Russian Air Force

The Russian Air Force, officially established on August 12, 1912, as part of the Imperial Russian Air Service, has a long and complex history. It began as one of the earliest military aviation units globally, although its early years saw slow development due to the constraints of World War I. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the air service was reorganised under the Soviet regime, evolving into the Red Air Fleet in 1918, which later became part of the Soviet Air Forces (VVS).{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

After the war, the Soviet Air Force focused on modernising its fleet, developing jet fighters like the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, which became famous during the Korean War. Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Air Force was a pivotal part of the USSR’s military strategy, with long-range bombers like the Tu-95 and advanced fighters such as the MiG-21 and Su-27 becoming iconic symbols of Soviet air power.{{Citation |last=O’Neill |first=Mark |title=The Soviet Air Force, 1917–1991 |date=2002 |work=The Military History of the Soviet Union |pages=153–168 |editor-last=Higham |editor-first=Robin |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-137-12029-8_10 |access-date=2024-09-29 |place=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-137-12029-8_10 |isbn=978-1-137-12029-8 |editor2-last=Kagan |editor2-first=Frederick W.|url-access=subscription }}{{Further|Imperial Russian Air Service|

Soviet Air Forces}}

{{Air Forces of Russia and the Soviet Union}}

{{Russian military}}

In 1993 and 1994 Deynekin announced that a Frontal Aviation Command (Moscow, under General-lieutenant of Aviation Nikolay Antoshkin) and a Reserves and Cadres Training Command (Samara, under Colonel-General Leonid Stepanyuk) were to be established.JPRS Report, Central Eurasia, Military Affairs, JPRS-UMA-95-015, 5 April 1995, p. 103, 106. But little more was heard of these commands.

During the 1990s, the financial stringency was felt throughout the armed forces made its mark on the VVS as well.Austin & Muraviev, The Armed Forces of Russia in Asia, Tauris, 2000, p.235 Pilots and other personnel could sometimes not get their wages for months, and on occasion resorted to desperate measures: four MiG-31 pilots at Yelizovo in the Far East went on hunger strike in 1996 to demand back pay which was several months overdue, and the problem was only resolved by diverting unit money intended for other tasks.Jeroen Brinkman, 'Russian Air Force in Turmoil,' Air Forces Monthly, No.105, December 1996, p.2, cited in Austin & Muraviev, 2000 As a result of the cutbacks, infrastructure became degraded as well, and in 1998, 40% of military airfields needed repair.{{Cn|date=June 2025}}

The former Soviet Air Defence Forces remained independent for several years under Russian control, only merging with the Air Forces in 1998. The decree merging the two forces was issued by President Boris Yeltsin on 16 July 1997. During 1998 altogether 580 units and formations were disbanded, 134 reorganised, and over 600 were given a new jurisdiction.General Heikki Nikunen, [http://www.sci.fi/~fta/ruaf-3-2.htm The Current State of the Russian Air Force] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015104503/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/ruaf-3-2.htm |date=15 October 2009 }}, last updated 2005

There were initially four such armies with headquarters in St.Petersburg (Leningrad Military District), Rostov-on-Don (North Caucasus Military District), Khabarovsk (Far East Military District), and Chita (Siberian Military District). Two military districts had separate Air and Air Defence Corps. When the Transbaikal Military District and Siberian Military District were merged, the 14th Air and Air Defence Forces Army was formed to serve as the air force formation in the area.

The number of servicemen in the Air Force was reduced to about 185,000 from the former combined number of 318,000. 123,500 positions were abolished, including almost 1,000 colonel positions. The resignation of 3000 other servicemen included 46 generals of which 15 were colonel generals. On 29 December 1998 Colonel General Anatoly Kornukov, a former Air Defence Forces officer and new commander-in-chief of the merged force succeeding Deynekin, reported to the Russian defense minister that the task had 'in principle been achieved'.Piotr Butowski, 'Russia's new air force enters a tight maneuver,' Jane's Intelligence Review, May 1999, p.14 General Kornukov established the new headquarters of the force in Zarya, near Balashikha, 20 km east of the center of Moscow, in the former PVO central command post, where the CIS common air defense system is directed from.

In December 2003 the aviation assets of the Russian Ground Forces—mostly helicopters—were transferred to the VVS, following the shooting down of a Mi-26 helicopter in Chechnya on 19 August 2002 that claimed 19 lives. The former Army Aviation was in its previous form intended for the direct support of the Ground Forces, by providing their tactical air support, conducting tactical aerial reconnaissance, transporting airborne troops, providing fire support of their actions, electronic warfare, setting of minefield barriers and other tasks. The former Army Aviation was subsequently managed by the Chief of the Department of Army Aviation.Piotr Butowski, 'Russia Rising,' Air Forces Monthly, July 2007, p.83 In 2010, it was announced that the 2003 decision to transfer Ground Force Aviation to the Air Force was reversed, with the transfer back to the Ground Forces to occur sometime in 2015 or 2016.Moscow Defense Brief #2, 2010 page 23

During the 2000s, the Air Force continued to suffer from a lack of resources for pilot training. In the 1990s Russian pilots achieved approximately 10% of the flight hours of the United States Air Force. The 2007 edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Military Balance listed pilots of tactical aviation flying 20–25 hours a year, 61st Air Army pilots (former Military Transport Aviation), 60 hours a year, and Army Aviation under VVS control 55 hours a year.Routledge/IISS, IISS Military Balance 2007, p.200

In 2007 the VVS resumed the Soviet-era practice of deploying its strategic bomber aircraft on long-range patrols. This ended a 15-year unilateral suspension due to fuel costs and other economic difficulties after the collapse of the Soviet Union.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6950986.stm |title=BBC NEWS, ', Russia restarts Cold War', 17 August 2007, patrols |work=BBC News |date=17 August 2007 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813132932/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6950986.stm |archive-date=13 August 2011 |url-status=live}} Patrols towards the North Pole, the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean were reinstated, bringing the planes often close to NATO territory, including in one instance flying over the Irish Sea between the United Kingdom and Ireland.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7376336.stm |title=BBC NEWS, RAF intercepted Russian planes, 30 April 2008 |work=BBC News |date=30 April 2008 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203113132/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7376336.stm |archive-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=live}}

