Russian Air Force. Russian Air Force: development history and current composition. General overview of the Russian air fleet

| Types of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation | Aerospace Forces (VKS). Air Force

Military establishment Russian Federation

Aerospace Forces (VKS)

Air Force

From the history of creation

Aviation took its first steps without a sufficient scientific base, only thanks to enthusiasts. However, in late XIX- early XX century. theoretical and experimental researches in this area appeared. The leading role in the development of aviation belongs to the Russian scientists N. E. Zhukovsky and S. A. Chaplygin. The first successful flight of an aircraft was carried out on December 17, 1903 by American mechanics brothers W. and O. Wright.

Subsequently, various types of aircraft were created in Russia and some other countries. Their speed then reached 90-120 km / h. The use of aviation during the First World War determined the importance of the aircraft as a new weapon, caused the division of aviation into fighter, bomber and reconnaissance.

In the belligerent countries during the war years, the fleet of aircraft has expanded, and their characteristics have improved. The speed of the fighters reached 200-220 km / h, and the ceiling increased from 2 to 7 km. Since the mid 20s. 20th century duralumin began to be widely used in aircraft construction. In the 30s. in the design of aircraft, they switched from a biplane to a monoplane, which made it possible to increase the speed of fighters to 560-580 km / h.

A powerful impetus in the development of aviation was the Second World War. After it, jet aviation and helicopter construction began to develop rapidly. The Air Force has supersonic aircraft. In the 80s. much attention was paid to the creation of short takeoff and landing aircraft, large payload, and the improvement of helicopters. Currently, some countries are working on the creation and improvement of orbital and aerospace aircraft.

Organizational structure of the Air Force

Air Force Command
Aviation (types of aviation - bomber, assault, fighter, air defense, reconnaissance, transport and special);
Anti-aircraft missile troops
Radio engineering troops
Special Troops
units and institutions of the rear

Air Force - the most mobile and maneuverable type of the Armed Forces, designed to protect the organs of the highest state and military administration, strategic nuclear forces, groupings of troops, important administrative and industrial centers and regions of the country from reconnaissance and air strikes, strikes against aviation, land and sea groups enemy, its administrative, political, industrial and economic centers in order to disrupt the state and military administration, disrupt the work of the rear and transport, as well as conduct aerial reconnaissance and air transportation. They can perform these tasks under any weather conditions, at any time of the day and year.

The main tasks of the Air Force in modern conditions

opening the beginning of an attack by an air enemy;
notification of the main headquarters of the Armed Forces, headquarters of military districts, fleets, civil defense agencies about the beginning of an enemy air attack;
gaining and maintaining air supremacy;
covering troops and rear facilities from aerial reconnaissance, air and space strikes;
air support for the Ground Forces and the Navy;
destruction of objects of the military-economic potential of the enemy;
violation of the military and state administration of the enemy;
the destruction of nuclear missile, anti-aircraft and aviation groups of the enemy and his reserves, as well as air and sea landings;
defeating enemy ship groupings at sea, in the ocean, at naval bases, in ports and bases;
dropping military equipment and landing troops;
transportation by air of troops and military equipment;
conducting strategic, operational and tactical air reconnaissance;
control over the use of airspace in the border zone.

The Air Force includes the following types of troops (Fig. 1):

aviation (types of aviation - bomber, assault, fighter, air defense, reconnaissance, transport and special);
anti-aircraft missile troops;
radio engineering troops;
special forces;
units and institutions of the rear.

Aircraft units are armed with aircraft, seaplanes and helicopters. The basis of the combat power of the Air Force is supersonic all-weather aircraft equipped with a variety of bomber, missile and small arms and cannon weapons.

The anti-aircraft missile and radio engineering troops are armed with various anti-aircraft missile systems, short-range air defense systems, radar stations and other means of armed struggle.

AT Peaceful time The Air Force performs the tasks of protecting the state border of Russia in airspace, notify about the flights of foreign reconnaissance vehicles in the border zone.

bomber aviation is armed with long-range (strategic) and front-line (tactical) bombers various types. It is designed to defeat groupings of troops, destroy important military, energy facilities and communications centers mainly in the strategic and operational depth of the enemy’s defense. The bomber can carry bombs of various calibers, both conventional and nuclear, as well as guided missiles air-to-surface class.

