Armament of the Russian Air Force. Russian Strategic Aviation

The two most powerful 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 personnel are released, if not annually, then every two to three years. Huge funds are allocated for development in this area.

If we talk about Russian strategic aviation, then do not expect that you will be able to find accurate statistical data anywhere on the number of attack aircraft, fighters, etc. in service. Such information is considered top secret. Therefore, the information provided in this article may be subjective.

General overview of the Russian air fleet

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

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

For comparison, you can give how many passenger planes there are in Russia. Total 753. Of them 547 - main and 206 — regional. Since 2014, the demand for passenger flights began to fall, so the number of aircraft in use has also decreased. 72% of them- these are foreign models ( and ).

The new aircraft in the Russian Air Force are improved models of military equipment. Among them we can highlight Su-57. This 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 soared into the sky was still in 2010 year. Three years later it was put into small-scale production for testing. By 2018 Multi-batch deliveries will begin.

Another promising model is MiG-35. This is a light fighter whose characteristics are almost comparable with fifth generation aircraft. It was designed to deliver precise strikes against targets on land and water. Winter 2017 the first tests began. By 2020 The first deliveries are planned.

A-100 “Premier”- another new product from the Russian Air Force. Long-range radio navigation aircraft. It must replace outdated models - A50 and A50U.

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

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

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

There is also a new item among passenger models. This is IL-114. Turboprop aircraft with two engines. It holds 64 passengers, but flies at a distance - up to 1500 km. It is being developed to replace An-24.

If we talk about Russian small aviation, the situation here is extremely deplorable. There are only 2-4 thousand planes 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.

Air fleets of Russia and the USA - comparative analysis

The total number of aircraft the US has is: that's 13,513 cars. Researchers note that of these - only 2000- fighters and bombers. The rest - 11,000- These are transport vehicles and those used by NATO, the US Navy and the National Guard.

Transport aircraft are extremely important to keep air bases operational and provide excellent logistics to America's troops. In this comparison, the US Air Force and the Russian Air Force clearly win the former.

The US Air Force has big amount technology.

In terms of the pace of renewal of military air equipment, 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 Russian S-27s are ahead of American F-25s.

If we talk about comparing the armed forces of Russia and the United States, the trump card of the former is the presence of particularly powerful air defense systems. They reliably protect Russian air latitudes. Modern Russian complexes The S-400 air defense systems have no analogues anywhere in the world.

Russian air defense 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 equipment.

Decay process Soviet Union and the events that followed noticeably weakened the Air Force and Air Defense Forces (ADF). A significant part of the aviation group (about 35%) remained on the territory of the former Soviet republics (more than 3,400 aircraft, including 2,500 combat aircraft).

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

Due to the disbandment large quantity radio engineering units, the continuous radar field over the territory of the state disappeared. Was significantly weakened and general system air defense of the country.

Russia, the last of the former Soviet republics, began building a military air force and the 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 to prevent a significant decrease in the level of combat effectiveness of formations and units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces, to reduce personnel through the revision and optimization of their organizational structure, to remove obsolete weapons and military equipment from service, etc.

During this period, the combat strength of the Air Force and Air Defense Aviation was represented almost exclusively by aircraft fourth generation(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 almost threefold - from 281 to 102 air regiments.

As of January 1, 1993, the Russian Air Force had in combat composition: two commands (long-range and military transport aviation (MTA)), 11 aviation associations, 25 air divisions, 129 air regiments (including 66 combat and 13 military transport ). The 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 formations, formations and air force units from the territories of countries far and near abroad, including the 16th Air Army (AA) from the territory of Germany, 15 AA from the Baltic countries.

Period 1992 – early 1998 became a big time painstaking work the governing bodies of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces to develop a new concept of 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 offensive character 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 more thoughtfully and with high efficiency conduct the active phase of the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus in 1999–2003.