During the 2008 South Ossetian War, the VVS suffered losses of between four and seven aircraft due to Georgian anti-aircraft fire. The 2008 Russian military reforms were promptly announced following the war, which according to Western experts were intended to address many inadequacies discovered as a result. The reforms commenced in early 2009, in which air armies were succeeded by commands, and most air regiments became air bases.Warfare.ru, [http://warfare.be/?lang=&catid=239&linkid=2238&linkname=Air-Force:--structure Air Force: structure] accessed May 2009 Aviation Week & Space Technology confirmed that the reorganization would be completed by December 2009 and would see a 40 percent reduction in aircrew numbers.{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/RUSS121609.xml&headline=Russian%20Military%20Aircrew%20Numbers%20Tumble |title=Russian Military Aircrew Numbers Tumble |publisher=Aviationweek.com |date=16 December 2009 |access-date=1 June 2011 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In February 2009, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that 200 of the 291 MiG-29s currently in service across all Russian air arms were unsafe and would have to be permanently grounded.Reuters.com, [https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5152J020090206?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews One-third Russian fighter jets old and unsafe: report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215140919/http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5152J020090206?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews |date=15 February 2009}} Friday, 6 February 2009 5:40  am EST This action would remove from service about a third of Russia's total fighter force, some 650 aircraft. On 5 June 2009, the Chief of the General Staff, Nikolai Makarov said of the VVS that "They can run bombing missions only in the daytime with the sun shining, but they miss their targets anyway".{{cite web |url=http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2009-110-28.cfm |title=Russian Military Weakness Increases Importance of Strategic Nuclear Forces |publisher=Cdi.org |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=1 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828013919/http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2009-110-28.cfm |archive-date=28 August 2011}} Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov said that Russia's long-range bombers would be upgraded in 2009 to be able to hit within 20 meters of their targets.{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/01/05/Russia-upgrades-bomber-ALCM-force-for-21st-century/UPI-39951231177215/ |title=Russia upgrades bomber-ALCM force for 21st century |publisher=Upi.com |date=5 January 2009 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021222151/http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/01/05/Russia-upgrades-bomber-ALCM-force-for-21st-century/UPI-39951231177215/ |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=live}}

Also in September 2009, it was reported that an East European network of the Joint CIS Air Defense System was to be set up by Russia and Belarus.{{cite web |url=http://asbarez.com/70628/ex-soviet-states-to-set-up-joint-air-defense-networks/ |title=18 September 2009 |publisher=Asbarez.com |date=10 February 1995 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723110014/http://asbarez.com/70628/ex-soviet-states-to-set-up-joint-air-defense-networks/ |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=live}} This network was intended to protect the airspace of the two countries as defined in the supranational 1999 Union State treaty. Its planned composition was to include five Air Force units, 10 anti-aircraft units, five technical service and support units, and one electronic warfare unit. It was to be placed under the command of a Russian or Belarusian Air Force or Air Defence Force senior commander.

In July 2010, Russian jet fighters made the first nonstop flights from European Russia to the Russian Far East.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} By August 2010, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the VVS Alexander Zelin, the average flight hours of a pilot in Russian tactical aviation had reached 80 hours a year, while in army aviation and military transport aviation, it exceeded 100 hours a year.{{cite web |url=http://echo.msk.ru/programs/voensovet/702931-echo/ |title=Радиостанция "Эхо Москвы" / Передачи / Военный совет / Суббота, 14.08.2010: Александр Зелин |publisher=Echo.msk.ru |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613231029/http://echo.msk.ru/programs/voensovet/702931-echo/ |archive-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=live}} On 15 August 2010, the Russian Air Force temporarily grounded its fleet of Su-25 ground attack aircraft to investigate a crash that happened during a training mission. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the plane crashed on 6 August 2010, 60  km to the north-west of Step air base in Siberia, according to RIA Novosti.

According to the instructions of the General Staff of the Armed Forces on 1 September 2011, the unmanned aircraft of the VVS and the personnel operating them moved under the command structure of the Russian Ground Forces.{{cite web |author=Александр Зелин |url=http://www.aex.ru/fdocs/2/2012/2/14/20789/ |title=Aviation EXplorer: С-400 начнет защищать границы России в 2012 году |publisher=Aex.ru |access-date=2012-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503222938/http://www.aex.ru/fdocs/2/2012/2/14/20789/ |archive-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live}}

As of 2012, the VVS operated a total of 61 air bases, including 26 air bases with tactical aircraft, of which 14 are equipped with fighter aircraft. In terms of flight hours, pilots in the Western Military District averaged 125 hours over the 2012 training year. Pilots from the Kursk air base achieved an average of 150 hours, with transport aviation averaging 170 hours.{{cite web|url=http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/25568/|title="Максимальный налет летчика в Западном военном округе превысил 215 часов в год " в блоге "Армия и Флот" – Сделано у нас|work=Сделано у нас|date=26 November 2012 |access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813104448/http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/25568/|archive-date=13 August 2014|url-status=live}}

In February 2014, during the early periods of Russia's annexation of Crimea, the assets of the VVS in the Southern Military District were activated and flown to the peninsula for supporting the rest of the operations.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/russia-crimea/|title=In Crimea, Russia signals military resolve with new and revamped bases|publisher=Reuters|date=30 July 2017}}

On 1 August 2015, the Russian Air Force, along with the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces and the Air Defense Troops, were merged into a new branch of the armed forces, now officially called the Russian Aerospace Forces.

On 30 September 2015, the VVS launched a military intervention in Syria, in Syria's Homs region.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/world/europe/putin-military-syria.html|title=Russians Strike Targets in Syria, but Not ISIS Areas|first1=Helene Cooper, Michael R.|last1=Gordon|first2=Neil|last2=Macfarquhar|date=30 September 2015|newspaper=The New York Times}} On 24 November 2015, during a bombing mission, a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 that Turkey claimed had violated its airspace.{{cite web| url =http://www.ibtimes.com/what-fencer-su-24-what-know-about-russian-plane-shot-down-turkey-2197848| title =What Is A Fencer Su-24? What To Know About The Russian Plane Shot Down By Turkey| work =International Business Times| author =Lydia Tomkiw| date =24 November 2015| access-date =24 November 2015| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151125070750/http://www.ibtimes.com/what-fencer-su-24-what-know-about-russian-plane-shot-down-turkey-2197848| archive-date =25 November 2015| url-status =live}}{{cite web|author=Press release |title=Hava sahası İletim |url=http://www.tsk.tr/3_basin_yayin_faaliyetleri/3_1_basin_aciklamalari/2015/ba_97.html |language=tr |trans-title=Transmission of Airspace |work=Turkish Armed Forces Chief of Staff |date=24 November 2015 |access-date=24 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124152949/http://www.tsk.tr/3_basin_yayin_faaliyetleri/3_1_basin_aciklamalari/2015/ba_97.html |archive-date=24 November 2015}}

In March 2020, the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets by the VVS in Syria has been described as "amounting to war crime" by a United Nations Human Rights Council report.{{Cite news|last=Borger|first=Julian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/russia-committed-war-crimes-in-syria-finds-un-report|title=Russia committed war crimes in Syria, finds UN report|date=2020-03-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-03-03|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

On 9 November 2020, a Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter was shot down mistakenly by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war killing 2 crew members and injuring 1 more. Days later, after the signing of the ceasefire agreement, Russian peacekeepers were deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh with aviation to patrol its borders.{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/azerbaijan-front-line/russia-deploying-peacekeeping-forces-to-karabakh/2037997|title=Russia deploying peacekeeping forces to Karabakh|publisher=anadolu agency|date=16 November 2020}}

Modernization plans and programs carried out since the 2010s are being continued into 2021 as a part of Russia's State Armament Program for 2018–2027.{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/2021/01/11/russia-analyst-what-are-the-kremlins-priorities-for-2021/|title=Russia analyst: What are the Kremlin's priorities for 2021?|publisher=defensenews|date=22 February 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ponarseurasia.org/memo/russias-military-modernization-plans-2018-2027|title=Russia's Military Modernization Plans: 2018–2027|publisher=ponarseurasia|date=22 February 2021}}

{{see also|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine#Air and naval engagements}}

On 24 February 2022, the VVS was deployed in support of the invasion of Ukraine. The VVS had reportedly deployed about 300 combat aircraft within range of Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Bronk |first=Justin |date=28 February 2022 |title=The Mysterious Case of the Missing Russian Air Force |url=https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/mysterious-case-missing-russian-air-force/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=rusi.org |language=en}} Aircraft have also been deployed in Belarus for sorties over Ukraine.