Attack aircraft designed for aviation support of troops, destruction of manpower and objects mainly on cutting edge, in the tactical and immediate operational depth of the enemy, as well as orders to combat aircraft enemy in the air.
One of the main requirements for an attack aircraft is the high accuracy of hitting ground targets. Armament: large-caliber guns, bombs, rockets.

Fighter aviation air defense is the main maneuvering force of the air defense system and is designed to cover the most important directions and objects from enemy air attack. It is capable of destroying the enemy at maximum ranges from the defended objects.
Air defense aviation is armed with air defense fighter aircraft, combat helicopters, special and transport aircraft and helicopters.

reconnaissance aviation Designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance of the enemy, terrain and weather, can destroy enemy hidden objects.
Reconnaissance flights can also be carried out by bomber, fighter-bomber, attack and fighter aircraft. To do this, they are specially equipped with photographic equipment for day and night shooting at various scales, high-resolution radio and radar stations, heat direction finders, sound recording and television equipment, and magnetometers.
Reconnaissance aviation is subdivided into tactical, operational and strategic reconnaissance aviation.

Transport aviation designed for the transportation of troops, military equipment, weapons, ammunition, fuel, food, airborne landings, evacuation of the wounded, sick, etc.

Special aviation designed for long-range radar detection and guidance, refueling aircraft in the air, maintaining electronic warfare, radiation, chemical and biological protection, providing management and communications, meteorological and technical support, rescue of crews in distress, evacuation of the wounded and sick.

Anti-aircraft missile troops and are designed to protect the country's most important facilities and groupings of troops from enemy air strikes.
They constitute the main firepower of the air defense system (AD) and are armed with anti-aircraft guns. missile systems and anti-aircraft missile systems for various purposes, possessing great firepower and high accuracy of defeating enemy air attack weapons.

Radio engineering troops- the main source of information about air enemy and are designed to conduct its radar reconnaissance, control the flights of its aircraft and comply with the rules for the use of airspace by aircraft of all departments.
They issue information about the beginning of an air attack, combat information for anti-aircraft missile troops and air defense aviation, as well as information for managing formations, units and subunits of air defense.
Radio engineering troops are armed with radar stations and radar systems capable of any time of the year and day, regardless of meteorological conditions and interference, to detect not only air, but also surface targets.

Units and divisions of communications are intended for the deployment and operation of communication systems in order to ensure command and control of troops in all types of combat activities.

Units and subdivisions of electronic warfare designed to interfere with airborne radars, bomb sights, communications and radio navigation means of enemy air attack.

Units and divisions of communications and radio engineering support designed to provide control of aviation units and subunits, aircraft navigation, takeoff and landing of aircraft and helicopters.

Units and subunits of the engineering troops, as well as units and subunits of radiation, chemical and biological protection are designed to carry out the most challenging tasks engineering and chemical support, respectively.

The importance of the air force in modern war huge, and conflicts recent decades clearly confirm this. The Russian Air Force is second only to the US Air Force in terms of the number of aircraft. Russian military aviation has a long and glorious history, until recently the Russian Air Force was a separate type of troops, 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. Except glorious history, our country can boast of a significant technological backlog, which allows us to independently produce military aircraft of any kind.

Today, Russian military aviation is going through a difficult period of its development: its structure is changing, new aviation equipment is being put into service, and generations are changing. However, events recent months in Syria showed that the Russian Air Force can successfully carry out its combat missions in any conditions.

History of the Air Force 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, one of the founders of aerodynamics, Zhukovsky, became its head. Within its walls, scientific and theoretical work was carried out aimed at improving aviation technology.

In 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 lasted until 1917.

Russian aviation took an active part in the First World War, although the domestic industry of that time lagged far behind other countries participating in this conflict. Most of the combat aircraft that Russian pilots flew at that time were manufactured at foreign factories.

But still there were interesting finds among domestic designers. In Russia, the first multi-engine bomber "Ilya Muromets" was created (1915).