In the 1990s, due to the beginning of the collapse of the unified anti-aircraft field of the Soviet Union and former countries- members of the Warsaw Treaty Organization, there was an urgent need to recreate its analogue within the borders of the former Soviet republics. In February 1995, the Commonwealth countries Independent States(CIS) an Agreement was signed on the creation of a Joint Air Defense System of the CIS member states, designed to solve security problems state borders in the airspace, as well as for conducting coordinated collective actions of air defense forces to repel a possible aerospace attack on one of the countries or a coalition of states.

However, assessing the process of accelerating the physical aging of weapons and military equipment, the Defense Committee State Duma The Russian Federation came to disappointing conclusions. As a result, it was developed new concept military construction, where it was planned even before 2000 to reorganize the branches of the Armed Forces, reducing their number from five to three. As part of this reorganization, two independent branches of the Armed Forces were to be united in one form: the Air Force and the Air Defense Forces.

New branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 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. In a short time, the Air Force High Command developed a regulatory framework for a new branch of the Armed Forces, which made it possible to ensure the continuity of management of Air Force formations, maintaining their combat readiness at the required level, performing air defense combat duty tasks, as well as conducting operational training activities.

By the time the Russian Armed Forces were united into a single branch, 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 aircraft fleet was 5,700 aircraft (including 20% ​​training) and more than 420 helicopters.

The Air Defense Forces included: an operational-strategic formation, 2 operational, 4 operational-tactical formations, 5 air defense corps, 10 air defense divisions, 63 anti-aircraft units missile forces, 25 fighter air regiments, 35 units of radio technical troops, 6 formations and reconnaissance units and 5 units electronic warfare. In service there were: 20 aircraft of the A-50 radar patrol and guidance complex, more than 700 air defense fighters, more than 200 anti-aircraft missile divisions and 420 radio engineering units with radar stations various modifications.

As a result of the activities carried out, a new organizational structure Air Force, which included two air armies: the 37th Air Army of the Supreme High Command ( strategic purpose) (VA VGK (SN) and 61st VA VGK (VTA). Instead of air armies of front-line aviation, air force and air defense armies were formed, operationally subordinate to the commanders of the military districts. In the Western strategic direction, the Moscow Air Force and Air Defense District was created.

Further construction of the organizational 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, and in 2005–2006. - part of military air defense formations and units equipped with S-300V anti-aircraft missile systems (ZRS) and Buk complexes. In April 2007, the Air Force adopted an anti-aircraft weapon missile system new generation S-400 "Triumph", designed to defeat all modern and promising means aerospace attack.

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 air sorties and 205 helicopter sorties, including 427 air sorties and 126 helicopter sorties to carry out 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 aircraft fleet.

Air Force in the new look of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In 2008, the transition to the formation of a new look for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (including the Air Force) began. In the course of the activities carried out, the Air Force switched to a new organizational structure, more appropriate modern conditions and the realities of time. 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 Main Command was assigned the tasks of planning and organizing combat training, promising development Air Force, as well as training of management personnel. With this approach, responsibility for the preparation and use of military aviation forces and assets was distributed and duplication of functions was excluded, both in peacetime and during combat operations.

In 2009–2010 a transition was made to a two-level (brigade-battalion) system of command and control of the Air Force. 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, active renewal of the aircraft fleet is taking place. Fourth generation aircraft are being replaced by their new modifications, as well as modern types aircraft (helicopters) having wider combat capabilities and flight performance.

These include: Su-34 front-line bombers, Su-35 and Su-30SM multirole fighters, various modifications of the long-range supersonic all-weather interceptor fighter MiG-31, a new generation medium-range military transport aircraft An-70, light military transport An-140-100 type aircraft, a modified Mi-8 attack military transport helicopter, a multi-purpose helicopter medium range with Mi-38 gas turbine engines, combat helicopters Mi-28 (various modifications) and Ka-52 Alligator.

As part of further improvement of the air defense (aerospace) defense system, currently time is running development of a new generation of S-500 air defense systems, in which it is planned to apply the principle of separately solving the problems of destroying ballistic and aerodynamic targets. The main task of the complex is to combat combat equipment of medium-range ballistic missiles, and, if necessary, intercontinental missiles ballistic missiles at the final section of the trajectory and, within certain limits, at the middle section.

