The Voienno-vozduchnyie sily or VVS in summary, is the air force of the Fédération of Russia and before of the Soviet Union. It is about the phonetic transcription of the Russian expression Военно-воздушныесилы (BBC), which indicates the air force of the country.

It was made up under its current form in 1930, and will perdurera until in 1991, year when its major part will remain under the control of Russia. But actually one can consider that it is downward Russian imperial Air forces formed in 1910.

History

The first Russian air force, is born in 1910 under the name of Russian imperial Air force . It took share with the First World War while being opposed the armies German and to Austro-Hungarian. In 1915, it became a branch with share entiere army, because forming part of military Engineering before. Nevertheless the Russian Air force imperial is, at that time far from being able to compete with the air forces of the central Powers, between 1914 and 1918 only 5000 planes were produced in Russia against 45000 in Germany.

It is in 1918, in the middle of the Russian Civil war, that created a new air force under the designation of Air fleet of the workmen and country , placed under the narrow control of the Red Army . In 1930, it acquires its independence and takes its final name: Voienno-vozduchnyie sily . She knows her baptism of fire, a few years, later, when she faces, on several occasions, Japanese aviation, in the sky of Far East, but also by sending many voluntary to take part in the war of Spain. It is at the time, the air force, most powerful by the number, it was also often points some for the material, but its organization and its tactics, whose deficiencies were worsened by the Grandes purgings, leave something to be desired, moreover its material, although many starts to age. The War of winter and especially the beginnings of the Operation Barbarossa, will highlight its weaknesses, and it will undergo during this period of the colossal losses.

Very quickly, during the year 1941, it nevertheless will reorganize, and in spite of the power of the Luftwaffe, with which it engaged a fight to the death, it will succeed in surviving and fighting until disputing, starting from the end 1942, the control of the skies to the Germans. It is at that time, which will be born the general structure that the VVS, will keep all the length of the Cold war. It is divided into three dedicated services which have each one their mission:

• the Frontovaya Aviatsiya (F) or aviation of the face, charged to support the terrestrial units of the Red Army, which is even subdivided it, in several air armies, whose zone of operation is assujétie to a face. These air armies, gather a set of hunter S, bomber S average and planes of attack, intended for the combat on the frontline and its immediate proximity.
• the Dal' naya Aviatsiya (DA) or aviation with long operating range, is charged, it of in-depth raids on the backs of the enemy, by using bombers with long operating range like the Iliouchine It-4.
• Voenno-Transportnaya Aviatsiya or aviation of transport, manages all the transport aircraft.

Two other services not depending on the VVS, also exist, it are:

• the Voyska protivovozduchnoï oborony (Voyska regular minutes), or air defense force, which gathers the interceptors and anti-aircraft artillery, charged to defend the territory of the country.
• the Aviatsiya Voenno Morskogo Flota (AV-MF) or aviation of the fleet, which under the direct orders of the marine supports this one.

Gradually, the service entrance of new materials and its numerical superiority found, allow the VVS, to take the advantage on Luftwaffe, however she suffers a long time from the absence from pilots and experienced heads of unit, which will slow down its catch of ascending and will contribute a long time to maintain a ratio of losses to its discredit. Starting from 1944, however, Luftwaffe, in addition in a hurry on its own territory by the combined raids, becomes unable to be opposed differently than locally to the actions of the VVS. And those, then take a great part of the effort which pushes Soviet, towards Berlin. After the German defeat, the VVS will take part brilliantly also in the countryside flash against the Japanese forces in Mandchourie.

After war, placed under the signs of confrontation with the United States and the nuclear weapons, the forces of Dal' naya Aviatsiya see, to take a considerable importance, because its bombers are initially, the only vector of weapon available for Soviet. In 1959, the creation of the Raketnye Voyska Strategicheskogo Naznachneiya (RVSN) or forces strategic missiles, corresponding to the appearance of the first IRBM and ICBM, then the startup of submarines launcher of machines, will decrease thereafter, somewhat this need. The other command which sees its importance increasing, is the Voyska regular minutes, charged him to protect the Soviet territory against the incursions from bombers and of Western reconnaissance aircraft, it puts in work interceptors, but also as of the years 1950, of the surface-to-air missiles, in very great number because of vastness of the territory to be protected.

In 1992, following the fall of the Soviet Union, it is the Fédération of Russia which took the control of major part VVS (approximately 50% of the aircraft and 65% of the personnel). Since them took share with the first War of Chetchnia (1994-1996) and with the Second War of Chetchnia (1999-2002).

In 1998, the Air forces of defense of the Federation of Russia ( Voyska protivovozduchnoï oborony , regular minutes) were integrated into the air force, thus creating a unified air force. This weapon previously independent as well as the Army, the Navy, the air force and the forces ballistic, gathered the whole of the interceptors and the defense systems anti-aircraft of the country. In 2003, the units of the light aviation of the Army were also placed under the command of the air force.

