Russian Aerospace Forces
{{short description|Combined air and space forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Russian Aerospace Forces
| native_name = Воздушно-космические силы
| image = Great emblem of the Russian Air-Cosmic Forces.svg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Emblem of the Russian Aerospace Forces
| start_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2015|08|01}}
| country = Russia
| type = Air and space force
| role = {{ubl|Aerial warfare|Space warfare|Missile defense}}
| size = 165,000 personnel (2020){{Cite web |title=Russian Armed Forces: Military Modernization and Reforms |url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF11603.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Congressional Research Service |date=20 July 2020 |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417130729/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF11603.pdf |url-status=live }}
| command_structure = {{military|Russia}}
| garrison = Arbat District, Moscow
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| patron =
| colors = {{plainlist|
- {{color box|#03348D}} Light Blue
- {{color box|#131539}} Dark Blue
- {{color box|#FFD700}} Gold
- {{color box|#DEDEDE}} Silver
}}
| march = {{nowrap|"Air March" ({{Langx|ru|"Авиамарш"}})}} (official march-past of the Air Force)
"14 Minutes Until Launch" ({{Langx|ru|"14 минут до старта"}}) (official march of the Space Forces)
| anniversaries = Air Force Day
(12 August)
| battles = {{plainlist|
| website = [https://eng.mil.ru/en/structure/forces/aerospace.htm Official website]
| commander1 = Colonel General Viktor Afzalov
| commander1_label = Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces
| commander2_label = First Deputy Commander-in-Chief
| commander2 = Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev
| notable_commanders =
| identification_symbol = 125px
| identification_symbol_label = Flag
| identification_symbol_2 = 80px
| identification_symbol_4 = 125px
| identification_symbol_2_label = Roundel
| identification_symbol_3 = 125px
| identification_symbol_3_label = Patch
| identification_symbol_4_label = Middle emblem
| identification_symbol_5 = 125px
| identification_symbol_5_label = Insignia
}}
{{Russian military}}
File:Presentation of the banner of Air-space forces 03.jpg presenting the banner of the Aerospace Forces to Viktor Bondarev]]
The Russian Aerospace Forces{{cite web|url= http://tass.com/russia/812184|title= Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister|access-date=2017-03-20|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170321081913/http://tass.com/russia/812184#|archive-date=2017-03-21 |url-status=live}}{{efn|{{langx|ru|Воздушно-космические силы|translit=Vozdushno-kosmicheskiye sily}}}} or Russian Air and Space Forces{{cite news |url= https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/04/21/6-dead-in-fire-at-russian-aerospace-defense-research-institute-state-media-a77446 | title=6 Dead in Fire at Russian Aerospace Defense Research Institute – State Media | date=21 April 2022 |newspaper=The Moscow Times}} (VKS{{efn|{{langx|ru|ВКС}}}}) comprise the aerial, space warfare, and missile defence branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It was established on 1 August 2015 with the merging of the Russian Air Force (VVS) and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces (VVKO), as recommended by the Ministry of Defence to improve efficiency and logistical support.Compare:
[http://tass.ru/en/russia/812184 Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513232430/http://tass.ru/en/russia/812184 |date=2016-05-13 }}, tass.ru, 3 August 2015. - "'The formation of the Aerospace Forces by combining the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Force is the optimal option for improving the system of the country's aerospace defense,' Shoigu said. [...] 'Now the single command unites aviation, air defense and anti-missile defense troops, space forces and means of the armed forces' [...]." The VKS is headquartered in Moscow.[http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150803/1160022393.html Шойгу объявил о создании нового вида ВС - Воздушно-космических сил] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150805210305/http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150803/1160022393.html# |date=2015-08-05 }}, ria.ru/defense, 3 August 2015
Organisation
=Branches=
With the merging of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, the Russian Aerospace Forces is a unified command consisting of the following branches:[http://www.janes.com/article/53416/russia-creates-new-aerospace-force-service-branch Russia creates new Aerospace Force service branch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227073639/http://www.janes.com/article/53416/russia-creates-new-aerospace-force-service-branch# |date=2015-12-27 }}, janes.com, 4 August 2015{{Cite web |title=Воздушно-космические силы |url=https://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/vks/structure.htm |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=structure.mil.ru}}
| class="wikitable"
|+Main Command of the Aerospace Forces (Главное командование Воздушно-космическими силами) ! colspan="3" |Command Staff |
| colspan="2" |Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces (Главнокомандующий Воздушно-космическими силами) |
| colspan="2" |Chief of the Main Staff - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces (Начальник Главного штаба — первый заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
| colspan="2" |Deputy Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
| colspan="3" |Chiefs of branches, deputy commanders: |
|---|
| Commander of the Air Force, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces
(Командующий Военно-воздушными силами — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) Colonel general / Lieutenant general |Commander of the Aerospace and Missile Defense Forces, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces (Командующий Войсками противовоздушной и противоракетной обороны — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) Colonel general / Lieutenant general |Commander of the Space Forces, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces (Командующий Космическими войсками — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
| colspan="3" |Functional deputy commanders: |
| Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Military-Political Work (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по военно-политической работе)
|Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Logistics (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по материально-техническому обеспечению) |Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Armaments (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по вооружению) |