The Russian air force was divided into squadrons, which included 6-7 aircraft each. Detachments united in air groups. The army and navy had their own aviation.

At the beginning of the war, aircraft were used for reconnaissance or artillery fire, but very quickly they began to be used to bombard the enemy. Soon fighters appeared, and air battles began.

The Russian pilot Nesterov made the first air 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 have participated in 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 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 flying schools were opened. A whole galaxy of talented aircraft designers appeared in the country: Polyakov, Tupolev, Ilyushin, Petlyakov, Lavochnikov and others.

In the prewar period, the armed forces received a large number of new models of aviation equipment, which was not inferior to foreign analogues: fighters MiG-3, Yak-1, LaGG-3, long-range bomber TB-3.

By the beginning of the war, the Soviet industry managed to produce more than 20 thousand military aircraft of various modifications. In the summer of 1941, the factories of the USSR 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. Soviet pilots did not have the proper experience, their tactics were outdated, as well as most of Soviet aviation technology.

The situation began to change only by 1943, when the industry of the USSR mastered the production of modern combat vehicles, and the Germans had to best forces sent to defend Germany from Allied air raids.

By the end of the war, the numerical superiority of the USSR Air Force became overwhelming. During the war years, more than 27 thousand Soviet pilots died.

On July 16, 1997, by the Decree of the President of Russia, the the new kind troops - Air Force of the Russian Federation. Part new structure included the air defense troops and the air force. In 1998, the necessary structural changes were completed, the Main Headquarters Air Force of the Russian Federation, 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 the Russian Aerospace Forces were introduced into Syria, where they are currently located.

Around the middle of the last decade, an active modernization of the Russian air force began.

Old aircraft are being modernized, new equipment is being supplied to the units, new ones are being built and old air bases are being restored. The development of the fifth generation fighter T-50 is underway, which is at the final stage.

The monetary allowance of military personnel has been significantly increased, today pilots have the opportunity to spend enough time in the air and hone their skills, exercises have become regular.

In 2008, the reform of the air force started. The structure of the Air Force was divided into commands, air bases and brigades. Commands were created territorial principle 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 carried out by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and the direct command is the High 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 VKS includes space troops, air defense and missile defense units.

The Russian Air Force includes a long-range, military transport and army aviation. In addition, the Air Force includes anti-aircraft, missile and radio engineering troops. The Russian Air Force also has its own special troops, which perform many important functions: provide intelligence and communications, engage in electronic warfare, rescue operations and weapons protection. mass destruction. The Air Force also includes a meteorological and medical service, engineering divisions, support units and rear 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, in terms of size, the Russian Air Force is second only to the US Air Force. In 2010, the number of Russian air forces was 148 thousand people, about 3.6 thousand various units of aviation equipment were in operation, and about 1 thousand more were in storage.

After the 2008 reform, the air regiments turned into air bases; in 2010, there were 60-70 such bases.

The following tasks are set for the Russian Air Force:

reflection of enemy aggression in the air and outer space;
protection from air strikes of military and state administration points, administrative and industrial centers, and other important state infrastructure facilities;
inflicting defeat on enemy troops using various types of ammunition, including nuclear;
conducting reconnaissance operations;
direct support of other types and branches of the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

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, assault, bomber, reconnaissance.

Strategic and long-range aviation is part of the Russian nuclear triad and is capable of carrying different kinds 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 is armed with 16 Tu-160 aircraft. These military aircraft can be armed with cruise missiles and free-fall bombs. Whether the 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 machine has undergone a deep modernization, it can be armed with cruise missiles and free-fall 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 a 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.

Fighter aviation of the Russian Air Force is currently represented by Su-27, MiG-29, Su-30, Su-35, MiG-31, Su-34 (fighter-bomber).

. This machine is the result of a deep modernization of the Su-27, it can be attributed to the 4 ++ generation. The fighter has increased maneuverability and is equipped with advanced electronic equipment. Start of operation of the Su-35 - 2014. The total number of aircraft - 48 cars.

