The Air Force includes the following types of troops:

• aviation (kind of aviation - bomber, assault, air defense fighter aircraft, reconnaissance, transport and special),
• anti-aircraft missile troops,
• radio-technical troops,
• special troops,
• parts and institutions of the rear.

Bomber aviation is armed with long-range (strategic) and front-line (tactical) bombers of various types. It is designed to defeat groupings of troops, destroy important military, energy facilities and communication centers, mainly in the strategic and operational depth of the enemy's defense. The bomber can carry bombs of various calibers, both conventional and nuclear, as well as guided air-to-surface missiles.

Assault aircraft is intended for air support of troops, destruction of manpower and objects mainly at the front line, in the tactical and immediate operational depth of the enemy, as well as for fighting enemy aircraft in the air.

One of the main requirements for an attack aircraft is high accuracy of destruction of ground targets. Armament: large-caliber guns, bombs, rockets.

Fighter aircraft air defense is the main maneuverable force of the air defense system and is designed to cover the most important areas and objects from enemy air attacks. It is capable of destroying the enemy at maximum distances from defended objects.

The air defense aviation is armed with air defense fighter planes, combat helicopters, special and transport aircraft and helicopters.

Reconnaissance aircraft is intended for conducting aerial reconnaissance of the enemy, terrain and weather; it can destroy hidden enemy objects.

Reconnaissance flights can also be performed by bomber, fighter-bomber, assault and fighter aircraft. For this, they are specially equipped with day and night cameras at various scales, high-resolution radio and radar stations, heat direction finders, sound recording and television equipment, and magnetometers.

Reconnaissance aviation is subdivided into tactical, operational and strategic reconnaissance aviation.

Transport aviation is intended for the transportation of troops, military equipment, weapons, ammunition, fuel, food, airborne assault landing, evacuation of the wounded, sick, etc.

Special aviation is intended for long-range radar detection and guidance, refueling aircraft in the air, conducting electronic warfare, radiation, chemical and biological protection, providing control and communications, meteorological and technical support, rescuing crews in distress, evacuating the wounded and sick.

Anti-aircraft missile troops are designed to protect the most important facilities of the country and groupings of troops from enemy air strikes.

They constitute the main firepower of the air defense system and are armed with anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-aircraft missile systems for various purposes, possessing great firepower and high accuracy in destroying enemy air attack weapons.

Radio-technical troops- the main source of information about the air enemy and are designed to conduct his radar reconnaissance, control the flights of his aviation and the observance of the rules for the use of airspace by the aircraft of all departments.

They provide information on the beginning of an air attack, combat information for anti-aircraft missile forces and air defense aviation, as well as information for commanding air defense formations, units and subunits.

The radio engineering troops are armed with radar stations and radar systems capable of detecting not only air targets, but also surface targets at any time of the year or day, regardless of meteorological conditions and interference.

Communication units and subdivisions are intended for the deployment and operation of communication systems in order to ensure command and control of troops in all types of combat activities.

Electronic warfare units and subunits are intended for jamming airborne radars, bomb sights, communications and radio navigation equipment of enemy air attack.

Communication and radio technical support units and subdivisions are designed to provide control of aviation units and subunits, air navigation, takeoff and landing of aircraft and helicopters.

Units and subdivisions of engineering troops, and parts and subdivisions of radiation, chemical and biological protection are designed to perform the most complex tasks of engineering and chemical support, respectively.

After the adoption of GPV-2020, officials quite often talk about the rearmament of the Air Force (well, or more broadly, the supply of aviation systems to 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 given. In view of this, many media outlets present their forecasts, but they are presented, as a rule, in tabular form - without arguments or a calculation system.

This article is just an attempt to predict the combat strength of the RF Air Force by that 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, often, are a secret even for those who form it.

The total strength of the Air Force

So, let's start with the main thing - with the total strength of the Air Force by 2020. This number will be formed from new-built aircraft and their modernized "senior colleagues".

In his programmatic article, Vladimir Putin pointed out 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 cited slightly different data: “... by the end of 2020, we have to receive from industrial enterprises about two thousand new aviation complexes, including 985 helicopters».

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

Sergei Shoigu mentioned, in fact, no less than 700-800 aircraft (we will subtract helicopters from the total number). Article 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 "extra" 100-200 machines (even taking into account the abandonment of "Ruslans") will need to be attracted additionally, especially if you buy fighters and front-line bombers figure - up to a quarter of a trillion rubles for 200 cars, despite the fact that PAK FA or Su-35S are more expensive).

