Pavel Androsov
{{Short description|Soviet and Russian military officer (1954–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox military person
| native_name = Павел Васильевич Андросов
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|9|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Tambov Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|3|8|1954|9|6|df=y}}
| death_place = Moscow, Russia
| placeofburial = Federal Military Memorial Cemetery
| image =
| caption =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|USSR}}
{{flag|Russia}}
| branch = Soviet Air Forces
Russian Air Force
| branch_label = Branch
| serviceyears = 1971–2009
| serviceyears_label = Service years
| rank = Major General
| commands = 37th Air Army
| battles =
| awards = {{ubil|Order of the Red Star|Merited Military Pilot of the Russian Federation}}
| laterwork =
}}
Pavel Vasilyevich Androsov ({{langx|ru|Павел Васильевич Андросов}}; 6 September 1954 – 8 March 2025) was an officer of the Soviet and later Russian Air Force. He rose to the rank of Major General and served as commander of the 37th Air Army between 2007 and 2009.
Biography
Androsov was born on 6 September 1954 in Tambov Oblast, in what was then the Russian Soviet Socialist Federative Republic, in the Soviet Union.{{cite web|url=http://www.pravo.mgimo.ru/?q=node/5067|title=Андросов Павел Васильевич|publisher=Moscow State Institute of International Relations|language=Russian|accessdate=17 March 2025}} He graduated from the {{ill|Tambov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots |ru|Тамбовское высшее военное авиационное училище лётчиков имени М. М. Расковой}} in 1975 and went on to serve in Long-Range Aviation units. He carried out further education and training at the Gagarin Air Force Academy, graduating in 1988, and the Military Academy of the General Staff, graduating in 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.migavia.com/voenkom/androsov.html|title=Андросов П.В.|publisher=migavia.com|language=Russian|accessdate=17 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1014557|title=Кто командует российской авиацией|publisher=Kommersant|date=25 August 2008|language=Russian|accessdate=17 March 2025}}
Androsov rose through ranks and positions, being appointed to command a squadron, then as deputy commander of the 185th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, based at Poltava, in the Ukrainian SSR. In this role he participated in combat operations in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War. He was the commander of a heavy bomber aviation regiment in the Kiev Military District, and then commander of the 55th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division based at Vozdvizhenka, Primorsky Krai, and then head of the flight safety service of the 37th Air Army.
In November 2002, Androsov became chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 37th Air Army, and on 15 May 2007 was appointed its commander, with the rank of major general.{{cite web|first=Yuri|last=Vladimirov|url=http://www.coldwar.ru/rvo/122008/strategi-rasshirjajut-geografiju-poletov.php|title=Андросов Павел Васильевич|publisher=coldwar.ru|date=December 2008|language=Russian|accessdate=17 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://rg.ru/2007/05/16/aviation.html|title=У Дальней авиации − новый командарм|publisher=Rossiyskaya Gazeta|date=16 May 2007|language=Russian|accessdate=17 March 2025}} He held the position until his retirement in August 2009, when the 37th Air Army was reformed as {{Ill|Long-Range Aviation Command|ru|Командование дальней авиации}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/news/social/2009/09/19/n_1405244.shtml|title=Командующий Дальней авиацией ВВС представлен личному составу|publisher=gazeta.ru|language=Russian|date=19 September 2009|accessdate=17 March 2025}}
Androsov suffered a heart attack at his office at the Tupolev design bureau on 7 March 2025, and died the following day. He was 70.{{cite web|url=https://xn--80ahnajeo3j.xn--p1ai/v-moskve-prostilis-s-generalom-androsovym-p-v/ |title=В Москве простились с генералом Андросовым П.В.|publisher=дальники.рф|language=Russian|date=13 March 2025|accessdate=17 March 2025}} He was buried at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery on 12 March.
Awards and honours
Over his career Androsov was trained to fly all types of aircraft assigned to the Long-Range Aviation branch, logging more than three thousand flight hours. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star, various medals, and the title of Honoured Military Pilot of the Russian Federation.{{cite web|url=https://www.biografija.ru/biography/androsov-pavel-vasilevich.htm|title=Андросов Павел Васильевич|publisher=biografija.ru|language=Russian|accessdate=17 March 2025}}
References
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Category:Recipients of the Order of the Red Star
Category:People from Tambov Oblast
Category:Russian major generals
Category:Gagarin Air Force Academy alumni
Category:Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia alumni