. The famous attack aircraft, created back in the mid-70s of the last century. One of the best vehicles of its class in the world, the Su-25 has been involved in dozens of conflicts. Today, about 200 Rooks are in service, another 100 are in storage. This aircraft is being upgraded and will be completed in 2020.

. Front-line bomber with variable wing geometry, designed to overcome enemy air defenses at low altitude and supersonic speed. The Su-24 is a morally obsolete machine, it is planned to be decommissioned by 2020. 111 units remain in service.

. The latest fighter-bomber. Now the Russian Air Force is armed with 75 such aircraft.

Transport aviation Russian Air Force represented by several hundred different aircraft, the vast majority developed back in the USSR: An-22, An-124 Ruslan, Il-86, An-26, An-72, An-140, An-148 and other models.

Training aircraft include: Yak-130, Czech aircraft L-39 Albatros and Tu-134UBL.

The Ka-50 helicopter has been withdrawn from serial production. To date, about a hundred Ka-52 units and more than a hundred Mi-28 Night Hunter helicopters have been delivered to the troops.

Most of all, the Mi-24 (620 units) and Mi-8 (570 units) remain in service. These are reliable but old soviet cars, which can be used for some time after a minimal upgrade.

Prospects for the Russian Air Force

Now work is underway on the creation of several aircraft, some of them are in the final stage.

The main novelty, which should soon enter service with the Russian Air Force and significantly strengthen them, is Russian complex front-line aviation of the fifth generation T-50 (PAK FA). The aircraft has already been shown several times general public are currently undergoing prototype testing. 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 the troops in 2019.

Of the promising projects, it is also worth noting the Il-214 and Il-112 transport aircraft, which should replace the obsolete Anas, as well as the new MiG-35 fighter, they plan to start delivering it to the troops this year.

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On July 30 (August 12), 1912, a special authority for the military administration of aviation and aeronautics was created as part of the Russian army. This day is officially established in the Russian Federation as Air Force Day.

By the beginning of World War I, Russia had 39 detachments armed with 263 aircraft intended for military use. During the war years, air defense began to take shape structurally to cover the most important centers of the country. One of the first on December 8, 1914, the air defense of the capital of Russia - Petrograd and its environs, was created, which organizationally included anti-aircraft artillery batteries, air crews, and a network of air surveillance posts. The names of the creators of the “Russian school of air combat” P.N. are inscribed in the history of the First World War. Nesterova, E.N. Krutenya, A.A. Kozakova, K.K. Artseulova, N.A. Yatsuka. By the end of the First World War, aviation became an independent branch of the Ground Forces.

With the development of military aviation, the organizational formation of the air defense troops (since 1928 - air defense (air defense) went on. Separate divisions were created for air defense, since 1924 - anti-aircraft artillery regiments.

In 1932, the Air Force received the status of an independent branch of the military. The Air Force of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA) was organizationally divided into military, army and front-line aviation. In 1933, heavy bomber aviation was structurally formalized (as a means of the High Command).

On May 10, 1932, the Air Defense Directorate of the Red Army was created. Formed separate brigades, divisions, air defense corps. On November 9, 1941, the Air Defense Forces of the country's territory acquired the status of an independent branch of the military. In January 1942, air defense aviation took shape organizationally within them. The branches of the air defense forces, except for fighter aircraft (IA), were flak(ZA) and air surveillance, warning and communications troops (VNOS).

During the years of the Great Patriotic War The Air Force and Air Defense Forces had operational-strategic formations: air armies, fronts and air defense armies. Over the years of the war, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces destroyed more than 64 thousand enemy aircraft in air battles, anti-aircraft fire and at airfields. More than 280 thousand aviators and air defense soldiers were awarded orders and medals, 2513 people were awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union, 65 pilots were awarded this title twice, and two - A.I. Pokryshkin and I.N. Kozhedub - three times.

In the post-war years, the Air Force made the transition from piston to jet, supersonic aviation, and air defense created all-weather fighter-interceptors, anti-aircraft missile and radar systems.

And at present, the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces, united from January 1, 1999 into one branch of the Armed Forces - the Air Force, stand guard over the peaceful skies of the country.

