasion (June 12), the Directorate of Airborne Forces was created, and in September 1941, paratrooper units were removed from the subordination of front commanders. Each airborne corps was a very formidable force: in addition to well-trained personnel, it was armed with artillery and light amphibious tanks.

In addition to the airborne corps, the Red Army also included mobile airborne brigades (five units), reserve airborne regiments (five units) and educational institutions that trained paratroopers.

The Airborne Forces made a significant contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders. The airborne units played a particularly important role in the initial—the most difficult—period of the war. Despite the fact that airborne troops are designed to conduct offensive operations and have a minimum of heavy weapons (compared to other branches of the military), at the beginning of the war, paratroopers were often used to “patch holes”: in defense, to eliminate sudden German breakthroughs, to releasing the encircled Soviet troops. Because of this practice, paratroopers suffered unreasonably high losses, and the effectiveness of their use decreased. Often, the preparation of landing operations left much to be desired.

Airborne units took part in the defense of Moscow, as well as in the subsequent counter-offensive. The 4th Airborne Corps was landed during the Vyazemsk landing operation in the winter of 1942. In 1943, during the crossing of the Dnieper, two airborne brigades were thrown behind enemy lines. Another major landing operation was carried out in Manchuria in August 1945. During its course, 4 thousand soldiers were landed by landing.

In October 1944, the Soviet Airborne Forces were transformed into a separate Airborne Guards Army, and in December of the same year into the 9th Guards Army. Airborne divisions turned into ordinary rifle divisions. At the end of the war, paratroopers took part in the liberation of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. The 9th Guards Army ended its glorious military journey on the Elbe.

In 1946, airborne units were introduced into the Ground Forces and were subordinate to the country's Minister of Defense.

In 1956, Soviet paratroopers took part in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising, and in the mid-60s they played a key role in pacifying another country that wanted to leave the socialist camp - Czechoslovakia.

After the end of the war, the world entered an era of confrontation between two superpowers - the USSR and the USA. The plans of the Soviet leadership were by no means limited only to defense, so the airborne troops developed especially actively during this period. The emphasis was placed on increasing the firepower of the Airborne Forces. For this purpose, a whole range of airborne equipment was developed, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, and motor vehicles. The fleet of military transport aircraft was significantly increased. In the 70s, wide-body heavy-duty transport aircraft were created, making it possible to transport not only personnel, but also heavy military equipment. By the end of the 80s, the state of the USSR military transport aviation was such that it could ensure the parachute drop of almost 75% of the Airborne Forces personnel in one flight.

At the end of the 60s, a new type of units included in the Airborne Forces was created - airborne assault units (ASH). They were not much different from the rest of the Airborne Forces, but were subordinate to the command of groups of troops, armies or corps. The reason for the creation of the DShCh was a change in the tactical plans that Soviet strategists were preparing in the event of a full-scale war. After the start of the conflict, they planned to “break” the enemy’s defenses with the help of massive landings landed in the immediate rear of the enemy.

In the mid-80s, the USSR Ground Forces included 14 air assault brigades, 20 battalions and 22 separate air assault regiments.

In 1979, the war began in Afghanistan, and the Soviet Airborne Forces took an active part in it. During this conflict, the paratroopers had to engage in counter-guerrilla warfare; of course, there was no talk of any parachute landing. Personnel were delivered to the site of combat operations using armored vehicles or vehicles; landing from helicopters was used less frequently.

Paratroopers were often used to provide security at numerous outposts and checkpoints scattered throughout the country. Typically, airborne units performed tasks more suitable for motorized rifle units.

It should be noted that in Afghanistan, the paratroopers used military equipment of the ground forces, which was more suitable for the harsh conditions of this country than their own. Also, airborne units in Afghanistan were reinforced with additional artillery and tank units.

After the collapse of the USSR, the division of its armed forces began. These processes also affected the paratroopers. They were able to finally divide the Airborne Forces only in 1992, after which the Russian Airborne Forces were created. They included all the units that were located on the territory of the RSFSR, as well as part of the divisions and brigades that were previously located in other republics of the USSR.

