Russian Military

Components Russian Air Force Russian Army Russian Navy Ranks of the Russian Military Air Force ranks and insignia Army ranks and insignia Navy ranks and insignia History of the Russian Military Military History of Russia

Insignia of Russian Air Force

The Russian Federation Air Force is the air force of the Russian Federation and is also known under the abbreviation VVS, transliterated from Russian: ВВС, Военно-воздушные силы (Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily), the official designation of the former Soviet Air Force. The Russian Navy has its own airforce, the Aviatsiya Voenno Morskogo Flota (Naval Aviation), or AV-MF. The Soviet Air Force, also known under the abbreviation VVS, transliterated from Russian: ВВС, Военно-воздушные силы (Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily), formed the official designation of the airforce of the Soviet Union. ... Russian Navy Jack Russian Navy Ensign The Naval Cathedral in St Petersburg is the main church of the Russian Navy. ...

History

Aviation in Russia has a long history seeing as military pilot training was started as early as 1910. Although when World War I broke out the military was not yet at a level of readiness that a major war demands, Russian aircraft production is estimated to have risen to an impressive 4,700 aicraft.-1... Combatants Entente Powers Central Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties > 5 million military deaths > 3 million military deaths World War I, also known as the First World War and (before 1939) the Great War, the War of the Nations, War to End All Wars was a world conflict...

After the creation of the Soviet state many efforts were made in order to modernize and expand aircraft production. Domestic aircraft production increased significantly in the early years of the 1930s and towards the end of the decade the Soviet Air Force was able to introduce I-15 and I-16 fighters and SB-2, SB-2 BIS and DB-3 bombers. // Events and trends A public speech by Benito Mussolini, founder of the Fascist movement The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the global depression. ...

At the start of WW II the Soviet Air Force had to overcome severe losses, but towards the end of the war it not only managed to confront the Luftwaffe, but also was able to produce some unique and technologically advanced aircraft such as the La-5, Yak-9, Pe-2 and Il-2.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Air Force was rearmed, strengthened and modern air doctrines were introduced. At its peak in the 80's it could deploy, in different operation areas, approximately 10,000 aicraft. By the beginning of the 1990s the Soviet Union had an air force that in terms of quantity fulfilled superpower standards. The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, the last decade of the 20th Century. ...

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 the aircraft and personnel of the Soviet VVS were divided among the newly independent states. Russia received the majority of these forces, approximately 40% of the aircraft and 65% of the manpower. The VVS was reorganised:

• Long Range Aviation
• Military Transport Aviation
• Tactical/Air Defence Armies

The VVS participated in the First Chechen War (1994-1996) and the Second Chechen War (1999-2002). Both air campaigns highlighted shortcomings of the force, particularly lack of training and appropriate weapons. They also presented significant difficulties for the VVS including; the type of terrain, lack of significant fixed targets and insurgents armed with Stinger and Strela-2M SAMs. The First Chechen War occurred when Russian forces attempted to recapture the breakaway southern republic of Chechnya in a two year period lasting from 1994 to 1996. ... The Second Chechen War is part of an ongoing conflict in the Chechen Republic (Chechnya) and Russia. ... Two soldiers preparing to fire a shoulder-mounted Stinger missile launcher A Stinger System: Launcher, Missile and Battery The FIM-92 Stinger is a man portable infra-red homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and used by all the US armed services, with whom it entered... A soldier posing with a Strela launcher The 9K32 Strela-2 (Russian 9К32 стрела-2 - arrow, NATO reporting name SA-7 Grail) is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system similar to the US Army REDEYE, with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared... A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. ...

In 1998 the RFAF was merged with the Voyska PVO (Air Defence Force), which is a more common arrangement than operating two independent forces. In 2003 also the aviation assets of the Army -mostly helicopters- were transferred to the VVS.