Modern air forces are the most important integral part Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Currently, they are designed to solve the following tasks: repelling aggression in the aerospace sphere and protecting command posts of the highest levels of state and military administration, administrative and political centers, industrial and economic regions, the most important economic and infrastructure facilities of the country, groups from air strikes troops (forces); destruction of enemy troops (forces) and objects using conventional, high-precision and nuclear weapons, as well as for air support and support of combat operations of troops (forces) of other branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the armed forces.

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

The latest best military aircraft of the Russian Air Force and the world photos, pictures, videos about the value of a fighter aircraft as weapon capable of ensuring “air supremacy” was recognized by the military circles of all states by the spring of 1916. This required the creation of a combat special aircraft, superior to all others in speed, maneuverability, height and use of offensive weapons small arms. In November 1915, Nieuport II Webe biplanes arrived at the front. This was the first aircraft built in France that was intended for air combat.

The most modern domestic military aircraft in Russia and the world owe their appearance to the popularization and development of aviation in Russia, which was facilitated by the flights of Russian pilots M. Efimov, N. Popov, G. Alekhnovich, A. Shiukov, B. Rossiysky, S. Utochkin. The first domestic cars of designers J. Gakkel, I. Sikorsky, D. Grigorovich, V. Slesarev, I. Steglau began to appear. In 1913, the Russian Knight heavy aircraft made its first flight. But one cannot help but recall the first creator of the aircraft in the world - Captain 1st Rank Alexander Fedorovich Mozhaisky.

Soviet military aircraft of the USSR Great Patriotic War sought to hit enemy troops, his communications and other targets in the rear with air strikes, which led to the creation of bomber aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load over considerable distances. The variety of combat missions to bomb enemy forces in the tactical and operational depth of the fronts led to the understanding of the fact that their implementation must be commensurate with the tactical and technical capabilities of a particular aircraft. Therefore, the design teams had to resolve the issue of specialization of bomber aircraft, which led to the emergence of several classes of these machines.

Types and classification, latest models military aircraft of Russia and the world. It was obvious that it would take time to create a specialized fighter aircraft, so the first step in this direction was an attempt to arm existing aircraft with small offensive weapons. Mobile machine gun mounts, which began to be equipped with aircraft, required excessive efforts from pilots, since controlling the machine in maneuverable combat and simultaneously firing from unstable weapons reduced the effectiveness of shooting. The use of a two-seater aircraft as a fighter, where one of the crew members served as a gunner, also created certain problems, because the increase in weight and drag of the machine led to a decrease in its flight qualities.

What types of planes are there? In our years, aviation has made a big qualitative leap, expressed in a significant increase in flight speed. This was facilitated by progress in the field of aerodynamics, the creation of new, more powerful engines, structural materials, and electronic equipment. computerization of calculation methods, etc. Supersonic speeds have become the main flight modes of fighter aircraft. However, the race for speed also had its own negative sides- the takeoff and landing characteristics and maneuverability of aircraft have sharply deteriorated. During these years, the level of aircraft construction reached such a level that it became possible to begin creating aircraft with variable sweep wings.

Russian combat aircraft to further increase flight speeds jet fighters exceeding the speed of sound, it was necessary to increase their power supply, increase the specific characteristics of the turbojet engine, and also improve the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft. For this purpose, engines with an axial compressor were developed, which had smaller frontal dimensions, higher efficiency and better weight characteristics. To significantly increase thrust, and therefore flight speed, afterburners were introduced into the engine design. Improving the aerodynamic shapes of aircraft consisted of using wings and tail surfaces with large sweep angles (in the transition to thin delta wings), as well as supersonic air intakes.