In 1993, the Russian Airborne Forces included six divisions, six air assault brigades and two regiments. In 1994, in Kubinka near Moscow, on the basis of two battalions, the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment (the so-called Airborne Special Forces) was created.

The 90s became a serious test for the Russian airborne troops (as well as for the entire army). The number of airborne forces was seriously reduced, some units were disbanded, and the paratroopers became subordinate to the Ground Forces. Army aviation was transferred to the air force, which significantly worsened the mobility of the airborne forces.

The Russian airborne troops took part in both Chechen campaigns; in 2008, paratroopers were involved in the Ossetian conflict. The Airborne Forces have repeatedly taken part in peacekeeping operations (for example, in the former Yugoslavia). Airborne units regularly participate in international exercises; they guard Russian military bases abroad (Kyrgyzstan).

Structure and composition of the airborne troops of the Russian Federation

Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces consist of command structures, combat units and units, as well as various institutions that provide them.

Structurally, the Airborne Forces have three main components:

Airborne. It includes all airborne units.
Air assault. Consists of air assault units.
Mountain. It includes air assault units designed to operate in mountainous areas.

Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces include four divisions, as well as individual brigades and regiments. Airborne troops, composition:

76th Guards Air Assault Division, stationed in Pskov.
98th Guards Airborne Division, located in Ivanovo.
7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division, stationed in Novorossiysk.
106th Guards Airborne Division - Tula.

Airborne regiments and brigades:

11th Separate Guards Airborne Brigade, headquartered in the city of Ulan-Ude.
45th separate guards special purpose brigade (Moscow).
56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Place of deployment - the city of Kamyshin.
31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Located in Ulyanovsk.
83rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade. Location: Ussuriysk.
38th Separate Guards Airborne Communications Regiment. Located in the Moscow region, in the village of Medvezhye Ozera.

In 2013, the creation of the 345th Air Assault Brigade in Voronezh was officially announced, but then the formation of the unit was postponed to a later date (2017 or 2018). There is information that in 2018, an air assault battalion will be deployed on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, and in the future, on its basis, a regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division, which is currently deployed in Novorossiysk, will be formed.

In addition to combat units, the Russian Airborne Forces also include educational institutions that train personnel for the Airborne Forces. The main and most famous of them is the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, which also trains officers for the Russian Airborne Forces. The structure of this type of troops also includes two Suvorov schools (in Tula and Ulyanovsk), the Omsk Cadet Corps and the 242nd training center located in Omsk.

Armament and equipment of the Russian Airborne Forces

The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use both combined arms equipment and models that were created specifically for this type of troops. Most types of weapons and military equipment of the Airborne Forces were developed and manufactured during the Soviet period, but there are also more modern models created in modern times.

The most popular types of airborne armored vehicles are currently the BMD-1 (about 100 units) and BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units) airborne combat vehicles. Both of these vehicles were produced in the Soviet Union (BMD-1 in 1968, BMD-2 in 1985). They can be used for landing both by landing and by parachute. These are reliable vehicles that have been tested in many armed conflicts, but they are clearly outdated, both morally and physically. Even representatives of the top leadership of the Russian army, which was adopted into service in 2004, openly declare this. However, its production is slow; today there are 30 BMP-4 units and 12 BMP-4M units in service.

Airborne units also have a small number of armored personnel carriers BTR-82A and BTR-82AM (12 units), as well as the Soviet BTR-80. The most numerous armored personnel carrier currently used by the Russian Airborne Forces is the tracked BTR-D (more than 700 units). It was put into service in 1974 and is very outdated. It should be replaced by the BTR-MDM “Shell”, but so far its production is moving very slowly: today there are from 12 to 30 (according to various sources) “Shell” in combat units.

The anti-tank weapons of the Airborne Forces are represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled anti-tank gun (36 units), the BTR-RD Robot self-propelled anti-tank systems (more than 100 units) and a wide range of different ATGMs: Metis, Fagot, Konkurs and "Cornet".

The Russian Airborne Forces also have self-propelled and towed artillery: the Nona self-propelled gun (250 units and several hundred more units in storage), the D-30 howitzer (150 units), and the Nona-M1 mortars (50 units) and "Tray" (150 units).