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

Based on the given data, it seems advisable to take the 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 new equipment in the Armed Forces should be 70%. But this percentage is not the same for different types and types of troops. For the Strategic Missile Forces - up to 100% (sometimes they say 90%). For the Air Force, figures were quoted in 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 is moderately optimistic. By simple calculations (X = 1700x30 / 70), we get (approximately) 730 upgraded sides. In other words, the number of the RF Air Force by 2020 is planned in the region of 2430-2500 aircraft and helicopters.

They seem to have figured out the total. Let's get down to specifics. Let's start with helicopters. This is the most highlighted topic, and deliveries are already in full swing.

Helicopters

It is planned to have 3 (!) Models for attack helicopters - (140 units), (96 units), as well as Mi-35M (48 units). A total of 284 units were planned. (not including some of the vehicles lost in accidents).

Home Structure Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Air Force Structure Aviation

Aviation

Air Force Aviation (Av Air Force) according to its purpose and tasks being solved, it is subdivided into long-range, military transport, operational-tactical and army aviation, which include: bomber, assault, fighter, reconnaissance, transport and special aviation.

Organizationally, the Air Force aviation consists of air bases that are part of the Air Force formations, as well as other units and organizations directly subordinate to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief.

Long-range aviation (YES) is a tool of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic) and operational tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

The DA formations and units are armed with strategic and long-range bombers, tanker aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft. Acting mainly in strategic depths, DA formations and units perform the following main tasks: defeat air bases (airfields), ground-based missile complexes, aircraft carriers and other surface ships, objects from enemy reserves, military-industrial facilities, administrative and political centers, energy facilities and hydraulic structures, naval bases and ports, command posts of the armed forces and operational control centers of air defense in the theater of operations, land communications facilities, airborne troops and convoys; mining from the air. Part of the DA forces can be involved in aerial reconnaissance and special missions.

Long-range aviation is a component of the strategic nuclear forces.

DA formations and units are based taking into account its operational and strategic designation and tasks from Novgorod in the west of the country to Anadyr and Ussuriisk in the east, from Tiksi in the north and to Blagoveshchensk in the south of the country.

The core of the aircraft fleet is made up of Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers, Tu-22M3 long-range missile-bombers, Il-78 tanker aircraft and Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft.

The main armament of the aircraft: long-range aircraft cruise missiles and operational-tactical missiles in nuclear and conventional weapons, as well as aircraft bombs of various purposes and caliber.

A practical demonstration of the spatial indicators of the combat capabilities of the DA command are air patrol flights of Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft in the area of ​​Iceland and the water area of ​​the Norwegian Sea; to the North Pole and to the Aleutian Islands region; along the east coast of South America.

Regardless of the organizational structure in which long-range aviation exists and will continue to exist, the combat strength, the characteristics of the aircraft and weapons in service, the main task of long-range aviation on the scale of the Air Force should be considered both nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence of potential adversaries. In the event of the outbreak of war, the DA will carry out tasks to reduce the military-economic potential of the enemy, defeat important military facilities, and disrupt state and military control.

Analysis of modern views on the purpose of the DA, the tasks assigned to it, the predicted conditions for their implementation show that at present and in the future, long-range aviation continues to be the main striking force of the Air Force.

The main directions of development of long-range aviation:

• maintaining and building up operational capabilities to fulfill the assigned tasks as part of the strategic deterrent and general-purpose forces through the modernization of Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22MZ bombers with an extension of their service life;
• creation of a promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA).

Military transport aviation (VTA) is a tool of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic), operational and operational-tactical tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

Military transport aircraft Il-76MD, An-26, An-22, An-124, An-12PP, transport helicopters Mi-8MTV are in service with the military transport units and formations. The main tasks of military aviation formations and units are: airborne landing of units (subunits) of the Airborne Forces from the operational (operational-tactical) airborne assault forces; delivery of weapons, ammunition and materiel to troops operating behind enemy lines; ensuring the maneuver of aviation formations and units; transportation of troops, weapons, ammunition and materiel; evacuation of the wounded and sick, participation in peacekeeping operations. Includes air bases, units and subunits of special forces.

Part of the BTA forces may be involved in special missions.

The main directions of development of military transport aviation: maintaining and building up capabilities to ensure the deployment of the Armed Forces in various theaters of operations, airborne assault landing, transporting troops and materiel by air through the purchase of new Il-76MD-90A and An-70, Il-112V aircraft and modernization of the Il-76 MD and An-124 aircraft.

