Designed to protect the centers, regions of the country (administrative, industrial and economic), groupings of troops and important objects from enemy strikes from the air and space, to support the actions of the Ground Forces and, to deliver strikes against the enemy's air, land and naval groupings, its administrative-political and military and economic centers.

The main tasks of the Air Force in modern conditions are:

• 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 bodies about the beginning of an enemy air attack;
• the conquest and retention of air supremacy;
• covering troops and objects of the rear from aerial reconnaissance, air strikes and space;
• air support for the Ground Forces and the Fleet;
• the defeat of objects of the military-economic potential of the enemy;
• violation of military and government controlled enemy;
• the defeat of nuclear missile, anti-aircraft and air groupings of the enemy and his reserves, as well as air and sea landings;
• the defeat of enemy ship groupings at sea, in the ocean, at naval bases, in ports and basing points;
• the dropping of military equipment and the landing of troops;
• air transportation of troops and military equipment;
• conducting strategic, operational and tactical air reconnaissance;
• control over the use of airspace in the border strip.

In time of peace Air Force carry out tasks of protecting the state border of Russia in airspace, notify about the flights of foreign reconnaissance vehicles in the border strip.

The air force includes the air armies of the Supreme Strategic Command and the Supreme Command of Military Transport Aviation; Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District; air force and air defense armies: separate air force and air defense corps.

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-technical troops;
• special troops;
• parts and institutions of the rear.

Bomber aviation 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 communication 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, and guided missiles air-to-surface class.

Assault aircraft is intended for air support of troops, destruction of manpower and objects mainly at the front line, in the tactical and immediate operational depth of the enemy, as well as orders to combat aircraft enemy in the air.

Rice. 1. The structure of the Air Force

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

Fighter aircraft air defense is the main maneuverable force of the air defense system and is designed to cover the most important areas and objects from enemy air attacks. It is capable of destroying the enemy at maximum distances from defended objects.

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

Reconnaissance aircraft is intended for conducting aerial reconnaissance of the enemy, terrain and weather; it can destroy hidden enemy objects.

Reconnaissance flights can also be carried out by bomber, fighter-bomber, assault and fighter aircraft. For this, they are specially equipped with day and night cameras at various scales, high-resolution radio and radar stations, heat direction finders, sound recording and television apparatus, 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 assault landing, evacuation of the wounded, sick, etc.

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

Anti-aircraft missile troops are designed to protect the most important facilities of the country 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, possessing great firepower and high accuracy of destruction of enemy air attack weapons.

Radio-technical troops- the main source of information about the air enemy and are designed to conduct his radar reconnaissance, control the flights of his aviation and the observance of the rules for the use of airspace by the aircraft of all departments.

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

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

Communication units and subdivisions 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.

Electronic warfare units and subdivisions are intended for jamming airborne radars, bombsights, communications and radio navigation equipment of enemy air attack.

Communication and radio technical support units and subdivisions are designed to provide control of aviation units and subunits, air navigation, takeoff and landing of aircraft and helicopters.

Units and subdivisions of engineering troops, and parts and subdivisions of radiation, chemical and biological protection are designed to perform the most difficult tasks of engineering and chemical support, respectively.

The Air Force is armed with Tu-160 (Fig. 2), Tu-22MZ, Tu-95MS, Su-24, Su-34, MiG-29, MiG-27, MiG-31 of various modifications (Fig. 3), Su -25, Su-27, Su-39 (Fig. 4), MiG-25R, Su-24MP, A-50 (Fig. 5), An-12, An-22, An-26, An-124, Il -76, IL-78; helicopters Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-17, Mi-26, Ka-31, Ka-52 (Fig. 6), Ka-62; anti-aircraft missile systems S-200, S-300, S-300PM (Fig. 7), S-400 "Triumph", radar stations and complexes "Protivnik-G", "Sky-U", "Gamma-DE" , "Gamma-C1", "Casta-2".