The modern Air Force was formed by the merger of two forces - the Air Defense Forces and the Air Force. Now this is a completely new type of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. They differ in operational-strategic properties, purpose. Now these troops are assigned completely different tasks.

Now the organizational structures are the air armies of the Supreme Command (SN), the air armies of the Supreme High Command (VTA) and individual air defense formations.

The unification of the Air Force and Air Defense was the first action of this kind in the domestic military history.

They report directly to the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force. Also, in an operational manner, they can submit to the commanders of the military districts. During military operations - the commander of the troops of the fronts.

During the unification, there was a reduction in the combat strength (compared to 1991). At the same time, bomber and assault (strike) accounts for about 1/3 of the total number of air regiments.

There are two types of military operations (based on the practice of military art, both domestic and world). These types are: offensive (counter-offensive is also implied) and defense.

The first in the armed forces have always developed ground troops, then, with the development of forces and means of armed struggle, the naval forces. The last to develop is the air force.

All branches of the Armed Forces have a strictly defined dominant physical environment for conducting military operations. So for the NE - land, the Navy - the sea; Air force - airspace.

In the second half of the 50s, strange as it may seem, two more types of aircraft began to form. These troops were the Air Defense Forces and the Strategic Missile Forces. Now the USSR is the only country where there are five types of troops. Let's list them:, Air Force, Navy, Air Defense Forces, Strategic Missile Forces.

It is no longer a secret that this was one of the many mistakes of the political and military leadership of the communist regime.

This mistake was decided to be corrected four decades later. In 1999, the Armed Forces became not five types, but four types. To beginning of XXI century, Russia again undertakes reform and becomes three-structural (this was before 1954). At the same time, the status of a nuclear power remains the same, one might even say that it is being strengthened.

New types of troops ( combined arms armies, tank armies, air fleets, air armies, air forces of military districts, etc.) can be created only with the constant development of the forces and means of armed struggle.

In 1936, for the first time in the Soviet Union, an operational aviation association was created - the aviation army of the VGK reserve (army special purpose- AND HE). Already in 1940, in October, on the basis of three GAs, the first operational-strategic aviation association of the USSR Air Force was formed - the Long-Range Bomber Aviation of the High Command (DBA GK). They are the forerunner of modern DA.

At further development theory and practice, these troops have a new application - operations.

It is worth noting a very interesting fact. Even then, an independent strategic air operation was considered the main and fundamental form of application of the DBA GK.

All combat operations took place with the participation of parts of the DBA, and were considered as an integral part of military operations.

Now it has become the norm to conduct military operations with the support of aviation. An example is the campaign conducted by the Air Force of the multinational forces during the Gulf War (1991).

A sufficient number of military digs ("Fox in the Desert", US and NATO aggression against Yugoslavia) have shown that air operations with widespread use precision weapons, especially cruise missiles sea and air based (KRMV, ALCM) are the main ones in the attack and inflicting military defeat on the enemy.

The experience of armed struggle became the main determining factor in choosing the method of carrying out military actions. Now it is already difficult to abandon the operation as a form and tactics of warfare, they must be constantly learned, developed as an integral constituent part military art.

The operation and combat actions have one beginning and they are mutually conditioned. But nevertheless, they are distinguishable from each other in terms of content and methods of performing combat missions, which is important practical value, both for theory and especially for the practice of preparing and conducting operations (including air ones).

The process of degradation of the Russian Air Force (a rapid decrease in the number and readiness of personnel, aircraft and airfields, a small number of flights due to insufficient funding) actively went into 1990s and stopped at the beginning 2000s years. With 2009 started overhaul and major modernization of the entire Russian Air Force fleet.

In January 2008 commander-in-chief of the Air Force A. N. Zelin called the state of Russia's aerospace defense critical AT 2009 purchases new aircraft for the Russian Air Force approached the indicators of purchases of Soviet-era aviation . Fifth generation fighter being tested PAK FA, January 29 2010 took his first flight. The entry into the troops of the 5th generation fighters is planned for 2015.

According to a study by an Australian think tank Air Power Australia, published in February 2009, the level of Russian air defense systems has reached a level at which the possibility of the survival of US military aviation during an armed conflict is excluded.