On 25 February 2022, Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed several aircraft and set a Russian airbase on fire in the Millerovo air base attack.{{Cite web |last=Lonas |first=Lexi |date=2022-02-25 |title=Ukrainian forces target Russian airfield near border: report |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/595815-ukrainian-forces-target-russian-airfield-near-border-report |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=The Hill |language=en}}

On 13 March 2022, Russian forces launched cruise missile attacks on Yavoriv military base near the Polish border.

As of 20 March 2022, it was claimed that VVS carried out at least 1403 airstrikes on Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion.{{cite web|url=https://defence-blog.com/russia-carries-out-1403-airstrikes-in-ukraine-since-start-of-invasion/|title=Russia carries out 1403 airstrikes in Ukraine since start of invasion|website=defence-blog.com|date=20 March 2022}}

The VVS has generally been noted by its relative absence from the invasion and has as of 25 March 2022 failed to subdue Ukrainian air defenses or the Ukrainian Air Force.{{Cite web |last=Vergun |first=David |date=21 March 2022 |title=Defense Official Says Ukrainians Continue Strong Resistance Against Russian Invaders |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2973122/defense-official-says-ukrainians-continue-strong-resistance-against-russian-inv/ |access-date=25 March 2022 |publisher=DoD}} It has, as of April 1, 2022, also failed to achieve air supremacy.{{cite web |last1=Lopez |first1=Todd C. |title=Defense Department Reports Airspace Above Ukraine Remains Contested |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2957536/defense-department-reports-airspace-above-ukraine-remains-contested |publisher=DoD |access-date=25 March 2022 |date=7 March 2022}} Failure to achieve this has been attributed to the lack of SEAD operations on the part of the VVS likely due to the lack of flying hours for Russian pilots as well as the lack of dedicated SEAD units and precision-guided munitions within the VVS.{{cite web |last1=Bronk |first1=Justin |title=Is the Russian Air Force Incapable of Complex Air Operations? |url=https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-defence-systems/russian-air-force-actually-incapable-complex-air-operations |website=RUSI |access-date=25 March 2022 |date=4 March 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |title=Russian Pilots Have No Choice But To Fly Straight Through Ukraine's Man-Portable Missiles |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/03/16/russian-pilots-have-no-choice-but-to-fly-straight-through-ukraines-man-portable-missiles/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}} These weaknesses have been compounded by the mobility of Ukrainian air defenses with the extensive use of MANPADS as well as NATO reportedly sharing early warning information with Ukrainian forces. According to the Ukrainian MoD, as of 16 March 2022, the VVS has also suffered at least 77 aircraft losses, however only 12 were verified by independent sources at the time.

In the first six months of the campaign, Russia's air war was largely a failure. An American intelligence analyst said that less than 40% of the 2,154 missiles fired by Russia hit their targets, such as the Zatoka bridge which sustained over eight air attacks before being disabled. The VVS reportedly flew over 20,000 sorties in the war, fewer than 3,000 of which entered Ukrainian airspace, possibly due to fear of Ukraine's sustained air defense.{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russias-air-war-ukraine-total-failure-new-data-show-1709388 | title=Exclusive: Russia's air war in Ukraine is a total failure, new data show | website=Newsweek | date=25 May 2022 }}

The VVS has struck civilian targets during the invasion prompting an International Criminal Court investigation in Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the Situation in Ukraine: "I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation." |url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=20220228-prosecutor-statement-ukraine |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=www.icc-cpi.int |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=War Crimes by Russia's Forces in Ukraine |url=https://www.state.gov/war-crimes-by-russias-forces-in-ukraine/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-23 |title=US formally accuses Russia of war crimes in Ukraine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/23/russia-war-crimes-ukraine-us-blinken |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} Notably, during the battle of Mariupol it struck a hospital as well as a theatre.{{Cite news |date=2022-03-17 |title=Russia attacks theatre sheltering civilians, Ukraine says |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60772331 |access-date=2022-03-26}}{{Cite news |date=2022-03-10 |title=Ukraine war: Three dead as maternity hospital hit by Russian air strike |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60675599 |access-date=2022-03-26}}

Russian pilots in Ukraine are having to use civilian GPS units "taped to the dashboards".{{Cite news |date=2022-05-10 |title= Downed Russian fighter jets are being found with basic GPS 'taped to the dashboards,' UK defense minister says |work=Business Insider |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-su34-jets-basic-gps-receivers-taped-to-dashboards-uk-2022-5 |access-date=2022-05-11}}

On 19 September US Air Force General James B. Hecker said that Russia had lost 55 military aircraft due to being shot down by Ukrainian air defenses since the start of the invasion. He credits this success to the Ukrainian use of SA-11 and SA-10 air defense systems. As the US doesn't have these systems getting new missiles from European allies is a "big ask" from Kyiv. Russian airplanes increased their operations due to the September 2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive. This was due to several factors including changing front lines, former safe territory is now held by the enemy. Or because they were under pressure to provide closer ground support.{{Cite news |date=2022-09-19 |title= Ukraine has shot down 55 Russian warplanes, U.S. general says |author=Paul McLeary |work=Politico|url= https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/19/ukraine-has-shot-down-55-russian-warplanes-00057569 |access-date=2022-09-22}}{{Cite news |date=2022-09-19 |title= Russia may have lost four combat jets in Ukraine in last 10 days, UK says |work=Reuters|url= https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-may-have-lost-four-combat-jets-ukraine-last-10-days-uk-says-2022-09-19/ |access-date=2022-09-22}}

On 8 October 2022 the chief of the VVS Sergey Surovikin became the commander of all Russian forces invading Ukraine.{{cite news |title=Russia names new commander of its forces engaged in Ukraine |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2022/10/08/Russia-names-new-commander-of-its-forces-engaged-in-Ukraine |agency=Alarabiya |date=8 October 2022}}

On 10 October 2022 the VVS re-commenced the bombardment of cities like Kyiv and especially energy infrastructure like electricity grid facilities. The large-scale coordinated attacks also hit Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, Lviv, Dnipro, Ternopil, Kremenchuk, Khmelnytskyi, and Zhytomyr. The oblasts of Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zhytormyr, Kirovohrad were attacked on this day.{{cite news |url=https://kyivindependent.com/national/ukraine-racked-by-intense-bombardment-of-cities-energy-infrastructure-and-central-kyiv-among-targets|title=Ukraine racked by the intense bombardment of cities, energy infrastructure and central Kyiv among targets |date=10 October 2022 }} When, by 17 October, these energy infrastructure attacks continued unabated the western media labeled the delivery system "kamikaze drones", and Ukrainian president Zelensky called this "terrorizing the civilian population".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63280523|title=Ukraine war: Russia dive-bombs Kyiv with 'kamikaze' drones |work=BBC News |date=17 October 2022 }} By 23 October (not yet two weeks) 40% of Ukrainians were without electricity and/or water.{{cite news |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/wide-scale-russian-attacks-target-ukraine-s-energy-grid-/6801665.html|title='Wide-Scale' Russian Attacks Target Ukraine's Energy Grid }}

Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian infrastructure again intensified with the deployment of the UMPK (unified gliding and correction module) bomb kits since early 2023, which allowed to Russian Air Force convert dumb Soviet-era aerial bombs into a precise ammunition. UMPK bomb kits are being particularly used with general purpose FAB-250, FAB-500 and FAB-1500 aerial bombs containing highly explosive warheads. These glide kits greatly increase range and also add an element of guidance, allowing Russian bombers, namely the Su-34, to execute aerial attacks from safer distances without entering areas covered by Ukrainian air defense systems.{{cite web|url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e4f0a90ddd7d4cd6b1d889704f6b2396|title=Russia develops guidance modules for air-dropped munitions|website=storymaps.arcgis.com|date=December 2023}} According to Ukrainian General Ivan Havryliuk, since start of 2024 year, Russian aviation dropped over 3,500 of these bombs on Ukrainian positions.{{cite web|url=https://defence-blog.com/russia-intensifies-air-assault-strikes-in-ukraine/|title=Russia intensifies air assault strikes in Ukraine|website=defence-blog.com|date=19 March 2024}}

;Wagner Group rebellion

{{see also|Wagner Group rebellion}}

During the conflict, the VVS lost one Il-22M Airborne Command Post and five helicopters (three Mi-8, one Mi-35M, and one KA-52) as well as one damaged Mi-8.{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Chef's Special - Documenting Equipment Losses During The 2023 Wagner Group Mutiny |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/06/chefs-special-documenting-equipment.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Oryx}} Two of the destroyed Mi-8s as well as the damaged one were Russia's newest Mi-8MTPR-1 Electronic Warfare variants.{{Cite web |title=Russia deploys Mi-8 MTPR-1 Electronic Warfare helicopters to jam Ukrainian air defence |url=https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/october/8759-russia-deploys-mi-8-mtpr-1-electronic-warfare-helicopters-to-jam-ukrainian-air-defence.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=airrecognition.com}} Up to 29 crew were killed, assuming the aircraft were fully manned, but the VVS has not released casualties.{{Cite web |title=Russian Air Force suffers significant losses in Wagner mutiny |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/russian-air-force-suffers-significant-losses-in-wagner-mutiny |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Janes.com |date=26 June 2023 |language=en}} Wagner lost at least five vehicles during hostilities, but it is unclear how many can be attributed to VVS actions. Reports indicated that the Russian Armed Forces were failing to stop Wagner's momentum toward Moscow when a political resolution to the rebellion was announced.{{Cite news |last1=Gamio |first1=Lazaro |last2=Hernandez |first2=Marco |last3=Holder |first3=Josh |last4=Kurmanaev |first4=Anatoly |last5=Zhang |first5=Christine |date=2023-06-25 |title=How a Rebellion in Russia Unfolded Over 36 Hours |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/24/world/europe/prigozhin-putin-russia.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |issn=0362-4331}} The U.K. Defense Intelligence reported that the Il-22M was a particularly high value asset, being one in a fleet of only 12 special mission aircraft, and that its loss could have an impact on the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Loss of Ilyushin Il-22M Airborne Command Post Aircraft Impacts russian Air and Land Operations - Defense Express |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/news/loss_of_ilyushin_il_22m_airborne_command_post_aircraft_impacts_russian_air_and_land_operations-7157.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=en.defence-ua.com |language=en}}

{{main|Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force}}

Previously the highest military office until 1 August 2015.

Since the merger between the VVS and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces on 1 August 2015, the commander of the VVS as part of the new Russian Aerospace Forces is titled Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Commander of the VVS.[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=27 December 2015 }}, janes.com, 4 August 2015 Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin became the first holder of the position until he was succeeded by Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov in August 2019.{{cite web|url=https://structure.mil.ru/management/details.htm?id=11203914@SD_Employee|script-title=ru:Юдин Андрей Вячеславович|publisher=Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation|language=ru|trans-title=Yudin Andrey Vyacheslavovich|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619214019/https://structure.mil.ru/management/details.htm?id=11203914@SD_Employee|archive-date=19 June 2018|url-status=live|access-date=19 June 2018}}

{{update|section|date=June 2024}}

File:Russian Air Force.png

{{main|List of military airbases in Russia}}

In 2009 the structure of the VVS was completely changed to a command-air base structure from the previous structure of air army-air division or corps-air regiment. The VVS was divided into four operational commands, the Aerospace Defense Operational Strategic Command (seemingly primarily made up of the former Special Purpose Command), the Military Transport Aviation Command, and the Long-Range Aviation Command.Dmitry Gorenburg, [http://russiamil.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/air-force-structure/ Air Force Structure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829060130/http://russiamil.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/air-force-structure/ |date=29 August 2011 }}, 7 February 2011 This listing is a composite; the available new information covers frontline forces, and the forces of central subordination are as of approximately August 2008. Warfare.ru maintains what appears to be a reasonably up-to-date listing, and Combat Aircraft magazine in June 2010 listed their organization's estimate of the new order of battle.{{Update inline|date=April 2022}}

This listing appears to be as of June 2009:{{Update inline|date=April 2022}}

Russian Air Force flights often use a callsign beginning with RFF: For example RFF1234.