Air Force (AF) - view Armed Forces, designed to protect the bodies of higher state and military administration, strategic nuclear forces, troop groups, important administrative-industrial centers and regions of the country from reconnaissance and air strikes, to gain air superiority, fire and nuclear destruction enemy from the air, increasing mobility and supporting the actions of formations different types Armed Forces, conducting comprehensive reconnaissance and performing special tasks.

The Russian Air Force consists of associations, formations and military units and include types of aviation: long-range, military transport; front-line (it includes bomber, attack, fighter, reconnaissance aircraft), army, as well as military air defense forces: anti-aircraft missile forces, radio engineering troops.

Long-range aviation- home impact force An air force capable of effectively hitting important targets of aviation groups and carrier ships cruise missiles sea-based (SLCM), energy facilities and higher military and government controlled, nodes of railway, road and sea communications.

Military transport aviation- the main means of landing troops and military equipment in the interests of operations in continental and ocean theaters of war, it is the most mobile means of delivering materiel, military equipment, food, units and subunits to given areas.

Front-line bomber and attack aircraft designed primarily for air support Ground Forces in all types of military operations.

Frontline reconnaissance aircraft designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance in the interests of all types and branches of troops.

Frontline fighter aviation designed to destroy enemy air attack weapons when solving problems of covering groups, economic regions, administrative and political centers, military and other objects.

Army aviation designed for fire support of the Ground Forces. It is also entrusted with combat and logistics support tasks. During the battle, army aviation strikes at enemy troops, destroys his airborne assault forces, raiding, forward and outflanking detachments, provides landing and air support for its landing forces, fights enemy helicopters, destroys its nuclear missiles, tanks and other armored vehicles. .

Anti-aircraft missile forces designed to cover troops and facilities from enemy air attacks.

Radio technical troops are designed to detect enemy air attack weapons in the air, identify them, escort them, notify the command, troops and civil defense authorities about them, to monitor the flights of their aircraft.

Armament and military equipment of the Air Force

Strategic supersonic bomber with variable wing geometry Tu-160- designed to destroy the most important targets with nuclear and conventional weapons in remote military-geographical areas and deep behind the continental theaters of military operations.

Strategic missile carrier Tu-95MS- designed to solve strike missions to hit the most important targets in remote military-geographical areas and in the deep rear of continental theaters of military operations.

Heavy military transport aircraft An-22 (“Antey”)- designed for long-distance transportation of heavy and large-sized military equipment and troops, as well as for parachute and landing methods.

Heavy long-range military transport aircraft An-124 (“Ruslan”)- intended for the delivery of troops with standard military equipment and weapons from the deep rear of the country to theaters of military operations (theatres of war), transportation of troops between theaters of operations and inside rear zones, reinforcement of airborne assaults with heavy military equipment, delivery of cargo to fleet forces in ocean theaters, transportation of heavy and large-sized national economic cargo.

Front-line bomber with variable wing geometry Su-24M- Designed to destroy ground and surface targets in any weather conditions, day and night, in the tactical and immediate operational depths of enemy territory.

Su-25 attack aircraft- designed to destroy small-sized moving and stationary ground objects in conditions of visual visibility day and night, as well as low-speed air targets at the forefront in tactical and immediate operational depth.

conclusions

1. The Air Force consists of long-range and military transport aviation, front-line bomber and attack aviation, front-line reconnaissance aviation, front-line fighter aviation, army aviation, anti-aircraft missile and radio technical troops.
2. The air force is designed to carry out air strikes against enemy groups, their rear and transport.
3. The Air Force is leading aerial reconnaissance and organize air transportation.
4. Military transport aviation of the Air Force is capable of landing and airborne troops, transporting troops and military equipment over long distances.

Questions

1. What types of aviation are included in the Air Force?
2. What types of anti-aircraft troops are part of the Air Force?
3. What are the main aircraft in service with long-range aviation?
4. In what type of front-line aviation did the legendary heroes of the Great Patriotic War Alexander Pokryshkin and Ivan Kozhedub serve?