In 1947 -- 1950s mass production and mass entry into the armed forces of jet aircraft began.

With 1952 The air defense forces of the country are equipped with anti-aircraft missiles.

Annually for armament the USSR Armed Forces received 400-600 aircraft. (From the answers of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Colonel-General A. Zelin at a press conference on " MAX-2009 » August 20, 2009).

Central Bank of Russia May 4, 2009 released three silver commemorative coins dignity 1 ruble dedicated to the Russian Air Force:

Single obverse all three coins

Reverse coins with the emblem of the Air Force armed forces Russian Federation

With the image of a fighter Su-27

With the image of a bomber "Ilya Muromets"

military air force missile

Air Force Day is celebrated in Russia on August 12 in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 549 dated May 31, 2006 “On the Establishment professional holidays and memorable days in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation". This holiday has received the status of a memorable day.

Formation of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Russian Federation (1992–1998)

The process of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the events that followed it markedly weakened the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces (Air Defense). A significant part of the aviation group (about 35%) remained on the territory of the former Soviet republics (more than 3,400 aircraft, including 2,500 combat aircraft).

Also, on their territories, the airfield network most prepared for basing military aviation remained, which, in comparison with the USSR, was almost halved in the Russian Federation (primarily in the Western strategic direction). The level of flight and combat training of Air Force pilots has sharply decreased.

In connection with the disbandment a large number radio engineering units, a continuous radar field over the territory of the state disappeared. was significantly weakened and general system air defense of the country.

Russia, last of former republics USSR, began building the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces as an integral part of its own Armed Forces (decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 7, 1992). The priorities of this construction were the prevention of a significant decrease in the level of combat capability of formations and units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces, the reduction of personnel through the revision and optimization of their organizational structure, the decommissioning of obsolete weapons and military equipment etc.

During this period, the combat strength of the Air Force and Air Defense Aviation was represented almost exclusively by fourth-generation aircraft (Tu-22M3, Su-24M/MR, Su-25, Su-27, MiG-29 and MiG-31). Total population Air Force and Air Defense Aviation was reduced almost three times - from 281 to 102 air regiments.

As of January 1, 1993, the Russian Air Force had combat strength: two commands (long-range and military transport aviation (VTA)), 11 aviation associations, 25 air divisions, 129 air regiments (including 66 combat and 13 military transport). The aircraft fleet was 6561 aircraft, excluding aircraft stored at reserve bases (including 2957 combat aircraft).

At the same time, measures were taken to withdraw Air Force formations, formations and units from the territories of far and near abroad countries, including the 16th Air Army (VA) from Germany, 15 VA from the Baltic countries.

Period 1992 - early 1998. became a big time painstaking work governing bodies Air Force and Air Defense Forces to develop a new concept of military construction of the Russian Armed Forces, its aerospace defense with the implementation of the principle of defense sufficiency in the development of the Air Defense Forces and offensive nature in the use of the Air Force.

During these years, the Air Force had to take a direct part in the armed conflict on the territory of the Chechen Republic (1994-1996). In the future, the experience gained made it possible to more thoughtfully and with high efficiency to conduct an active phase of the counterterrorist operation in the North Caucasus in 1999-2003.

In the 1990s, in connection with the beginning of the collapse of the unified air defense field of the Soviet Union and former countries- members of the Organization Warsaw Pact, there was an urgent need to recreate its analogue within the boundaries of the former Soviet republics. In February 1995, Commonwealth countries Independent States(CIS) signed an Agreement on the creation of a Joint Air Defense System of the CIS Member States, designed to solve the tasks of protecting state borders in the airspace, as well as to conduct coordinated collective actions of air defense forces to repel a possible aerospace attack on one of the countries or a coalition states.

However, assessing the process of accelerating the physical aging of weapons and military equipment, the Defense Committee State Duma Russian Federation came to disappointing conclusions. As a result, a new concept military development, where before 2000 it was planned to reorganize the branches of the Armed Forces, reducing their number from five to three. As part of this reorganization, two independent branches of the Armed Forces were to be united in one form: the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces.