Operational-tactical aviation is intended for solving operational (operational-tactical) and tactical tasks in operations (combat actions) of groupings of troops (forces) in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

Army Aviation (AA) is designed to solve operational-tactical and tactical tasks during army operations (combat operations).

Bomber aviation (BA) armed with strategic, long-range and operational-tactical bombers, it is the main strike weapon of the Air Force and is designed to defeat groupings of troops, aviation, naval forces of the enemy, destroy its important military, military-industrial, energy facilities, communication centers, conduct air reconnaissance and mining from the air, mainly in strategic and operational depth.

Assault aviation (SHA) being armed with attack aircraft, it is a means of air support for troops (forces) and is designed to defeat troops, ground (sea) objects, as well as enemy aircraft (helicopters) at home airfields (sites), conducting aerial reconnaissance and mining from the air, mainly at the forefront, in tactical and operational-tactical depth.

Fighter aircraft (IA) armed with fighter aircraft, it is designed to destroy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the air and ground (sea) enemy targets.

Reconnaissance aviation (RzA) armed with reconnaissance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, it is designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance of objects, the enemy, terrain, weather, air and ground radiation and chemical conditions.

Transport aviation (TRA) armed with transport aircraft, it is intended for airborne assault landing, transporting troops, weapons, military and special equipment and other materiel by air, ensuring maneuver and combat actions of troops (forces), and performing special missions.

Formations, units, subunits of bomber, assault, fighter, reconnaissance and transport aviation can also be involved in solving other tasks.

Special Aviation (SpA) armed with airplanes and helicopters, it is designed to perform special tasks. Units and subunits of special aviation are directly or operatively subordinate to the commander of the air force formation and are involved in: conducting radar reconnaissance and guiding aviation to air and ground (sea) targets; setting up radio-electronic interference and aerosol curtains; search and rescue of flight crews and passengers; refueling aircraft with fuel in the air; evacuation of the wounded and sick; providing control and communication; conducting aerial radiation, chemical, biological, engineering reconnaissance and performing other tasks.

The Russian Federation is a powerful aviation power with its own history, the air force of which is capable of resolving any conflicts that pose a threat to our country. This was clearly demonstrated by the events of recent months in Syria, where Russian pilots are successfully fighting against the ISIS army, which poses a terrorist threat to the entire modern world.

History

Russian aviation began its existence back in 1910, but officially the starting point was August 12, 1912 when Major General M.I. Shishkevich took control of all units in the Aeronautical Unit of the General Staff organized by that time.

Having existed for a very short time, the military aviation of the Russian Empire became one of the best air forces of that time, although the aircraft industry in the Russian state was in its infancy and Russian pilots had to fight on foreign-made aircraft.

"Ilya Muromets"

Despite the fact that the Russian state bought aircraft from other countries, the Russian land has never been scarce for talented people. In 1904, Professor Zhukovsky founded the Institute for the Study of Aerodynamics, and in 1913 the young Sikorsky designed and built his famous bomber "Ilya Muromets" and a biplane with four engines "Russian Knight", the designer Grigorovich developed various schemes of seaplanes.

Aviators Utochkin, Artseulov enjoyed great popularity among the pilots of that time, and the military pilot Pyotr Nesterov amazed everyone by fulfilling his legendary "loop" and became famous in 1914 by ramming an enemy aircraft in the air. In the same year, Russian pilots conquered the Arctic for the first time during flights to search for the missing pioneers of the North from the Sedov expedition.

The Russian air force was represented by the Army and Naval Aviation, each type had several aviation groups, which included squadrons of 6-10 aircraft each. Initially, the pilots were only engaged in adjusting artillery fire and reconnaissance, but then with the help of bombs and machine guns they destroyed the enemy's manpower. With the advent of fighters, battles began to destroy enemy aircraft.

1917 year

By the fall of 1917, Russian aviation numbered about 700 cars, but then the October Revolution broke out and it was disbanded, many Russian pilots died in the war, and most of those who survived the revolutionary coup emigrated. The young Soviet republic in 1918 founded its own air force under the name of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Air Fleet. But the fratricidal war ended and military aviation was forgotten, only at the end of the 30s, with the adoption of a course towards industrialization, its revival began.

The Soviet government intensively took up the construction of new enterprises of the aviation industry and the creation of design bureaus. In those years, the brilliant Soviet aircraft designers – Polikarpov, Tupolev, Lavochkin, Ilyushin, Petlyakov, Mikoyan and Gurevich.