The aviation of Navy ( Aviatsia Voyenno Morskovo Floated , AVMF) does not form part of the air force and remains under the command of the Russian Marine.

Organization

The air forces of defense (Voyska protivovozduchnoï oborony) and the units of the “traditional” air force are included/understood here (Voienno-vozduchnyie sily). In 2006, they are strong approximately 185.000 men.

The unified air forces of Russia are organized as follows:

• 16th Air force of Kubinka, military district of Moscow
• 105e air Division of Voronezh
• 1st Body of air defense (ex component Voyska regular minutes)
• 32e Body of air defense (ex component Voyska regular minutes)
• elements of the aviation of the Army
• Command of the zone of central air defense
• 6th Air force, military district of Leningrad.
• 149e air Division
• 21e Body of air defense (ex component of the regular minutes)
• 54e Body of air defense (ex component of the regular minutes)
• 22e Division of air defense (ex component of the regular minutes)
• 4th Air force, military District of the North-Caucasus.
• the 10th air Division
• 51e air Body of defense (ex component of the regular minutes)
• the 10th Division of air attack (ex component of the regular minutes)
• 5th Air force of Yekaterinburg, military district the Volga-Ural.
• 764e Regiment of fighter plans
• Units of formation and drive
• 14th Air force of Chita, military district of Siberia.
• 48e air Division
• 26e Division of air defense (ex component of the regular minutes)
• 11th Air force, military district of Far East.
• 83e Division of bombers
• 303e air Division
• 25e Division of air defense (ex component of the regular minutes)

There exist also two other air forces placed under the orders of the supreme Command:

• 37e Air force (strategic Forces)
• 22e Division of bombers
• 61e Air force, in charge of air military transport.

Means

Means in 2006

This list comprises the units of the VVS and regular minutes. In 2006, Russia has nearly 3000 aircraft in active service.

Hunters

operational hunters - 1153

• Known-27 “Flanker-B” - 452

• Known-30 “Flanker-C” - 20

• Known-35 “Flanker-E” - 11

• Mig-29 “Fulcrum” - 345

• Mig-31 'Foxhound-A - 325

Planes of attack

Operational planes of attack - 699

• Known-24M “Fencer-D” 400

• Known-25 “Frogfoot” - 275

• Known-34 “Fullback” - 24

Bombers has long operating range

• You-22M “Backfire” - 124 (37e Air force)

Strategic bombers

90 strategic bombers

• You-95/142 “Bear” - 64 (37e Air force)

• Tupolev You-160 Blackjack - 16

Reconnaissance/ECM/ELINT

120 aircraft of Reconnaissance/ECM/ELINT

• Known-24MR 'Fencer-E/Su-24MP “Fencer-F” - 80

• Mig-25RB “Foxbat-D” - 40 (+ 80 in reserve)

AWACS

• A-50 “Mainstay” - 15

Transport

242 transport aircraft

• It-76 “Candid” - 210

• Year-72 “Coaler” - 20

• Year-124 “Condor” - 12 in service and 13 in reserve (566e Regiment of air transport, Sescha)

Supply craft

• It-78 “Midas” - 20

Helicopters

has to supplement

• Ka-52/Mil Semi-28 Hokum 40 into 2006,90 from here 2010
• Mil Semi-24 Hind 240 in active service and 250 in reserve
• Mil Semi-26 Halo 25
• Mil Semi-8/17 Hip 160

Means in 1987

; 165 strategic bombers: 150 You-95 Bear

15 M-4 Bison

; 550 bombers: 155 You-22M Backfire

260 You-16 Badger

135 You-22 To armor

; 2780 hunters: 490 Mig-21 Fishbed

1570 Mig-23 Flogger

105 Mig-25 Foxbat

260 Known-15 Flagon

20 You-128 Fiddler

20 Yak-28 (Yak-28) Firebar

275 Mig-29 Fulcrum

30 Mig-31 Foxhound

10 Known-27 Flanker

; 2835 interceptors: 130 Mig-21 Fishbed

830 Mig-27 Flogger

895 Known-7/Known-17 Fitter

770 Known-24 Fencer

210 Known-25 Frogfoot

; 50 supply craft: 30 M-4 Bison

20 You-16 Badger

; 658 reconnaissance aircraft: 65 Mig-21 Fishbed

195 Mig-25 Foxbat

165 Known-17 Fitter

65 Known-24 Fencer

195 Yak-28 Brewer

; 260 strategic reconnaissance aircraft: 115 You-16 Badger

15 You-22 To armor

4 You-95 Bear

102 Yak-28 Brewer

24 Mig-25 Foxbat

3050 helicopters

1500 helicopters of drive

; 576 transport aircraft: 55 Year-22 Cock

210 Year-12 Cub

310 It-76 Candid

to see too

External bonds

• Site of the Russian army
• Site of the Museum of the air force with [[Monino] close to Moscow]

Random links:

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