• 1st Aerospace Defence Forces Army (Moscow Military District)
• 4th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Dolgoprudnyi, Moscow Oblast)
• 5th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Petrovskoe, Moscow Oblast)
• 6th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Rzhev, Tver Oblast) (former 32nd Corps of PVO?)
• 6963rd aviation base (Kursk Vostochny Airport) (Su-30,{{cite web |title=Kursk Airport · Aeroportovskaya Ulitsa, 99, Kursk, Kursk Oblast, Russia, 305545 |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kursk+Airport/@51.7556958,36.3021374,217m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x412f03c000000001:0xb433bae910f891dc!8m2!3d51.7494193!4d36.2825398 |website=Kursk Airport · Aeroportovskaya Ulitsa, 99, Kursk, Kursk Oblast, Russia, 305545 |language=en}} MiG-29SMT/UBT)
• 6968th fighter aviation base (Borisovsky Khotilovo, Tver Oblast) (Su-27, MiG-31B, MiG-31BM, Su-24{{cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Borisovsky+Khotilovo+(air+base)/@57.6569537,34.0938738,188m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x46b9d9127719111d:0x47d61237980bfe61!2sBorisovsky+Khotilovo+(air+base)!8m2!3d57.6618788!4d34.1044337!3m4!1s0x46b9d9127719111d:0x47d61237980bfe61!8m2!3d57.6618788!4d34.1044337 |website=Google Maps |language=en}})
• 6th Air and Air Defence Forces Army (Voronezh) (Leningrad Military District)
• 1st Aerospace Defense Brigade (Severomorsk)
• 2nd Aerospace Defense Brigade (St. Petersburg)
• 6961st aviation base (Petrozavodsk Airport) (Su-27)
• 6964th aviation base (Monchegorsk Air Base, Murmansk Oblast) (Su-24M, Su-24MR)
• 6965th aviation base (Vyazma Airport, Smolensk Oblast) (Mi-8TM, Mi-24V, Mi-28N)
• 7000th aviation base (Voronezh Malshevo Air Base) (Su-24M, Su-24MR, Su-34)
• 14th Air and Air Defence Forces Army (Yekaterinburg) (Central Military District)
• 8th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Yekaterinburg)
• 9th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Novosibirsk)
• 10th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Chita)
• 6977th Aviation Base (Bolshoye Savino Airport, Perm Krai) (MiG-31BM)
• 6979th aviation base (Kansk Air Base, Krasnoyarsk Krai) (MiG-31BM)
• 6980th aviation base (Chelyabinsk Shagol Airport) (Su-24M)
• 6982nd aviation base (Domna Air Base, Zabaykalsky Krai) (MiG-29, Su-30SM)
• 11th Air and Air Defence Forces Army (Khabarovsk) (Eastern Military District)
• 11th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Komsomolsk-na-Amur)
• 12th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Vladivostok)
• 6983rd aviation base (Komsomolsk-on-Amur Airport, Khabarovsk Krai) (Su-27SM, Su-30M2, Su-35S, Su-34)
• 6988th aviation base (Khurba, Khabarovsk Krai) (Su-24M, Su-24M2, Su-24MR)
• 6989th aviation base (Vladivostok International Airport) (Su-27SM)
• 265th transport aviation base (Khabarovsk)
• 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army – (former 4th and 5th Armies of VVS and PVO) (Rostov-on-Don) (Southern Military District)
• 7th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Rostov-on-Don)
• 8th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Yekaterinburg)
• 6970th aviation base (Morozovsk, Rostov Oblast) (Su-24M, Su-34)
• 6971st aviation base (Budyonnovsk, Stavropol Krai) (Su-25SM, Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-24V, Mi-28N)
• 6972nd aviation base (Krymsk, Krasnodar Krai) (Su-27, Mi-8, Mi-24P, Mi-28N, Ka-27)
• 6974th aviation base (Korenovsk, Krasnodar Krai) (Mi-8MTV-5, Mi-24V, Mi-35M, Mi-28N)
• 999th aviation base (Kant Air Base, Kyrgyzstan) (Su-25, Su-27, Mi-8T)
• 229th transport aviation base (Rostov-on-Don) (Mi-26(T), Mi-8AMTSh(TM))

Helicopter regiments providing support to the Ground Forces include the 39th, 55th, granted Guards status after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 112th, 319th, 332nd, 337th, 440th, and the 487th. There is also a helicopter regiment in the Navy, the 830th Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment.

Headquarters: Moscow

• 6955th Aviation Base (Migalovo (Tver)) (Il-76MD)
• 6956th Aviation Base (Orenburg) (Il-76MD)
• 6958th Aviation Base (Taganrog, Rostov Oblast) (Il-76MD)
• 6985th Aviation Base (Pskov Airport) (Il-76MF)

Headquarters Moscow

• 6950th Aviation Base (Engels-2, Saratov Oblast) (Tu-22 M3, Tu-95 MS6, Tu-160) former 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division
• 6952nd Aviation Base (Ukrainka Air Base, Amur Oblast) (Tu-95 MS16)
• 6953rd Aviation Base (Belaya Air Base, located at Sredni, Irkutsk Oblast) (Tu-22 M3)

• 132nd Central Communications Center, Balashikha, Zarya airport, Moscow Oblast{{Cite news|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1015743|script-title=ru:Части центрального подчинения|date=25 August 2008|work=Kommersant|access-date=16 February 2018|language=ru|trans-title=Parts of Central Subordination}}
• 1st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment – Su-24 – Lebyazhye – absorbed by 6970th Aviation Base, 1 September 2009Michael Holm, [http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/shap/1gvapib.htm 1st Guards Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment], accessed October 2011
• 764th Fighter Aviation Regiment – MiG-31, MiG-25PU – Bolshoye Savino Airport (Sokol)Piotr Butowsky. Force Report:Russian Air Force, Air Forces Monthly, July 2007.
• 8th Special Purpose Aviation Division (Chkalovsky Airport)
• 353rd Special Purpose Aviation Regiment— Chkalovsky Airport — Il-18, Il-76, Аn-12, Аn-72, Тu-134, Тu-154.
• 354th Special Purpose Aviation Regiment— Chkalovsky Airport — Il-18, Il-76, Аn-12, Аn-72, Тu-134, Тu-154.
• 206th Special Purpose Aviation Base — Chkalovsky Airport — Mi-8 helicopters.
• 223rd Flight Unit – commercial transport – Chkalovsky Airport – Il-62M, Il-76MD, Tu-134A-3, Tupolev Tu-154B-2
• 2457th Air Base of Long Range Radiolocation Detection Aircraft – A-50, A-50М – Ivanovo Severny
• 929th State Flight Test Centre named for V. P. Chkalov (Akhtubinsk)
• 1338th Test Centre – Chkalovsky Airport – Ilyushin Il-22, Ilyushin Il-80, and Il-82
• High-altitude mountain Center for Air Materiel and Weapons Research – Nalchik
• 368th Detached Composite Aviation Squadron (An-12)
• 13th Aeronautic Test Facility – Volsk – air balloons

• 267th Center of Test Pilots Training – Akhtubinsk
• 4th Centre for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel – Lipetsk Air Base
• 968th Sevastopol Composite Training and Research Aviation Regiment, Lipetsk Air Base, fighter jets MiG-29, Su-27, Su-27M, Su-30, bombers Su-24M, Su-24M2, Su-34, reconnaissance plane Su-24MP, jammer Su-24MP, strike-fighter Su-25, Su-25T, Su-25SM
• 3958th Guards Kerch Aviation Base, Savasleyka, Nizhegorod Oblast, MiG-31.
• 185th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – Astrakhan
• 116th Training center operational use — Аstrakhan — MiG-23, MiG-29
• 42nd Training center operational use — Ashuluk — SAM and targets.
• 344th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – Torzhok (ground forces helicopters) (:ru:344 Центр боевой подготовки и переучивания лётного состава армейской авиации)
• 696th Research and Instruction Helicopter Regiment (Torzhok)(Ka-50, Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-26, has used Mi-28)
• 92nd Research and Instruction Helicopter Squadron (Sokol-Vladimir (Ruwiki says Klin)) (Mi-8, Mi-24)
• 924th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – Yegoryevsk Base UAV.
• 275th Separate research and UAV squadron instructors(Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), Yegoryevsk, Moscow Oblast. UAV Tu-143, Yakovlev Pchela-1T, IAI Searcher 2 .
• Russian State Scientific-Research Institute Centre for Cosmonaut Training – Zvezdnyi Goronok
• 70th Separate test and training Aviation Regiment Special Purpose — Chkalovski — Il-76 and other.
• 2881st Reserve Helicopter Base – Totskoye – Mi-24P
• 5th Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Detachment – Voronezh (CFE and INF verification)
• 185th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – Astrakhan
• 118th Independent Helicopter Squadron – Chebenki (Dmitriyevka), Orenburg Oblast
• 4020th Base for Reserve Aircraft – Lipetsk
• 4215th Base for Reserve Aircraft – Chebenki
• 15th Army Aviation Brigade of the Western Military District at the airport Ostrov, Pskov Oblast