For the training and education of flight personnel, flying clubs were founded as schools for the initial training of pilots. After receiving piloting skills in such institutions, cadets were sent to flight schools, and then were distributed to combat units. More than 20 thousand cadets were trained in 18 flight schools, technical personnel were trained in 6 institutions.

The leaders of the USSR understood that the first socialist state was in dire need of an air force and took all measures to rapidly increase the aircraft fleet. At the turn of the 40s, wonderful fighters appeared, built at the Yakovlev and Lavochkin design bureaus - these are Yak-1 and LaG-3, The Ilyushin Design Bureau commissioned the first attack aircraft, the designers under the leadership of Tupolev created a long-range bomber TB-3, and the Mikoyan and Gurevich design bureau completed flight tests of the fighter.

1941 year

The aviation industry, on the verge of war, produced 50 aircraft per day at the beginning of the summer of 1941, and in three months doubled the production of aircraft.

But for the Soviet aviation, the beginning of the war was tragic, most of the aviation equipment located at the airfields in the border zone was broken right in the parking lots and not having time to take off. Our pilots in the first battles, having no experience, used outdated tactics and, as a result, suffered heavy losses.

The situation was reversed only in the middle of 1943, when the flight crew acquired the necessary experience and aviation began to receive more modern technology, such aircraft as fighters Yak -3, La-5 and La-7, modernized attack aircraft with Il-2 air gunner, bombers, long-range bombers.

In total, during the war period, more than 44 thousand pilots were trained and released, but the losses were huge - 27,600 pilots died in battles on all fronts. By the end of the war, our pilots gained complete air superiority.

After the end of hostilities, a period of confrontation began, known as the Cold War. The era of jet aircraft began in aviation, a new type of military equipment appeared - helicopters. During these years, aviation developed rapidly, more than 10 thousand aircraft were built, the creation of projects of fourth generation fighters was completed and Su-29, the development of fifth-generation machines began.

1997 year

But the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union buried all undertakings, the republics that emerged from its structure divided all aviation among themselves. In 1997, the President of the Russian Federation, by his decree, announced the creation of the Russian Air Force, which united the air defense and air forces.

Russian aviation had to participate in two Chechen wars and the Georgian military conflict; at the end of 2015, a limited contingent of the air force was redeployed to the Syrian republic, where it is successfully fighting against world terrorism.

The nineties were a period of degradation of Russian aviation, this process was stopped only in the early 2000s, the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Major General A.N. Zelin in 2008 described the situation in Russian aviation as extremely difficult. The training of military personnel has significantly decreased, many airfields have been abandoned and collapsed, aviation equipment was poorly maintained, training flights due to lack of funds practically ceased.

year 2009

Since 2009, the level of preparedness of personnel began to rise, aviation equipment underwent modernization and overhaul, the purchase of new machines and the renewal of the aircraft fleet began. The development of the fifth generation aircraft is nearing completion. The flight crew began regular flights and are improving their skills, the material well-being of pilots and technicians has increased.

The Russian Air Force is constantly conducting exercises, improving combat skills and mastery.

Structural organization of the air force

On August 1, 2015, the air force organizationally joined the military space forces, the commander-in-chief of which was appointed Colonel-General Bondarev. The Air Force Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces is currently Lieutenant General Yudin.

The Russian air force consists of the main types of aviation - long-range, military transport and army aviation. Radio-technical, anti-aircraft and missile forces are also included in the Air Force. The most important functions of providing intelligence and communications, protection against weapons of mass destruction, conducting rescue operations and electronic warfare are performed by special forces that are also part of the air force. In addition, the Air Force cannot be imagined without engineering and logistic services, medical and meteorological units.

The Russian air force is designed to perform tasks:

• Reflections of any attacks of the aggressor in the air and space.
• Implementation of air cover for launchers, cities and all significant objects,
• Intelligence.
• Destruction of enemy troops using conventional and nuclear weapons.
• Direct air support for ground forces.

Back in 2008, a reform of Russian aviation took place, which structurally divided the air force into commands, brigades and air bases. The command was based on the territorial principle, which abolished the air force and air defense armies.

To date, the command is located in four cities - St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don. A separate command exists for long-range and military transport aviation located in Moscow. Former aviation regiments, now airbases, by 2010 there were about 70, in total there were 148 thousand people in the air force and the Russian Air Force is second only to the US aviation.