A new kind of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 16, 1997 No. 725 "On priority measures to reform the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and improve their structure", by January 1, 1999, a new branch of the Armed Forces was formed - the Air Force. AT short time The Air Force High Command developed a regulatory framework for a new branch of the Armed Forces, which made it possible to ensure the continuity of the management of Air Force formations, maintaining their combat readiness at the required level, and fulfilling tasks combat duty on air defense, as well as conducting operational training activities.

By the time of unification into a single service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Air Force consisted of 9 operational formations, 21 aviation divisions, 95 air regiments, including 66 combat aviation regiments, 25 separate aviation squadrons and detachments based on 99 airfields. The total number of aircraft fleet was 5,700 aircraft (including 20% training) and more than 420 helicopters.

The Air Defense Forces included: an operational-strategic formation, 2 operational, 4 operational-tactical formations, 5 air defense corps, 10 air defense divisions, 63 units of anti-aircraft missile troops, 25 fighter aviation regiments, 35 units of radio engineering troops, 6 formations and intelligence units and 5 parts of electronic warfare. In service there were: 20 aircraft aviation complex radar patrol and guidance A-50, more than 700 air defense fighters, more than 200 anti-aircraft missile divisions and 420 radio engineering units with radar stations of various modifications.

As a result of these activities, a new organizational structure Air Force, which included two air armies: the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command (strategic purpose) (VA VGK (SN) and the 61st VA VGK (VTA). Instead of air armies of front-line aviation, the Air Force and Air Defense armies were formed, operationally subordinate commander of the military districts.The Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District was created in the Western strategic direction.

Further construction of the organizational and staffing structure of the Air Force was carried out in accordance with the Plan for the Construction and Development of the Armed Forces for 2001–2005 approved in January 2001 by the President of the Russian Federation.

In 2003, army aviation was transferred to the Air Force, in 2005-2006. - part of the connections and parts military air defense equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems (ZRS) S-300V and Buk complexes. In April 2007, the new-generation S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system was adopted by the Air Force, designed to destroy all modern and promising means of aerospace attack.

At the beginning of 2008, the Air Force included: an operational-strategic association (KSpN), 8 operational and 5 operational-tactical associations (air defense corps), 15 formations and 165 units. In August of the same year, parts of the Air Force took part in the Georgian-South Ossetian military conflict (2008) and in the operation to force Georgia to peace. During the operation, the Air Force carried out 605 sorties and 205 helicopter sorties, including 427 sorties and 126 helicopter sorties for combat missions.

The military conflict revealed certain shortcomings in the organization of combat training and the control system Russian aviation, as well as the need for a significant renewal of the Air Force aircraft fleet.

The Air Force in the new look of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In 2008, a transition began to the formation of a new image of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (including the Air Force). In the course of the measures taken, the Air Force switched to a new organizational and staffing structure, more appropriate modern conditions and the realities of the times. The Air Force and Air Defense Commands were formed, subordinate to the newly created operational-strategic commands: Western (headquarters - St. Petersburg), Southern (headquarters - Rostov-on-Don), Central (headquarters - Yekaterinburg) and Eastern ( headquarters - Khabarovsk).

The Air Force High Command was assigned the tasks of planning and organizing combat training, the long-term development of the Air Force, as well as training the leadership of the control bodies. With this approach, there was a distribution of responsibility for the preparation and use of forces and means of military aviation and the duplication of functions was excluded, both in peacetime and during the period of hostilities.

In 2009–2010 A transition was made to a two-level (brigade-battalion) command and control system of the Air Force. As a result total Air Force formations were reduced from 8 to 6, all air defense formations (4 corps and 7 air defense divisions) were reorganized into 11 aerospace defense brigades. At the same time, an active renewal of the aircraft fleet is taking place. The fourth-generation aircraft are being replaced by their new modifications, as well as modern types of aircraft (helicopters), which have wider combat capabilities and flight performance.

Among them: front-line bombers Su-34, multirole fighters Su-35 and Su-30SM, various modifications of the MiG-31 supersonic all-weather long-range fighter-interceptor, the An-70 medium-range cargo military transport aircraft of the new generation An-140-100 type, a modified assault military Mi-8 transport helicopter, multipurpose helicopter medium range with gas turbine engines Mi-38, combat helicopters Mi-28 (various modifications) and Ka-52 "Alligator".