{{See also|:ru:Список_авиационных_заводов_России}} (Russian: List of Aircraft Factories in Russia)

• Central Aviation Base of Rocket Armament and Ammunition, Sergiyev Posad, Moscow Oblast

• Aviation Warehouse of Rocket Armament and Ammunition, Yoshkar-Ola

• Supply and Storage Depot of Air Defense Rocket Armament, Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast

• Storage and Maintenance Depot of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Yaroslavl (Tunoshna)

• 502nd Military Equipment Maintenance Plant, Fryazevo (Noginsk-5)

• 1015th Military Equipment Maintenance Plant, Nizhniye Sergi-3, Sverdlovsk Oblast

• 1019th Military Equipment Maintenance Plant, Onokhoy-2, Buryat Republic

• 1253rd Central Radar Armament Maintenance Base, Samara-28

• 2227th Armament Maintenance and Storage Base, Trudovaya, Moscow Oblast

• 2503rd Central Base of Automated Control Systems Maintenance, Yanino-1, Leningrad Oblast

• 2529th Central Base of Armament Maintenance, Khabarovsk

• 2633rd Base of Armament Maintenance and Storage, Lyubertsy, Moscow Oblast

• 3821st Base of Armament Maintenance and Storage, Tosno, Leningrad Oblast

• 20th Aircraft Overhaul Plant, Pushkin-3 (not an inhabited locality, or name is misspelled), Leningrad Oblast

• 150th Aircraft Overhaul Plant, Lyublino-Novoye, Kaliningrad Oblast

• 419th Aircraft Overhaul Plant, Gorelovo, Leningrad Oblast
• 695th Aircraft Overhaul Plant (Factory), Aramil, Sverdlovsk Oblast

• 99th Air-Technical Equipment Plant, Ostafyevo (Shcherbinka), Moscow Oblast

• 5212nd Testing and Control (Docking?) Station, Znamensk, Astrakhan Oblast

• 2nd Central Scientific-Research Institute — Tver
• 13th State Scientific Research Institute "ERAT" Luberchi, Moscow Oblast
• 30th Central Scientific-Research Institute (ЦНИИ АКТ) — Shelkovo, also includes research institutes in Noginsk.
• Gagarin Military Air Academy (VVA) — Monino
• Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy — Moscow
• Zhukov Command Academy of Air Defense — Tver ( branch in the St. Petersburg )
• Yaroslavl Anti-aircraft Missile Defence Institute
• Chelyabinsk Red Banner Military Aviation Institute of Navigators
• 604th Training Aviation Regiment — Chelyabinsk Shagol Airport
• Voronezh Central Military Aviation Engineering University (VCMAEU)
• Both the Irkutsk Military Aviation Engineering Institute and the Tambov Military Aviation Engineering Institute were disbanded in 2009 and transferred to VCMAEU.
• Krasnodar Military Aviation Institute (L-39Cs); by 2016, the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation Pilots College Named for Hero of the Soviet Union A.K. SerovNikolay Surkov and Aleksey Ramm, "Подготовку летчиков пустят на поток (Flight Crew Training to Be Stepped Up)," Izvestiya

Online, 2 October 2017. https://iz.ru/645337/nikolai-surkov-aleksei-ramm/letchikov-budut-gotovit-tysiachami via OEWatch, Vol.7, Issue 10, November 2017. See also http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/division/schools/kvolty.htm.

• 704th Training Aviation Regiment — Котельниково — L-39
• 627th Training Aviation Regiment — Тихорецк — Л-39
• 797th Training Aviation Regiment — Кущевская — L-39, Su-25, Su-27, MiG-29
• Syzran Military Aviation Institute (Mi-2, Mi-8T and Mi-24V, Ansat, Ka-226T{{cite web|url=http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/30685/|title="Фотофакт. Новые вертолёты Ансат-У и Ка-226 для ВВС России " в блоге "Фотофакты" – Сделано у нас|work=Сделано у нас|date=20 March 2013 |access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221200746/http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/30685/|archive-date=21 December 2014|url-status=live}}
• 131st Training Aviation Regiment — Saratov-Sokol — Mi-2, Mi-8
• 484th Training Helicopter Regiment — Syzran airfield — Mi-24
• 626th Training Helicopter Regiment — Pugachev — Mi-2, Mi-8, Mi-24
• Branch in Kirov, Kirov Oblast
• 783rd Training Centre (Armavir) (MiG-29, L-39C)
• 713th Training Aviation Regiment — Armavir — L-39, MiG-29
• 761st Training Aviation Regiment — Khanskaya — L-39
• 786th Training Centre (Borisoglebsk):
• 160th Training Aviation Regiment — Borisoglebsk — Su-27
• 644th Training Aviation Regiment — Michurinsk — L-39, Su-24, Su-25, MiG-29
• 705th Training Aviation Center for Training Flight Crews and Long-Range military transport aircraft – Balashov:
• 606th Training Aviation Regiment – Balashov
• 666th Training Aviation Regiment – Rtishchevo
• Center for anti-aircraft missile troops, Uchhoz (Gatchina-3), the Leningrad Region. Chief – Colonel Alexander Dobrovolsky.
• 357th Training Center, Belgorod. Chief – Colonel Viktor Baranov.
• 834th Centre for Signal Corps Radio and ensure Novgorod. Chief – Colonel Vasily Fedosov.
• 874th training center (settlement) of radio engineering troops, Vladimir. Chief – Colonel Yuri Balaban.
• 902nd Training Center (settlement) of anti-aircraft missile troops Kosterevo-1, Vladimir Oblast.

• State Research Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine, Moscow. Chief – Major-General Igor Ushakov.
• 5th Central Military Research Aviation Hospital, Krasnogorsk-3, Moscow Region.
• 7th Central Military Research Aviation Hospital, Moscow.
• Spa Air Force, Chemitokvadzhe, Krasnodar Krai. Chief – Colonel Theodore Barantsev.
• Central Sports Club VVS Samara. Chief – Colonel Dmitry Shlyahtin.
• 361st Center of Psychophysiological Training of personnel, Agha, Krasnodar region.
• 709th Center of Psychophysiological Training of personnel, Anapa (now Dzhubga), Krasnodar region.
• 464th Training Center for Physical Culture and Sports, Ufa, Bashkortostan.

The list of Soviet Air Force bases shows a number that are still active with the Russian Air Force.