Rice. 2. Strategic supersonic bomber Tu-160: wingspan - 35.6 / 55.7 m; length - 54.1 m; height - 13.1 m; maximum take-off weight - 275 tons; maximum combat load - 45 tons; cruising speed - 960 km / h; range of action - 7300 km; ceiling - 18,000 m; weapons - missiles, bombs (including nuclear); crew - 4 people

Rice. 3. Multipurpose fighter MiG-31F / FZ: wingspan - 13.46 m; length - 22.67 m; height - 6.15 m; maximum takeoff weight - 50,000 kg; cruising speed - 2450 km / h; range - 3000 km; combat radius of action - 650 km; ceiling - 20,000 m; armament - 23 mm six-barreled cannon (260 rounds, rate of fire - 8000 rounds / min); combat load - 9000 kg (SD, bombs); crew - 2 people

Rice. 4. Attack aircraft Su-39: wingspan - 14.52 m; length - 15.33 m; height - 5.2 m; maximum speed at the ground - 2450 km / h; range - 1850 km; ceiling - 18,000 m; armament - 30 mm cannon; combat load - 4500 kg (ATGM with ATGM, anti-ship missiles, NUR, UR bombs - conventional, guided, cluster, nuclear)

Rice. 5. Aircraft early warning and control A-50: wingspan - 50.5 m; length - 46.59 m; height - 14.8 m; normal takeoff weight - 190,000 kg; maximum cruising speed - 800 km / h; range - 7500 km; ceiling - 12,000 m; target detection range: air - 240 km, surface - 380 km; crew - 5 people + 10 people tactical crew

Rice. 6. Combat attack helicopter Ka-52 "Alligator": rotor diameter - 14.50 m; length with rotating screws - 15.90 m; maximum weight - 10 400 kg; ceiling - 5500 m; range of action - 520 km; armament - 30 mm cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition; combat load - 2000 kg at 4 suspension nodes (ATGM, unified containers with machine-gun and cannon armament, NUR, UR); crew - 2 people

Rice. 7. Anti-aircraft rocket system S-300-PM: targets to be hit - aircraft, cruise and tactical missiles of all types; affected area - range 5-150 km, height 0.025-28 km; the number of simultaneously hit targets - up to 6; the number of simultaneously guided missiles on the target - 12; time of readiness for combat work from the march - 5 min

Home Structure Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Air Force Structure Aviation

Aviation

Air Force Aviation (Av Air Force) according to its purpose and tasks being solved, it is subdivided into long-range, military transport, operational-tactical and army aviation, which include: bomber, assault, fighter, reconnaissance, transport and special aviation.

Organizationally, the Air Force aviation consists of air bases that are part of the Air Force formations, as well as other units and organizations directly subordinate to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief.

Long-range aviation (YES) is a means of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic) and operational tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

The armament of DA formations and units consists of strategic and long-range bombers, tanker aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft. Acting mainly in the strategic depth, DA formations and units perform the following main tasks: defeat air bases (airfields), ground-based missile complexes, aircraft carriers and other surface ships, objects from the enemy reserves, military-industrial facilities, administrative and political centers, energy facilities and hydraulic structures, naval bases and ports, command posts of the armed forces and operational centers air defense control in the theater of operations, land communications facilities, airborne troops and convoys; mining from the air. Part of the DA forces can be involved in aerial reconnaissance and special tasks.

Long-range aviation is a component of the strategic nuclear forces.

DA formations and units are based taking into account its operational and strategic designation and tasks from Novgorod in the west of the country to Anadyr and Ussuriisk in the east, from Tiksi in the north and to Blagoveshchensk in the south of the country.

The core of the aircraft fleet is made up of Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers, Tu-22M3 long-range missile-bombers, Il-78 tanker aircraft and Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft.

The main armament of the aircraft: long-range aircraft cruise missiles and tactical missiles in nuclear and conventional weapons, as well as aerial bombs for various purposes and caliber.

A practical demonstration of the spatial indicators of the combat capabilities of the DA command are air patrol flights of Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft to the area of ​​Iceland and the water area of ​​the Norwegian Sea; to the North Pole and to the Aleutian Islands region; along the east coast of South America.

Regardless of the organizational structure in which long-range aviation exists and will continue to exist, the combat strength, the characteristics of the aircraft and weapons in service, the main task of long-range aviation on the scale of the Air Force should be considered both nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence of potential adversaries. In the event of the outbreak of war, the DA will carry out tasks to reduce the military-economic potential of the enemy, defeat important military facilities, and disrupt state and military control.

Analysis of modern views on the purpose of the DA, the tasks assigned to it, the predicted conditions for their implementation show that at present and in the future, long-range aviation continues to be the main striking force of the Air Force.

The main directions of development of long-range aviation:

• maintaining and building up operational capabilities to fulfill the assigned tasks as part of the strategic deterrent and general-purpose forces through the modernization of Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22MZ bombers with an extension of their service life;
• creation of a promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA).