As part of the further improvement of the air (aerospace) defense system, a new generation of S-500 air defense systems is currently being developed, in which it is supposed to apply the principle of separate solution of the tasks of destroying ballistic and aerodynamic targets. The main task of the complex is to combat the combat equipment of medium-range ballistic missiles, and, if necessary, with intercontinental ballistic missiles in the final section of the trajectory and, within certain limits, in the middle section.

The modern Air Force is the most important component of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Currently, they are designed to solve the following tasks: repel aggression in the aerospace sphere and protect against air strikes command posts of the highest levels of state and military administration, administrative and political centers, industrial and economic regions, the most important objects of the economy and infrastructure of the country, groupings troops (forces); destruction of enemy troops (forces) and facilities using conventional, high-precision and nuclear weapons, as well as for air support and combat operations of troops (forces) of other branches of the Armed Forces and military branches.

Material prepared by the Research Institute (Military History)
military academy General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

The Air Force includes the following types of troops:

aviation (types of aviation - bomber, attack, fighter aircraft of air defense, reconnaissance, transport and special),
anti-aircraft missile forces,
radio engineering troops,
special forces,
units and institutions of the rear.

bomber aviation It is armed with long-range (strategic) and front-line (tactical) bombers of various types. It is designed to defeat groupings of troops, destroy important military, energy facilities and communications centers mainly in the strategic and operational depth of the enemy’s defense. The bomber can carry bombs of various calibers, both conventional and nuclear, as well as air-to-surface guided missiles.

Attack aircraft Designed for aviation support of troops, engagement of manpower and objects mainly on the front line, in the tactical and immediate operational depth of the enemy, as well as combating enemy aircraft in the air.

One of the main requirements for an attack aircraft is the high accuracy of hitting ground targets. Armament: large-caliber guns, bombs, rockets.

Air defense aviation is armed with air defense fighter aircraft, combat helicopters, special and transport aircraft and helicopters.

reconnaissance aviation Designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance of the enemy, terrain and weather, can destroy enemy hidden objects.

Reconnaissance flights can also be carried out by bomber, fighter-bomber, attack and fighter aircraft. To do this, they are specially equipped with photographic equipment for day and night shooting at various scales, radio and radar stations with high resolution, heat direction finders, sound recording and television equipment, and magnetometers.

Reconnaissance aviation is subdivided into tactical, operational and strategic reconnaissance aviation.

Transport aviation designed for the transportation of troops, military equipment, weapons, ammunition, fuel, food, airborne landings, evacuation of the wounded, sick, etc.

Special aviation designed for long-range radar detection and guidance, air-to-air refueling, electronic warfare, radiation, chemical and biological protection, control and communications, meteorological and technical support, rescue of crews in distress, evacuation of the wounded and sick.

Anti-aircraft missile troops designed to protect the country's most important facilities and groupings of troops from enemy air strikes.

They constitute the main firepower of the air defense system and are armed with anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-aircraft missile systems for various purposes, which have great firepower and high accuracy in destroying enemy air attack weapons.

Radio engineering troops- the main source of information about an air enemy and are designed to conduct its radar reconnaissance, control the flights of its aircraft and comply with the rules for the use of airspace by aircraft of all departments.

They issue information about the beginning of an air attack, combat information for anti-aircraft missile forces and air defense aviation, as well as information for controlling air defense formations, units and subunits.

Radio-technical troops are armed with radar stations and radar complexes capable of detecting not only air but also surface targets at any time of the year and day, regardless of meteorological conditions and interference.

Units and divisions of communications are intended for the deployment and operation of communication systems in order to ensure command and control of troops in all types of combat activities.

Units and subdivisions of electronic warfare designed to interfere with airborne radars, bomb sights, communications and radio navigation means of enemy air attack.

Units and divisions of engineering troops, as well as units and divisions of radiation, chemical and biological protection are designed to perform the most complex tasks of engineering and chemical support, respectively.