With the Air Force now fusing into one joint service branch the personnel from the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces and their respective facilities, the following now report to the Aerospace Forces HQ:

• Space Command ({{langx|ru|Космическое командование (KK)}}):
• 153rd Main Trial Centre for Testing and Control of Space Means named after G.S. Titov at Krasnoznamensk ({{langx|ru|Главный испытательный центр испытаний и управления космическими средствами имени Германа Титова}})
• 820th Main Centre for Missile Attack Warning (SPRN) ({{langx|ru|центр предупреждения о ракетном нападении (цпрн)}}) in Solnechnogorsk
• 821st Main Space Surveillance Centre (SKKP) ({{langx|ru|центр контроля космического пространства (цккп)}}) in Noginsk-9, Moscow Oblast

Early warning of missile attack:

:Voronezh radar at Lekhtusi, Armavir, Kaliningrad, Mileshevka, Yeniseysk, Barnaul{{cite web|url=http://warfiles.ru/show-77079-gerasimov-prioritet-v-2015-godu-razvitie-strategicheskih-yadernyh-sil.html|title=Герасимов: Приоритет в 2015 году — развитие стратегических ядерных сил|work=warfiles.ru|access-date=7 March 2016|date=2014-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110213221/http://warfiles.ru/show-77079-gerasimov-prioritet-v-2015-godu-razvitie-strategicheskih-yadernyh-sil.html|archive-date=10 January 2015|url-status=live}}

:Daryal radar at Pechora

:Volga radar at Hantsavichy

:Dnepr radar at Balkhash, Irkutsk and Olenegorsk

:Oko early warning satellites

Space surveillance:

:Okno in Tajikistan

:Krona in Zelenchukskaya and Nakhodka

:RT-70 in Yevpatoria (since its annexation by the Russian Federation, Crimea's status, and thus that of the city of Yevpatoria which is located on Crimea, is under dispute between Russia and Ukraine; Ukraine and the majority of the international community considers Crimea and Yevpatoria an integral part of Ukraine, while Russia, on the other hand, considers Crimea and Yevpatoria an integral part of Russia[http://europe.newsweek.com/ukraine-reports-russian-military-activity-crimea-border-armored-column-488283 UKRAINE REPORTS RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTIVITY ON CRIMEA BORDER] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018030959/http://europe.newsweek.com/ukraine-reports-russian-military-activity-crimea-border-armored-column-488283 |date=18 October 2016 }}, Newsweek (8 August 2016)
{{cite news |last=Gutterman |first=Steve |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140318 |title=Putin signs Crimea treaty, will not seize other Ukraine regions |agency=Reuters |date=2014-03-18 |access-date=26 March 2014 |newspaper=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709064506/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/18/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140318 |archive-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=live}}
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715040406/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 |date=15 July 2014 }}, BBC News
[http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml UN General Assembly adopts resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304200543/http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml |date=4 March 2018 }}, China Central Television (28 March 2014)) and Galenki (together with Roscosmos)

Missile defense:

:A-135 anti-ballistic missile system

:Don-2N radar

:A-235 anti-ballistic missile system (future; after 2020)

Satellite systems:

:Liana space reconnaissance and target designation system (3 electronic reconnaissance satellites 14F145 "Lotus-C1"){{cite journal|url=http://russianforces.org/blog/2018/10/cosmos-2458_-_new_lotus-s1_ele.shtml|title=Cosmos-2528 – new Lotus-S1 electronic reconnaissance satellite|journal=Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces|date=25 October 2018|access-date=15 August 2020|last1=Podvig|first1=Pavel}}

• Air and Space Defence Command ({{langx|ru|Командование противовоздушной и противоракетной обороны (К ПВО И ПРО)}}):
• 9th Missile Defence Division (A-135 anti-ballistic missile system) in Pushkino{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2.dk/new/pvo/9okpro.htm|title=9th independent Anti-Missile Defense Corps|website=www.ww2.dk|access-date=18 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529085631/http://www.ww2.dk/new/pvo/9okpro.htm|archive-date=29 May 2013|url-status=live}}
• 4th Missile Defence Brigade in Dolgoprudny
• 5th Missile Defence Brigade in Vidnoye
• 6th Missile Defence Brigade in Rzhev
• State Testing Plesetsk Cosmodrome ({{langx|ru|Государственный испытательный космодром «Плесецк» (ГИК «Плесецк»)}})
• Kura Test Range

As of 2014:

• 8 × Bomber squadrons (4 operating Tu-22M3/MR; 3 operating Tu-95MS; 1 operating Tu-160)
• 37 × Fighter squadrons (8 operating MiG-29; 3 operating MiG-29SMT; 11 operating MiG-31/MiG-31BM; 10 operating Su-27; 4 operating Su-27SM1/Su-30M2; 1 operating Su-27SM3/Su-30M2)
• 27 × Attack squadrons (11 operating the Su-24M/Su-24M2; 13 operating Su-25/Su-25SM; 3 operating Su-34)
• 10 × Attack & Reconnaissance squadrons (1 operating Su-24M/MR; 8 operating Su-24MR; 1 operating Mig-25RB)
• 1 × AEW&C squadron (1 operating A-50/A50-U)
• 1 × Tanker squadron (1 operating Il-78/Il-78M)

{{Main|List of active Russian military aircraft}}

The precise quantitative and qualitative composition of the VVS is unknown and figures include both serviceable and unserviceable aircraft as well as those placed into storage or sitting in reserve. FlightGlobal estimated that there were about 3,947 aircraft in inventory in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/major-powers-our-top-10-of-military-aviation-streng-419734/|title=Major powers: Our Top 10 of military aviation strength|date=4 December 2015|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230219/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/major-powers-our-top-10-of-military-aviation-streng-419734/|archive-date=25 September 2017|url-status=live}} According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the share of modern armament in the VVS had reached about 35% during 2014.{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1660936|title=ТАСС: Армия и ОПК – Шойгу: оснащенность Российской армии современным оружием и техникой за год выросла на 7%|work=ТАСС|access-date=3 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305190713/http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1660936|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150716/1132598887.html|title=Восемь МБР приняты на вооружение в интересах РВСН во втором квартале|work=РИА Новости|access-date=7 March 2016|date=2015-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009215251/https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150716/1132598887.html|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}} The figure was raised to 66% by late 2016{{cite web|url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1222/161038788/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Выступление министра обороны РФ генерала армии Сергея Шойгу на расширенном заседании Коллегии Минобороны|website=www.armstrade.org|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009210744/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1222/161038788/detail.shtml|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}} and to 72% by late 2017.{{cite web|url=http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12149743@egNews|title=Remarks by Chief of General Staff of the Russian Federation General of the Army Valery Gerasimov at the Russian Defense Ministry's board session (November 7, 2017): Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation|website=eng.mil.ru|access-date=9 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109191754/http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12149743@egNews|archive-date=9 November 2017|url-status=live}} According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Air Force received in 2023 more than 100 new and repaired aircraft and 150 helicopters.{{cite web | last=Новости | first=РИА | title=Армия в 2023 году получила 3,5 тысячи отечественных беспилотников | website=РИА Новости | date=2024-01-26 | url=https://ria.ru/20240126/bespilotniki-1923651702.html | language=ru | access-date=2024-03-14}}