Airborne air defense systems consist of man-portable missile systems (various modifications of “Igla” and “Verba”), as well as short-range air defense systems “Strela”. Special attention should be paid to the newest Russian MANPADS “Verba”, which was only recently put into service and is now being put into trial operation in only a few units of the Russian Armed Forces, including the 98th Airborne Division.

The Airborne Forces also operate self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery mounts BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (150 units) of Soviet production and towed anti-aircraft artillery mounts ZU-23-2.

In recent years, the Airborne Forces have begun to receive new models of automotive equipment, of which the Tiger armored car, the Snowmobile A-1 all-terrain vehicle and the KAMAZ-43501 truck should be noted.

The airborne troops are sufficiently equipped with communication, control and electronic warfare systems. Among them, modern Russian developments should be noted: electronic warfare systems "Leer-2" and "Leer-3", "Infauna", the control system for air defense complexes "Barnaul", automated troop control systems "Andromeda-D" and "Polet-K".

The Airborne Forces are armed with a wide range of small arms, including both Soviet models and newer Russian developments. The latter include the Yarygin pistol, PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The main personal weapon of the fighters remains the Soviet AK-74 assault rifle, but deliveries to the troops of the more advanced AK-74M have already begun. To carry out sabotage missions, paratroopers can use the silent machine gun “Val”.

The Airborne Forces are armed with the Pecheneg (Russia) and NSV (USSR) machine guns, as well as the Kord heavy machine gun (Russia).

Among the sniper systems, it is worth noting the SV-98 (Russia) and Vintorez (USSR), as well as the Austrian sniper rifle Steyr SSG 04, which was purchased for the needs of the special forces of the Airborne Forces. The paratroopers are armed with the AGS-17 “Flame” and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers, as well as the SPG-9 “Spear” mounted grenade launcher. In addition, a number of hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers of both Soviet and Russian production are used.

To conduct aerial reconnaissance and adjust artillery fire, the Airborne Forces use Russian-made Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles. The exact number of Orlans in service with the Airborne Forces is unknown.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

Structure of the Russian Airborne Forces

In this article we will start talking about the organizational structure of the Airborne Forces. On the occasion of the holiday of the airborne troops, it makes sense to talk about some components of the structure of the Russian Airborne Forces, where people who are most directly related to the airborne forces serve and work. Let’s try to clearly define where everything is located and who is doing what exactly.

Like any army structure, the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation has a clear, well-coordinated organized structure, consisting of the administrative apparatus of the airborne troops, two airborne assault (mountain) and two airborne divisions, separate airborne and airborne brigades.

Also, the structure of the Russian Airborne Forces includes a separate communications regiment, a separate guards regiment for special purposes, as well as some educational institutions - the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, the Ulyanovsk Guards Suvorov Military School, and the Nizhny Novgorod Cadet School. In short, this is approximately what the organizational structure of the Russian Airborne Forces looks like. Now let's explore this topic in more detail.

It is, of course, possible to say something in detail about the administrative apparatus of the structure of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation, but there is not much sense in this. Let us just note that in the ranks of the Airborne Forces there are approximately 4 thousand officers of various ranks, including sergeants. This figure can be considered quite optimal.

Personnel composition of the Russian Airborne Forces

In addition to the officers, in the ranks of the Russian Airborne Forces there are also contract servicemen, conscripts, as well as special civilian personnel. In total, the structure of the Airborne Forces in our country numbers approximately 35 thousand soldiers and officers, as well as about 30 thousand civilian personnel, workers and employees. Not so little, if you think about it, especially for elite troops and the training corresponding to the elite in all spheres of military life.

Now let's take a little more detail about the divisions that are part of the organizational structure of the Airborne Forces. As stated above, it consists of two airborne and two air assault divisions. More recently, until 2006, all divisions of the Russian Airborne Forces were airborne. However, subsequently the leadership decided that such a number of paratroopers was not required in the structure of the Russian Airborne Forces, so half of the existing divisions were reformatted into air assault divisions.