Military transport aviation (VTA) is a tool of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic), operational and operational-tactical tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

Military transport aircraft Il-76MD, An-26, An-22, An-124, An-12PP, transport helicopters Mi-8MTV are in service with the military transport units and formations. The main tasks of military aviation formations and units are: airborne landing of units (subunits) of the Airborne Forces from the operational (operational-tactical) airborne assault forces; delivery of weapons, ammunition and materiel to troops operating behind enemy lines; ensuring the maneuver of aviation formations and units; transportation of troops, weapons, ammunition and materiel; evacuation of the wounded and sick, participation in peacekeeping operations. Includes air bases, units and subunits of special forces.

Part of the BTA forces may be involved in special missions.

The main directions of development of military transport aviation: maintaining and building up capabilities to ensure the deployment of the Armed Forces in various theaters of operations, airborne assault landing, transporting troops and materiel by air through the purchase of new Il-76MD-90A and An-70, Il-112V aircraft and modernization of the Il-76 MD and An-124 aircraft.

Operational-tactical aviation is intended for solving operational (operational-tactical) and tactical tasks in operations (combat actions) of groupings of troops (forces) in theaters of operations (strategic directions).

Army Aviation (AA) is designed to solve operational-tactical and tactical tasks during army operations (combat operations).

Bomber aviation (BA) armed with strategic, long-range and operational-tactical bombers, it is the main strike weapon of the Air Force and is designed to defeat groupings of troops, aviation, naval forces of the enemy, destroy its important military, military-industrial, energy facilities, communication centers, conduct air reconnaissance and mining from the air, mainly in strategic and operational depth.

Assault aviation (SHA) being armed with attack aircraft, it is a means of air support for troops (forces) and is designed to defeat troops, ground (sea) objects, as well as enemy aircraft (helicopters) at basing airfields (sites), conducting aerial reconnaissance and mining from the air, mainly at the forefront, in the tactical and operational-tactical depth.

Fighter aircraft (IA) armed with fighter aircraft, it is designed to destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the air and ground (sea) enemy targets.

Reconnaissance aviation (RzA) armed with reconnaissance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, it is designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance of objects, the enemy, terrain, weather, air and ground radiation and chemical conditions.

Transport aviation (TRA) armed with transport aircraft, it is intended for airborne assault landing, transportation of troops, weapons, military and special equipment and other materiel by air, ensuring maneuver and combat actions of troops (forces), and performing special missions.

Formations, units, subunits of bomber, assault, fighter, reconnaissance and transport aviation can also be involved in solving other tasks.

Special Aviation (SpA) armed with airplanes and helicopters, it is designed to perform special tasks. Units and subunits of special aviation are under the direct or operational subordination of the commander of the air force formation and are involved in: conducting radar reconnaissance and guiding aviation to air and ground (sea) targets; setting up radio-electronic interference and aerosol curtains; search and rescue of flight crews and passengers; refueling aircraft with fuel in the air; evacuation of the wounded and sick; providing control and communication; conducting aerial radiation, chemical, biological, engineering reconnaissance and performing other tasks.

The Air Force includes the following types of troops:

• aviation (kind of aviation - bomber, assault, air defense fighter aircraft, reconnaissance, transport and special),
• anti-aircraft missile troops,
• radio-technical troops,
• special troops,
• parts and institutions of the rear.

Bomber aviation 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 communication 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 air-to-surface missiles.

Assault aircraft is intended for air support of troops, destruction of manpower and objects mainly at the front line, in the tactical and immediate operational depth of the enemy, as well as for fighting enemy aircraft in the air.

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

Fighter aircraft air defense is the main maneuverable force of the air defense system and is designed to cover the most important areas and objects from enemy air attacks. It is capable of destroying the enemy at maximum distances from defended objects.

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

Reconnaissance aircraft is intended for conducting aerial reconnaissance of the enemy, terrain and weather; it can destroy hidden enemy objects.

Reconnaissance flights can also be carried out by bomber, fighter-bomber, assault and fighter aircraft. For this, they are specially equipped with day and night cameras 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 assault landing, evacuation of the wounded, sick, etc.

Special aviation designed for long-range radar detection and guidance, refueling aircraft in the air, conducting electronic warfare, radiation, chemical and biological protection, providing control and communications, meteorological and technical support, rescuing crews in distress, evacuating the wounded and sick.

Anti-aircraft missile troops are designed to protect the most important facilities of the country 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, possessing great firepower and high accuracy in destroying enemy air attack weapons.

Radio-technical troops- the main source of information about the air enemy and are designed to conduct his radar reconnaissance, control the flights of his aviation and the observance of the rules for the use of airspace by the aircraft of all departments.

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

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

Communication units and subdivisions 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.

Electronic warfare units and subdivisions are intended for jamming airborne radars, bombsights, communications and radio navigation equipment of enemy air attack.