Estimates provided by the IISS show that VVS combat pilots average 60 to 100 flight hours per year and pilots flying transport aircraft average 120 flight hours per year.International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.186

The VVS operates several Nebo-M radars, that combine meter, decimeter, and centimeter range. First two Nebo-M regiments were deployed in 2017 to Saint Petersburg and Kareliya.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/2021/05/24/russias-nebo-m-radars-can-detect-u-s-f-22-and-f-35-jets-developer-says.html|title=Russia's Nebo-M Radars Can Detect U.S. F-22 and F-35 Jets: Developer Says|first=Linda|last=Kay|date=24 May 2021}} In 2018, further two regiments were deployed to Crimea{{cite web|url=https://iz.ru/727584/2018-04-03/sistema-rls-nebo-m |title=Система РЛС "Небо-М" |language=ru |publisher=Iz.ru |date=2018-04-03 |accessdate=2022-02-14}} and Penza.{{cite web|author=App Store |url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5156954 |title=Новая радиолокационная станция "Небо-М" поступила на вооружение войск в Поволжье |publisher=Tass.ru |date=2018-04-25 |accessdate=2022-02-14}}{{cite web|author= |url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/106459/ |title="Новая радиолокационная станция "Небо-М" поступила на вооружение войск в Поволжье" в блоге "Армия и Флот" – Сделано у нас |publisher=Sdelanounas.ru |date=2018-04-25 |accessdate=2022-02-14}} In 2019, a regiment was delivered to Volga region.{{cite web|url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?search=%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%BE-%D0%9C |title=Все статьи с тэгом "Небо-М" – Сделано у нас |publisher=Sdelanounas.ru |date= |accessdate=2022-02-14}} In 2020, two regiments were deployed to the Far East and Naryan Mar.{{cite web|url=https://vpk.name/news/230209_chto_mozhet_s-300_v_poedinke_s_istrebitelem_f-35.html|title=Что может С-300 в поединке с истребителем F-35|website=ВПК.name|date=8 October 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://bastion-opk.ru/2020/04/26/27-04-2020/ |title=PHOTO REPORT: MOBILE SECTOR RADAR COMPLEX MS RLC AT THE ARMY-2018 FORUM » |publisher=Bastion-opk.ru |date=27 April 2020 |access-date=2022-02-14 |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211222416/http://bastion-opk.ru/2020/04/26/27-04-2020/ |url-status=dead }}

Additionally, the VVS operates radars that work in meter range only. Such systems are Nebo-UM (first units were delivered in 2018 to Voronezh{{cite web|author=alert5 |url=https://alert5.com/2018/11/28/nebo-um-enters-service-in-voronezh-russia/ |title=Nebo-UM enters service in Voronezh, Russia – Alert 5 |publisher=Alert5.com |date=2018-11-28 |accessdate=2022-02-14}} and in 2020 to Rostov-on-Don{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1235105 |title=Latest radar station goes on combat alert in Russia's south – Military & Defense |publisher=TASS |date= |accessdate=2022-02-14}}) as well as Rezonans-NE radars that have been constructed in the Arctic in Zapolyarniy, Indiga, Shoyna and Nova Zemlya, with another in Gremikha under construction.{{cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2020/08/russias-border-norway-comes-new-radar |title=On Russia's border to Norway comes a new radar | The Independent Barents Observer |publisher=Thebarentsobserver.com |date=2020-08-24 |accessdate=2022-02-14}}{{cite web|url=https://frontierindia.com/russian-3rd-rezonans-n-radar-to-be-ready-by-june/|title=Russian 3rd Rezonans-N radar to be ready by June|date=14 April 2021}}

{{Main|Air Force ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation}}

The VVS inherited the ranks of the Soviet Union, although the insignia and uniform were slightly altered and the old Tsarist crown and double-headed eagle were re-introduced. The VVS uses the same rank structure as the Russian Ground Forces.

{{reflist|group=Note}}

Production of the Russian aerospace industry for the Russian Armed Forces, 'by year of manufacture (first flight):

File:Sukhoi T-50 Maksimov.jpg|Sukhoi Su-57

File:Tupolev Tu-22M3 at Ryazan Dyagilevo.jpg|Tupolev Tu-22M

File:MTS Il214 maks2009.jpg|Ilyushin Il-276

File:Ilyushin Il-112.png|Ilyushin Il-112

File:Russian Air Force Ka-60.jpg|Kamov Ka-60

File:38013 MI38 Mil Design Bureau ZIA UUBW (33470419182).jpg|Mi-38

File:Yakovlev Yak-130 2.jpg|Yakovlev Yak-130

File:Яковлев Як-152.jpg|Yak-152

• Awards and emblems of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
• Orders, decorations, and medals of Russia
• Honorary titles of Russia
• List of Russian aviators
• Air Intelligence of Russia

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• Higham, Robin (editor). Russian Aviation and Air Power in the Twentieth Century. Routledge, 1998. {{ISBN|0-7146-4784-5}}
• Palmer, Scott W. Dictatorship of the Air: Aviation Culture and the Fate of Modern Russia. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. {{ISBN|0-521-85957-3}}

Further sources include:

• Piotr Butowsky. Force Report: Russian Air Force, Air Forces Monthly, August 2007 issue
• Pyotr Butowski, Air Power Analysis: Russian Federation, Part 2, International Air Power Review, Airtime Publishing, No.13, Summer 2004 (also Part 1 in a previous issue)
• Yefim Gordon, Dmitriy Komissarov, Russian Air Power, 2009 and 2011
• Kommersant-Vlast, [http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1014594 State of Russia's Air Forces 2008] No.33 (786) 25 August 2008 {{in lang|ru}}
• {{cite journal|script-title=ru:Что такое современная армия России|trans-title=What is the modern army of Russia|language=ru|journal=Vlast|issue=610|publisher=Kommersant|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=548978|date=21 February 2005|volume=7|access-date=20 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114072034/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=548978|archive-date=2007-11-14}}
• Aleksandr Stukalin, Mikail Lukin, 'Vys Rossiyskaya Armiya', Kommersant-Vlast, Moscow, Russia, (14 May 2002)

{{Commons category|Air force of Russia}}

• [http://eng.mil.ru/en/structure/forces/air.htm Russian Air Force Official site] (English)
• Kommersant-Vlast, [http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1014594 State of Russia's Air Forces 2008] No.33 (786) 25 August 2008 {{in lang|ru}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051226070822/http://www.scramble.nl/ru.htm VVS Order of Battle] (scramble.nl)
• [http://www.foxbat.ru/maks/makc.htm Photos Russian Air Force]
• [http://www.jetdiscovery.com/wiki/ Russian Military Aviation]

{{Armed Forces of the Russian Federation}}

{{Russian Air Force}}

{{Air Forces of the countries former Soviet Union}}

{{Asian topic

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{{Air forces in Europe}}

{{Air forces}}

{{Moscow Victory Parade}}

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Category:Military of Russia

Category:Russian military aviation