Military equipment of Russian aviation

Long-range and strategic aircraft

One of the brightest representatives of long-range aviation is the Tu-160, which bears the affectionate name "White Swan". This machine was produced during the Soviet era, develops supersonic speed and has a variable sweep wing. as conceived by the developers, it is capable of overcoming enemy air defenses at an ultra-low altitude and delivering a nuclear strike. The Russian Air Force has only 16 such aircraft and the question is - will our industry be able to organize the production of such aircraft?

The plane of the Tupolev Design Bureau first took to the air during Stalin's life and has been in service ever since. Four turboprop engines allow long-distance flights along the entire border of our country. Nickname " Bear"Earned because of the bass sound of these engines, is capable of carrying cruise missiles and nuclear bombs. In the Russian Air Force, 30 of these machines remained in service.

A long-range strategic missile carrier with economical engines is capable of supersonic flights, equipped with a variable sweep wing, the production of these aircraft was established back in the last century in the 60s. There are 50 vehicles in service, one hundred aircraft Tu-22M mothballed.

Fighter aircraft

The front-line fighter was produced in Soviet times, belongs to the first fourth-generation aircraft, and there are about 360 later modifications of this aircraft in service.

On the base Su-27 a vehicle was produced with an electronic equipment capable of identifying targets on the ground and in the air at a great distance and transmitting target designations to other crews. A total of 80 such aircraft are available.

Even deeper modernization Su-27 became a fighter, this aircraft belongs to the 4 ++ generation, it has high maneuverability and is equipped with the latest electronics.

These aircraft entered combat units in 2014, and the air force has 48 aircraft.

The fourth generation of Russian aircraft began with MiG-27, more than two dozen modified models of this vehicle were produced, in total there are 225 combat units in service.

Another fighter-bomber that should be mentioned is the newest aircraft in service with the Air Force in the amount of 75 units.

Stormtroopers and interceptors

- this is an exact copy of the F-111 aircraft of the US Air Force, which has not been flying for a long time, its Soviet counterpart is still in service, but by 2020 all the machines will be decommissioned, now there are about a hundred such machines in service.

Legendary stormtrooper Su-25 "Rook", possessing high survivability, was developed in the 70s so successfully that after so many years of operation they are going to modernize it, since they do not see a worthy replacement yet. To date, there are 200 combat-ready vehicles and 100 aircraft undergoing conservation.

The interceptor develops high speed in a matter of seconds and is designed for a long range. The modernization of this aircraft by the twentieth year will be completed, in total there are 140 such aircraft in parts.

Military transport aviation

The main fleet of transport aircraft is the Antonov design bureau and several modifications of the Ilyushin design bureau. Among them are light transporters and An-72, medium-duty vehicles An-140 and An-148, solid heavy trucks An-22, An-124 and . About three hundred transport workers perform tasks for the delivery of goods and military equipment.

Training aircraft

Designed after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the only training aircraft went into production and immediately gained a reputation as an excellent training machine with an aircraft simulation program for which the future pilot is being retrained. In addition to him, there is a Czech training aircraft L-39 and an aircraft for the training of transport aviation pilots Tu-134UBL.

Army aviation

This type of aviation is represented mainly by Mil and Kamov helicopters, and even by the machine of the Ansat Kazan Helicopter Plant. After discontinuation, the Russian army aviation was replenished with a hundred and the same number. Most of the helicopters in combat units are proven and Mi-24... Eight in service - 570 units, and Mi-24- 620 units. The reliability of these Soviet vehicles is beyond doubt.

Unmanned aircraft

Little importance was attached to this type of weapon in the USSR, but technical progress does not stand still, and nowadays drones have found a worthy application. These aircraft conduct reconnaissance and survey of enemy positions, carry out the destruction of command posts without risking the lives of people who control these drones. The Air Force has several types of UAVs - these are "Bee-1T" and "Flight-D", there is still an obsolete Israeli drone still in service "Outpost".

Prospects for the Russian Air Force

Several aircraft projects are under development in Russia, and some are close to completion. Undoubtedly, the new fifth generation aircraft will arouse great interest among the general public, especially since it has already been demonstrated. PAK FA T-50 is going through the final stage of flight tests and will enter combat units in the near future.

An interesting project was presented by the Ilyushin Design Bureau, the planes and those developed by its designers are replacing Antonov's machines and removing our dependence on the supply of spare parts from Ukraine. The newest fighter is commissioned, test flights of new rotary-wing aircraft are being completed and Mi-38... Started developing a project for a new strategic aircraft PAK-YES, promise that it will be lifted into the air in 2020.