This is not a whim of the Russian command exclusively, but the spirit of the times, when it is often easier not to drop parachute troops, but to land an elite unit on special transport helicopters. All sorts of situations happen in war.

The famous 7th division, based in Novorossiysk since the 90s, and the 76th, the oldest among all airborne divisions, located in Pskov, were reformatted into air assault divisions. The 98th Ivanovskaya and 106th Tula remained airborne. It's about the same with individual brigades. The airborne brigades in Ulan-Ude and Ussuriysk remained airborne, but the Ulyanovsk and Kamyshinskaya became air assault. So the balance of both in the structure of the Russian Airborne Forces is approximately the same.

Well, among other things, individual tank and motorized rifle companies and reconnaissance battalions also undergo programmatic airborne training, although they are not listed in the organizational structure of the Russian Airborne Forces. But who knows, what if they suddenly have to act together and perform similar tasks?

Separate regiments in the structure of the Russian Airborne Forces

Now let's move on to individual regiments that are part of the structure of the Russian Airborne Forces. There are two of them: the 38th separate communications regiment and the 45th special purpose guards regiment. The 38th Signal Regiment was formed after the Great Patriotic War in Belarus. Specific tasks are to ensure communication between headquarters and subordinates on the front line.

In the most difficult conditions, signalmen certainly marched in combat landing formations, organizing and maintaining telephone and radio communications. Previously, the regiment was located in the Vitebsk region, but over time it was relocated to the Moscow region. The regiment's home base is the village of Medvezhye Ozera, which is explained by the fact that it is there that the huge Communications Satellite Control Center is located.

The 45th Guards Special Purpose Regiment, based in Kubinka near Moscow, is the youngest military unit of the Russian Airborne Forces structure. It was formed in 1994 on the basis of two other separate special forces battalions. At the same time, despite its youth, over the 20 years of its existence the regiment has already managed to be awarded the Orders of Alexander Nevsky and Kutuzov.

Educational institutions in the structure of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation

And finally, a few words should be said about educational institutions. As mentioned above, there are several of them in the organizational structure of the Russian Airborne Forces. The most famous, of course, is RVVDKU - Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, which since 1996 has been named after Vasily Filippovich Margelov. I think it’s not worth explaining to the paratroopers what kind of person he is.

In the organizational structure of the Airborne Forces, the Ryazan School is the oldest - it has been operating since 1918, even when the concept of “airborne assault” did not yet exist in the ranks of the Red Army. But this did not stop the school from producing trained, qualified fighters, masters of their craft. Ryazan became a forge of airborne personnel around the 1950s.

Junior commanders and specialists in the Airborne Forces are trained at the 242nd training center. This center began to form back in the 1960s with the participation of Margelov himself, and received its modern place in the organizational structure of the Airborne Forces in 1987. In 1992, the 242nd training center was transferred from Lithuania to the city of Omsk. This training center trains junior commanders of all technical equipment adopted by the airborne troops, radiotelephonists, howitzer commanders and artillerymen, and gunners of airborne combat vehicles.

In the organizational structure of the Russian Airborne Forces there are other educational institutions that deserve attention, such as the 332nd warrant officer school or the Ulyanovsk Guards Suvorov Military School, and you can write and write a lot more about them, but there simply isn’t enough space on the entire site to mention all the most interesting moments and achievements of all components of the Airborne Forces structure.

Conclusion

Therefore, we will leave space for the future and, perhaps, a little later we will talk in more detail about each division, brigade, and educational institution in a separate article. We have no doubt - extremely worthy people serve and work there, the real elite of the Russian army, and sooner or later we will speak about them in as much detail as possible.

If we sum up all of the above, then studying the organizational structure of the Russian Airborne Forces does not represent any special work - it is extremely transparent and understandable to everyone. Perhaps some difficulties arise in connection with the study of movements and reorganizations immediately after the collapse of the USSR, but this already seems inevitable. Nevertheless, even now some changes are constantly taking place in the structure of the Russian Airborne Forces, albeit not too large-scale. But this has more to do with optimizing the work of the airborne troops as much as possible.