=Leadership=
| class="wikitable"
|+As of 2024: ! Position ! Name ! Start date ! End date |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=4| Commander of the Aerospace Forces | Colonel General Viktor Bondarev | 1 August 2015 | 26 September 2017 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko (acting) | 26 September 2017 | 22 November 2017 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Army General Sergei Surovikin | 22 November 2017 | 22 August 2023 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Colonel General Viktor Afzalov | 20 August 2023 (acting) |
| style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=4| |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=3|First Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces | Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko | 1 September 2015 | July 2018 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Viktor Afzalov | August 2018 | August 2023 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev | 20 August 2023 | |
| style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=4| |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan="3" |Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces | Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov | 1 August 2015 | 2019 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Andrei Yudin | 2019 | 2023 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Colonel General Vladimir Kravchenko | 2023 | |
| style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=4| Deputy Commanders of the Aerospace Forces |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=3| Commander of the Air Force | Colonel General Andrei Yudin | 1 September 2015 | July 2019 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov | July 2019 | 24 July 2024 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Sergey Kobylash | 24 July 2024 | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=4| Commander of the Aerospace and Missile Defense Forces | Lieutenant General Viktor Gumyonny | 1 September 2015 | 2018 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Yury Grekhov | 2018 | 2021 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Andrey Dyomin | 2021 | May 2023 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Andrei Semyonov | May 2023 | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Commander of the Space Forces | Colonel General Aleksandr Golovko | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| Deputy Commander for Work with Personnel | Major General Andrei Kazakevich | unknown | unknown |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev | 2019 | 2023 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| Deputy Commander for Logistics | Lieutenant General Vladimir Trishunkin | unknown | unknown |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Lieutenant General Zabit Kheirbekov | unknown | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=3| Deputy Commander for Armaments | Colonel Andrei Medvedkov | unknown | unknown |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Major General Sergei Meshcheryakov | unknown | 2021 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Colonel General Yury Grekhov | 2021 | |
= Order of Battle =
The Aerospace Forces are organised in air armies.
Air Forces High Command (Главное командование ВВС) (Moscow)
- Units directly subordinated to the High Command (Части центрального подчинения ВВС)
- operationally subordinated to the High Command:
- Military Transport Aviation Command (Командование военно-транспортной авиации) (Moscow)
- Long-Range Aviation Command (Командование дальней авиации) (Moscow)
- operationally subordinated to the Western Military District:
- 6th Leningrad Red Banner Army of Air Forces and Air Defence (6-я Ленинградская Краснознамённая армия ВВС и ПВО) (Saint Petersburg)
- operationally subordinated to the Southern Military District:
- 4th Red Banner Army of Air Forces and Air Defence (4-я Краснознамённая армия ВВС и ПВО) (Rostov-on-Don)
- operationally subordinated to the Central Military District:
- 14th Red Banner Army of Air Forces and Air Defence (14-я Краснознамённая армия ВВС и ПВО) (Yekaterinburg)
- operationally subordinated to the Eastern Military District:
- 11th Red Banner Army of Air Forces and Air Defence (11-я Краснознамённая армия ВВС и ПВО) (Khabarovsk)
- operationally subordinated to the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command:
- 45th Air and Air Defence Forces Army (45-я Армия ВВС и ПВО) (Severomorsk-2) - uniquely the aviation units of the 45th Army belong administratively to the Naval Aviation and the ground-based missile air defence units belong to the Air Forces air defence branch.
Air Defence and Anti-Missile Defence Forces Command (Командование войск ПВО-ПРО) (Moscow)
- 1st Order of Lenin Air and AntiRocket Defence Army (Special Purpose) (1-я ордена Ленина армия противовоздушной и противоракетной обороны (особого назначения)) (Balashikha, Moscow Oblast) - air cover of the Moscow area.
- 4th Air Defence Division "Hero of the Soviet Union Lt.-Gen. B. P. Kirpikov" (4-я дивизия ПВО имени Героя Советского Союза генерал-лейтенанта Б.П. Кирпикова) (Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast) (armed with the S-300PM/PS and the S-400 missile systems)
- 5th Air Defence Division (5-я дивизия ПВО) (Petrovskoe, Moscow Oblast) (armed with the S-300PM and the S-400 missile systems)
- 9th Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence Division (9-я дивизия ПРО) (Sofrino, Moscow Oblast) (armed with the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system)
Space Forces Command (Командование космических войск) (Krasnoznamensk, Moscow Oblast)
- 15th Aerospace Forces Army (Special Purpose) (15-я армия Воздушно-космических сил (особого назначения)) (Krasnoznamensk)
- 1st State Test Cosmodrome of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence "Plesetsk" (1-й Государственный испытательный космодром Министерства обороны Российской Федерации «Плесецк»)
- Space Forces Arsenal (Арсенал космических войск) (Znamenka-1 village, Tambov Oblast)
Ranks and rank insignia
{{main|Aerospace Forces ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation}}
;Officer ranks
| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Russia}} |
;Other ranks
| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}} {{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Russia}} |
See also
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Russian Aerospace Forces}}
- [http://eng.mil.ru/en/structure/forces/aerospace.htm Russian Aerospace Forces official site] (English)
{{Armed Forces of the Russian Federation}}
{{Space forces}}
{{Leadership of the Russian Aerospace Forces}}
Category:2015 establishments in Russia
Category:Military units and formations established in 2015