Communication and radio technical support units and subdivisions are designed to provide control of aviation units and subunits, air navigation, takeoff and landing of aircraft and helicopters.

Units and subdivisions of engineering troops, and parts and subdivisions of radiation, chemical and biological protection are designed to perform the most difficult tasks of engineering and chemical support, respectively.

The two strongest powers in the world have the most powerful air fleets. These are Russia and the United States of America. Both countries are constantly improving them. New military men are released, if not annually, then every two to three years. Huge funds are allocated for development in this area.

If we talk about the strategic aviation of Russia, then do not expect that you will be able to find somewhere accurate, statistical data on the number of attack aircraft, fighters, etc. in service. This information is classified as highly classified. Therefore, the information in this article may be subjective.

General overview of the Russian air fleet

It is included in the Aerospace Forces of our country. Aviation is one of the important components of the WWF. It is subdivided for long-range, transport, operational-tactical and army. This includes attack aircraft, bombers, fighters, transport aircraft.

How many military aircraft does Russia have? Approximate figure - 1614 units of military air equipment. These are 80 strategic bombers, 150 long-range bombers, 241 attack aircraft, etc.

For comparison, we can cite how many passenger planes there are in Russia. Total 753. Of them 547 - trunk and 206 - regional. Since 2014, the demand for passenger flights began to fall, so the number of vehicles in operation has also decreased. 72% of them Are foreign models (s).

The new aircraft in the Russian Air Force are improved models of military equipment. Among them are Su-57... it 5th generation fighter with a wide range of functions. Until August 2017, it was developed under a different name - Tu-50... They began to create it as a replacement for the Su-27.

The first time he took to the sky yet in 2010 year. Three years later, it was launched into small-scale production for testing. By 2018 multi-batch deliveries will begin.

Another promising model is MiG-35... It is a lightweight fighter with almost comparable performance. with aircraft of the fifth generation... It was developed to deliver precise strikes against targets on land and water. Winter 2017 year, the first tests began. By 2020 the first deliveries are planned.

A-100 "Premier"- another novelty for the Russian Air Force. Aircraft long-range radio navigation detection. It should replace outdated models - A50 and A50U.

From training machines you can bring Yak-152. It was developed for the selection of pilots in the first stage of training.

Among the military transport models, there are Il-112 and Il-214... The first of them is a light aircraft to replace the An-26. The second was developed jointly with, but now they continue to design it, as a replacement for An-12.

Of the helicopters, such new models are under development - Ka-60 and Mi-38... The Ka-60 is a transport helicopter. It is designed to deliver ammunition and weapons to zones of military conflict. Mi-38 is a multifunctional helicopter. It is financed directly by the state.

There is also a novelty among the passenger models. This is IL-114... Turboprop aircraft with two engines. It accommodates 64 passengers, and flies a distance - up to 1500 km... It is being developed to replace An-24.

If we talk about small aircraft in Russia, then the situation here is extremely deplorable. It counts only 2-4 thousand aircraft and helicopters. And the number of amateur pilots is decreasing every year. This is due to the fact that for any aircraft you have to pay two taxes at once - transport and property taxes.

Air fleets of Russia and the USA - a comparative analysis

The total number of aircraft in the United States - these are 13 513 cars. The researchers note that of them - only 2000- fighters and bombers. Others - 11,000- These are transport vehicles and those used by NATO, the US Navy and the National Guard.

Transport aircraft are extremely important as they keep air bases on alert and provide excellent logistics for America's troops. In this comparison, the US Air Force and the Russian Air Force are clearly the first to win.

The United States Air Force has big amount technology.

In terms of the pace of renewal of military air technology, Russia is taking the lead. By 2020, it is planned to produce another 600 units. The real power gap between the two powers will be 10-15 % ... It has already been noted that the Russian S-27s are ahead of the American F-25s.

When it comes to comparison armed forces Russia and the United States, the first trump card is the presence of especially powerful air defense systems. They reliably protect the air latitudes of Russia. Modern Russian S-400 air defense systems have no analogues anywhere in the world.

The air defense of Russia is something like an “umbrella” protecting the skies of our country until 2020. By this milestone, it is planned to completely update almost all military equipment, including air.

Decay process Soviet Union and the events that followed markedly weakened the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces. A significant part of the aviation group (about 35%) remained on the territory of the former Soviet republics (more than 3400 aircraft, including 2500 combat).

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

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

Russia, the last of the former republics of the USSR, began building the Air Force and 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 effectiveness of formations and units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces, the reduction of personnel due to the revision and optimization of their organizational structure, the removal 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). The total strength of the Air Force and Air Defense Aviation was reduced by almost three times - from 281 to 102 air regiments.