The RFAF continues to suffer from a lack of resources both for procurement and modernisation and pilot training. In 1990s Russian pilots achieved approximately 10% of the flight hours of US Air Force pilots. The RFAF has been forced to abandon ambitious plans of advanced tactical fighter in favour of upgrades to current aircraft. While suggestions that the only way forward for the RFAF is to cut aircraft numbers to around 300 (a similar size as the Royal Air Force) are extreme, it is likely that modernisation of the force will involve at least some dramatic cuts in aircraft and bases. The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aviation branch of the United States armed forces. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Current Inventory

Operational Fighters

• Su-33 Flanker (Su-27K) 52 (Navy)
• Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter 452 150 Frontal Air Force; 200 Air Defence)

Are being modernized to reach Su-27SM level. The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name Flanker) is a Russian fighter aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau (SDB). ... The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name Flanker) is a Russian fighter aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau (SDB). ...

• MiG-29 Fulcrum 455 (345 Frontal Air Force; 110 Navy)

Planned modernization to reach the MiG-29SMT level. The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) is a Russian fighter aircraft used in the air superiority role. ...

• MiG-31 Foxhound 325 (25 Frontal Air Force; 300 Air Defence)

Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name Foxhound) is a high-speed interceptor developed to replace the MiG-25. ...

Operational Attack Aircraft

• Su-24M Fencer 497 (367 Frontal Air Force; 130 Navy)

Planned modernization to reach Su-24M2 level. Su-24 Fencer of the Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name Fencer) was the Soviet Unions most advanced all-weather interdiction and attack aircraft in the 1970s and 1980s. ...

• Su-25 Frogfoot 262 (192 Frontal Air Force; 70 Navy)

Planned modernization to reach the Su-25SM level. Su-25 of the Russian Air Force The Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is a battlefield attack, close air support, and anti-tank aircraft designed by the Soviet Union. ...

• Su-34 Fullback 8 (Frontal Air Force)

...

Long Range Bombers

• Tu-22M Backfire 265 (100 Frontal Air Force; 165 Navy)

The Tupolev Tu-22M (NATO reporting name Backfire) is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic bomber developed by the Soviet Union. ...

Strategic Bombers

• Tu-95/142 Bear 88 (Strategic Force, Navy)
• Tu-160 Blackjack 15 (Strategic Force)

The Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO reporting name Bear) is the most successful Tupolev strategic bomber and missile carrier from the times of the Soviet Union. ... Tupolev Tu-160 The Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO reporting name Blackjack) is a supersonic, swing-wing heavy bomber designed in the Soviet Union. ...

Reconnaissance/ECM/ELNIT

• Su-24MR/MP Fencer 100 (80 Frontal Air Force; 20 Navy)
• MiG-25RB Foxbat 80 (80 Frontal Air Force)

Su-24 Fencer of the Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name Fencer) was the Soviet Unions most advanced all-weather interdiction and attack aircraft in the 1970s and 1980s. ... MiG 25 Foxbat The MiG-25 (NATO reporting name Foxbat) is a high-speed interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft produced by the Soviet Unions Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau. ...

Transport

• Il-76 Candid
• An-72 Coaler 20

An Il-76 serving Aeroflot The Ilyushin Il-76, NATO codename Candid, is a 4-engined heavy transport aircraft in widespread use in eastern Europe and Africa. ... An-72 aircraft Designed as a strategic military freighter, the Antonov An-72 was intended as a replacement for the An_26, but variants have found success as commercial freighters. ...

Refueling Tankers

• Il-78 Midas (Il-76 based)

The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four-engined inflight refuelling tanker based on the Il-76. ...

Prototypes/Experimental

• Su-35 Super Flanker (Su-27M)
• Su-37 Terminator
• Su-47 Berkut (S-37, "Su-47" is a journalizm, "Berkut" is developer's name)
• MiG-1-44 Flatpack (MiG-1-42, MiG-39)
• Su-39 Frogfoot (Su-25TM, optimized as tank-killer)

The Sukhoi Su-35 is a Russian fighter aircraft. ... Categories: Military stubs | Soviet and Russian fighter aircraft 1990-1999 ... Su-47 Berkut The Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut (Russian: Су-47 Беркут - golden eagle), designated S-32 and/or S-37 during initial development, is an experimental supersonic jet fighter developed by the Sukhoi Corporation. ... The Mikoyan Project 1. ... Su-25 The Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is a battlefield attack, close air support, and anti-tank aircraft designed by the Soviet Union. ...

External links

VVS Order of Battle courtesy of Scramble.nl

Photos Russian Air Force