Tasks

1. Prepare short message about the purpose of anti-aircraft troops and their weapons and military equipment.
2. Prepare a message about heroic deeds and the records of the famous Russian pilot of the First World War Pyotr Nesterov.
3. Using historical literature, write an essay on the topic “Chief Marshal of Aviation A. A. Novikov - Commander of the Air Force during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.”
4. Using special materials and the Internet, prepare a report about one of the modern military pilots.

After the adoption of the SAP-2020 officials quite often they talk about the rearmament of the Air Force (or, more broadly, the supply aviation complexes in the RF Armed Forces). At the same time, the specific parameters of this rearmament and the size of the Air Force by 2020 are not directly stated. In view of this, many media outlets present their forecasts, but they are presented, as a rule, in tabular form - without arguments or calculation systems.

This article is just an attempt at forecasting combat personnel Russian Air Force by the specified date. All information was collected from open sources - from media materials. There are no claims to absolute accuracy, because the ways of the State... ...defense order in Russia are inscrutable, and are often a secret even for those who form it.

Total strength of the Air Force

So, let's start with the main thing - the total number of the Air Force by 2020. This number will consist of aircraft new construction and their modernized “senior colleagues”.

In his program article, V.V. Putin indicated that: “... In the coming decade, the troops will receive... more than 600 modern aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters, over a thousand helicopters" At the same time, the current Minister of Defense S.K. Shoigu recently provided slightly different data: “... By the end of 2020, we will receive about two thousand new aviation complexes from industrial enterprises, including 985 helicopters».

The numbers are of the same order, but there are differences in details. What is this connected with? For helicopters, delivered vehicles may no longer be taken into account. Some changes in the parameters of the GPV-2020 are also possible. But only they will require changes in financing. Theoretically, this is facilitated by the refusal to resume production of the An-124 and a slight reduction in the number of helicopters purchased.

S. Shoigu mentioned, in fact, no less than 700-800 aircraft (we subtract helicopters from the total number). Article by V.V. This does not contradict Putin (more than 600 aircraft), but “more than 600” does not really correlate with “almost 1000”. And money for the “extra” 100-200 vehicles (even taking into account the refusal of “Ruslans”) will need to be raised additionally, especially if you purchase fighters and front-line bombers (with an average price of the Su-30SM of 40 million dollars per unit, it will be astronomical the figure is up to a quarter of a trillion rubles for 200 vehicles, despite the fact that the PAK FA or Su-35S are more expensive).

Thus, it is most likely that purchases will increase due to cheaper combat training Yak-130 (especially since it is very necessary), attack aircraft and UAVs (it seems that work has intensified, according to media materials). Although the additional purchase of Su-34 up to 140 units. can also happen. Now there are about 24 of them. + about 120 Su-24M. There will be – 124 pcs. But to replace front-line bombers in the 1 x 1 format, another dozen and a half Su-34s will be required.

Based on the data provided, it seems appropriate to take average figures of 700 aircraft and 1000 helicopters. Total – 1700 boards.

Now let's move on to the modernized technology. In general, by 2020 the share of aircraft new technology should be 70%. But this percentage is for different kinds and types of troops are not the same. For the Strategic Missile Forces - up to 100% (sometimes they say 90%). For the Air Force, figures were given at the same 70%.

I also admit that the share of new equipment will “reach” 80%, but not due to an increase in its purchases, but due to a greater write-off of old machines. However, this article uses a 70/30 ratio. Therefore, the forecast turns out to be moderately optimistic. By simple calculations (X=1700x30/70), we get (approximately) 730 modernized sides. In other words, the strength of the Russian Air Force by 2020 is planned to be in the region of 2430-2500 aircraft and helicopters.

It seems like we have sorted out the total number. Let's move on to specifics. Let's start with helicopters. This is the most covered topic, and deliveries are already in full swing.

Helicopters

By attack helicopters it is planned to have 3 (!) models - (140 pcs.), (96 pcs.), as well as Mi-35M (48 pcs.). A total of 284 units were planned. (not including some vehicles lost in aircraft accidents).