As of January 1, 1993, the RF 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). Aircraft fleet amounted to 6,561 aircraft, excluding aircraft stored at reserve bases (including 2,957 combat aircraft).

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

Period 1992 - early 1998 became a time of great painstaking work of the governing bodies of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces to develop a new concept of the military development 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 an 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). Subsequently, the experience gained made it possible to carry out the active phase of the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus in 1999-2003 in a more thoughtful and highly effective manner.

In the 1990s, in connection with the beginning of the collapse of the unified anti-aircraft field of the Soviet Union and former countries- members of the Warsaw Pact Organization, there was an urgent need to recreate its analogue within the borders of the former Soviet republics. In February 1995, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) signed an Agreement on the creation of a United 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 possible air - a space attack on one of the countries or a coalition of states.

However, assessing the acceleration of the physical aging of weapons and military equipment, the Defense Committee The State Duma The Russian Federation came to disappointing conclusions. As a result, a new concept of military development was developed, where it was supposed to reorganize the branches of the Armed Forces even before 2000, reducing their number from five to three. Within the framework of this reorganization, it was necessary to unite in one form two independent branches of the Armed Forces: the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces.

A new type of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In accordance with the 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, the the new kind Armed Forces - Air Force. V short time The main command of the Air Force developed a regulatory and legal framework for a new type of Armed Forces, which made it possible to ensure the continuity of control of air force formations, maintain their combat readiness at the required level, fulfill the tasks of combat alert in air defense, as well as conduct operational training.

By the time the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were merged into a single service, 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 at 99 airfields. The total number of aircraft fleet was 5,700 aircraft (including 20% ​​of training aircraft) and more than 420 helicopters.

The Air Defense Forces consisted of: an operational-strategic formation, 2 operational, 4 operational-tactical formations, 5 air defense corps, 10 air defense divisions, 63 units of anti-aircraft missile forces, 25 fighter air regiments, 35 units of radio technical troops, 6 formations and reconnaissance units and 5 parts of electronic warfare. In service there were: 20 aircraft of the A-50 radar surveillance and guidance aviation complex, 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 the measures taken, a new organizational structure The Air Force, which included two air armies: the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command (strategic) (VA VGK (CH) and the 61st VA VGK (VTA). Instead of the air armies of the frontal aviation, the Air Force and Air Defense armies were formed, operationally subordinate the 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 staff 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 military air defense formations and units equipped with S-300V anti-aircraft missile systems and Buk complexes. In April 2007, the Air Force adopted the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system, designed to defeat all modern and promising aerospace attack weapons.

At the beginning of 2008, the Air Force included: an operational-strategic formation (KSpN), 8 operational and 5 operational-tactical formations (air defense corps), 15 formations and 165 units. In August of the same year, units 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 of Russian aviation, as well as the need for a significant renewal of the Air Force's aircraft fleet.

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

In 2008, the transition to the formation of a new image of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (including the Air Force) began. In the course of the measures taken, the Air Force switched to a new organizational and staff structure, more consistent with modern conditions and realities of the time. 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, perspective development The Air Force, as well as the training of the commanding staff of command and control bodies. With this approach, responsibility for the training and use of forces and means of military aviation was distributed and duplication of functions was excluded, both in peacetime and during the period of hostilities.

In 2009–2010 the transition to a two-tier (brigade-battalion) control system of the Air Force was carried out. As a result, the total number of air force formations was 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, there is an active renewal of the aircraft fleet. The fourth generation aircraft are being replaced by their new modifications, as well as modern types aircraft (helicopters) with wider combat capabilities and performance characteristics.

Among them: front-line bombers Su-34, multipurpose fighters Su-35 and Su-30SM, various modifications of the supersonic all-weather long-range fighter-interceptor MiG-31, medium-range cargo military transport aircraft of the new generation An-70, light military transport An-140-100 aircraft, a modified Mi-8 assault military transport helicopter, a Mi-38 multi-purpose medium-range helicopter with gas turbine engines, Mi-28 combat helicopters (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 planned 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 missiles. 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 part of Of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Currently, they are designed to solve the following tasks: repelling aggression in the aerospace sphere and protecting from air strikes command posts of the highest echelons of state and military administration, administrative and political centers, industrial and economic regions, the most important objects of the country's economy and infrastructure, groupings troops (forces); destruction of troops (forces) and enemy targets 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 combat arms.

The material was prepared by the Research Institute ( military history)
Military Academy of the General Staff
Of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation