The importance of the air force in modern war huge, and the conflicts of recent decades clearly confirm this. The Russian Air Force is second only to the US Air Force in terms of the number of aircraft. Russian military aviation has a long and glorious history; until recently, the Russian Air Force was separate view troops, in August last year, the Russian air force became part of the Aerospace Forces Russian Federation.
Russia is undoubtedly a great aviation power. Except glorious history, our country can boast of a significant technological backlog, which allows us to independently produce military aircraft of any kind.
Today, Russian military aviation is going through a difficult period of its development: its structure is changing, new aviation equipment is being put into service, and generations are changing. However, events recent months in Syria showed that the Russian Air Force can successfully carry out its combat missions in any conditions.
History of the Air Force of the Russian Air Force
Russian history military aviation started over a century ago. In 1904, an aerodynamic institute was created in Kuchino, one of the founders of aerodynamics, Zhukovsky, became its head. Within its walls, scientific and theoretical work was carried out aimed at improving aviation technology.
In the same period, the Russian designer Grigorovich worked on the creation of the world's first seaplanes. The first flight schools were opened in the country.
In 1910, the Imperial Air Force was organized, which lasted until 1917.
Russian aviation took an active part in the First World War, although the domestic industry of that time lagged far behind other countries participating in this conflict. Most of the combat aircraft that Russian pilots flew at that time were manufactured at foreign factories.
But still there were interesting finds among domestic designers. In Russia, the first multi-engine bomber "Ilya Muromets" was created (1915).
The Russian air force was divided into squadrons, which included 6-7 aircraft each. Detachments united in air groups. The army and navy had their own aviation.
At the beginning of the war, aircraft were used for reconnaissance or artillery fire, but very quickly they began to be used to bombard the enemy. Soon fighters appeared, and air battles began.
The Russian pilot Nesterov made the first air ram, and a little earlier he performed the famous "dead loop".
The Imperial Air Force was disbanded after the Bolsheviks came to power. Many pilots have participated in civil war on different sides of the conflict.
In 1918, the new government created its own Air Force, which took part in the civil war. After its completion, the country's leadership paid great attention to the development of military aviation. This allowed the USSR in the 30s, after large-scale industrialization, to return to the club of the world's leading aviation powers.
New aircraft factories were built, design bureaus were created, flight schools were opened. A whole galaxy of talented aircraft designers appeared in the country: Polyakov, Tupolev, Ilyushin, Petlyakov, Lavochnikov and others.
AT prewar period the armed forces received a large number of new models of aviation equipment, which was not inferior to foreign counterparts: MiG-3 fighters, Yak-1, LaGG-3, long-range bomber TB-3.
By the beginning of the war, the Soviet industry managed to produce more than 20 thousand military aircraft of various modifications. In the summer of 1941, the factories of the USSR produced 50 combat vehicles per day, three months later the production of equipment doubled (up to 100 vehicles).
The war for the USSR Air Force began with a series of crushing defeats - a huge number of aircraft were destroyed at border airfields and in air battles. For almost two years, German aviation had air supremacy. The Soviet pilots did not have the proper experience, their tactics were outdated, like most of the Soviet aviation equipment.
The situation began to change only by 1943, when the industry of the USSR mastered the production of modern combat vehicles, and the Germans had to send the best forces to defend Germany from Allied air raids.
By the end of the war, the numerical superiority of the USSR Air Force became overwhelming. During the war years, more than 27 thousand Soviet pilots died.
On July 16, 1997, a new type of troops was formed by the Decree of the President of Russia - the Air Force of the Russian Federation. The new structure included troops air defense and the air force. In 1998, the necessary structural changes were completed, the Main Headquarters of the Russian Air Force was formed, and a new commander-in-chief appeared.
Russian military aviation participated in all conflicts in the North Caucasus, in the Georgian war of 2008, in 2019 the Russian Aerospace Forces were introduced into Syria, where they are currently located.
Around the middle of the last decade, an active modernization of the Russian air force began.
Modernization of old aircraft is underway, the units receive new technology, new air bases are being built and old air bases are being restored. The development of the fifth generation fighter T-50 is underway, which is at the final stage.
The monetary allowance of military personnel has been significantly increased, today pilots have the opportunity to spend enough time in the air and hone their skills, exercises have become regular.
In 2008, the reform of the air force started. The structure of the Air Force was divided into commands, air bases and brigades. Commands were created on a territorial basis and replaced the air defense and air force armies.
Structure of the Air Force of the Russian Air Force
Today, the Russian Air Force is part of the military space forces, the decree on the creation of which was published in August 2019. The leadership of the Russian Aerospace Forces is carried out by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and the direct command is the High Command of the Aerospace Forces. The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian military space forces is Colonel General Sergei Surovikin.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force is Lieutenant General Yudin, he holds the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
In addition to the air force, the VKS includes space troops, air defense and missile defense units.
The Russian Air Force includes long-range, military transport and army aviation. In addition, the Air Force includes anti-aircraft, missile and radio engineering troops. The Russian Air Force also has its own special troops, which perform many important functions: provide intelligence and communications, engage in electronic warfare, rescue operations and weapons protection. mass destruction. The Air Force also includes a meteorological and medical service, engineering units, support units and rear services.
The basis of the structure of the Russian air force are brigades, air bases and commands of the Russian Air Force.
Four commands are located in St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Khabarovsk and Novosibirsk. In addition, the Russian Air Force includes a separate command that manages long-range and military transport aviation.
As mentioned above, in terms of size, the Russian Air Force is second only to the US Air Force. In 2010, the number of Russian air forces was 148 thousand people, about 3.6 thousand various units of aviation equipment were in operation, and about 1 thousand more were in storage.
After the 2008 reform, the air regiments turned into air bases; in 2010, there were 60-70 such bases.
The following tasks are set for the Russian Air Force:
- reflection of enemy aggression in the air and outer space;
- protection against air strikes of military and government controlled, administrative and industrial centers, other important infrastructure facilities of the state;
- inflicting defeat on enemy troops using various types of ammunition, including nuclear;
- conducting reconnaissance operations;
- direct support of other types and branches of the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
Military aviation of the Russian Air Force
The Russian Air Force includes strategic and long-range aviation, military transport and army aviation, which, in turn, is divided into fighter, assault, bomber, reconnaissance.
Strategic and long-range aviation is part of the Russian nuclear triad and is capable of carrying various types of nuclear weapons.
. These machines were designed and built back in the Soviet Union. The impetus for the creation of this aircraft was the development by the Americans of the B-1 strategist. Today, the Russian Air Force is armed with 16 Tu-160 aircraft. These military aircraft can be armed with cruise missiles and free-fall bombs. Will he be able Russian industry to establish serial production of these machines is an open question.
. This is a turboprop aircraft that made its first flight during Stalin's lifetime. This machine has undergone a deep modernization, it can be armed with cruise missiles and free-fall bombs with both conventional and nuclear warheads. Currently, the number of operating machines is about 30.
. This machine is called a long-range supersonic missile-carrying bomber. Tu-22M was developed in the late 60s of the last century. The aircraft has a variable wing geometry. Can carry cruise missiles and bombs with a nuclear warhead. The total number of combat-ready vehicles is about 50, another 100 are in storage.
Fighter aviation of the Russian Air Force is currently represented by Su-27, MiG-29, Su-30, Su-35, MiG-31, Su-34 (fighter-bomber).
. This machine is the result of a deep modernization of the Su-27, it can be attributed to the 4 ++ generation. The fighter has increased maneuverability and is equipped with advanced electronic equipment. Start of operation of the Su-35 - 2014. The total number of aircraft - 48 cars.
. The famous attack aircraft, created back in the mid-70s of the last century. One of the best vehicles of its class in the world, the Su-25 has been involved in dozens of conflicts. Today, about 200 Rooks are in service, another 100 are in storage. This aircraft is being upgraded and will be completed in 2020.
. Front-line bomber with variable wing geometry, designed to overcome enemy air defenses at low altitude and supersonic speed. The Su-24 is a morally obsolete machine, it is planned to be decommissioned by 2020. 111 units remain in service.
. The latest fighter-bomber. Now the Russian Air Force is armed with 75 such aircraft.
Transport aviation of the Russian Air Force is represented by several hundred different aircraft, the vast majority developed back in the USSR: An-22, An-124 Ruslan, Il-86, An-26, An-72, An-140, An-148 and others models.
Training aircraft include: Yak-130, Czech aircraft L-39 Albatros and Tu-134UBL.
Military-industrial complex Russia is one of the most modern in the world, so Russia's military aviation is also one of the most modern on the planet.
The Russian military-industrial complex is capable of producing almost any type of modern military aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters.
Russian military aviation consists of:
- Bombers of Russia
- Russian fighters
- Stormtroopers of Russia
- AWACS aircraft of Russia
- Flying tankers (refuelers) of Russia
- Military transport aircraft Russia
- Russian military transport helicopters
- Russian attack helicopters
The main manufacturers of military aviation equipment in Russia are PJSC Sukhoi Company, JSC RAC MiG, the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after M. L. Mil, OJSC Kamov and others.
You can see photos and descriptions of the products of some companies at the links:
Let's look at each class of military aircraft with descriptions and photographs.
Bombers of Russia
What is a bomber Wikipedia will explain to us very accurately: A bomber is a military aircraft designed to destroy ground, underground, surface, underwater objects by means of bombing and / or missile weapons. .
Russian long-range bombers
Long-range bombers in Russia are developed and produced by the Tupolev Design Bureau.
Long-range bomber Tu-160
The Tu-160, unofficially called the White Swan, is the fastest and heaviest long-range bomber in the world. Tu-160 "White Swan" is capable of developing supersonic speed, not every fighter is able to keep up with him.
Long-range bomber Tu-95
Tu-95 is a veteran of Russian long-range aviation. Developed back in 1955, having gone through many upgrades, the Tu-95 is still Russia's main long-range bomber.
Long-range bomber Tu-22M
Tu-22M is another long-range bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It has variable sweep wings, like the Tu-160, but its dimensions are smaller.
Front-line bombers of Russia
Front-line bombers in Russia are developed and produced by PJSC Sukhoi Company.
Front-line bomber Su-34
The Su-34 is a 4++ generation combat aircraft, a fighter-bomber, although it would be more accurate to call it a front-line bomber.
Front-line bomber Su-24
Su-24 is a front-line bomber, the development of which began in the USSR in the early 60s of the last century. Currently, he is being replaced by the Su-34.
Russian fighters
Fighters in Russia are developed and manufactured by two companies: PJSC Sukhoi Company and JSC RAC MiG.
Su Fighters
PJSC "Company" Sukhoi "delivers to the troops such modern combat vehicles, as the fifth generation fighter Su-50 (PAK FA), Su-35, front-line bomber Su-34, carrier-based fighter Su-33, Su-30, heavy fighter Su-27, attack aircraft Su-25, front-line bomber Su-24M3.
Fighter of the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50)
PAK FA (T-50 or Su-50) is a fifth-generation fighter developed by Sukhoi Company PJSC for the Russian Aerospace Forces since 2002. As of the end of 2016, tests are being completed and the aircraft is being prepared for transfer to regular units.
Photo by PAK FA (T-50). 
Su-35 is a 4++ generation fighter.
Photo Su-35. 
Su-33 carrier-based fighter
Su-33 is a 4++ generation carrier-based fighter. Several of these aircraft are in service with the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
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Fighter Su-27
Su-27 is the main combat fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Based on it, the Su-34, Su-35, Su-33 and several other fighters were developed.
Su-27 in flight 
MiG fighters
JSC "RSK" MiG "" today supplies the troops with the MiG-31 fighter-interceptor and the MiG-29 fighter.
Fighter-interceptor MiG-31
The MiG-31 is a fighter-interceptor designed to perform tasks at any time of the day and in any weather. The MiG-31 is a very fast aircraft.
Fighter MiG-29
MiG-29 - is one of the main combat fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces. There is a deck version - MiG-29K.
Stormtroopers
The only attack aircraft in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces is the Su-25 attack aircraft.
Attack aircraft Su-25
Su-25 - armored subsonic attack aircraft. The machine made its first flight in 1975 since then, having undergone many upgrades, it has been reliably fulfilling its tasks.
Russian military helicopters
Helicopters for the army are produced by the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after M.L. Mil and OJSC Kamov.
Kamov helicopters
JSC "Kamov" specializes in the production of coaxial helicopters.
Helicopter Ka-52
The Ka-52 "Alligator" is a two-seat helicopter capable of performing both attack and reconnaissance functions.
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Deck helicopter Ka-31
The Ka-31 is a carrier-based helicopter equipped with a long-range radio detection and guidance system, which is in service with the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier.
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Deck helicopter Ka-27
Ka-27 is a multi-purpose carrier-based helicopter. The main modifications are anti-submarine and rescue.
Photo Ka-27PL Russian Navy .jpg)
Mil helicopters
Mi helicopters are being developed by the Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant.
Mi-28 helicopter
The Mi-28 is a Soviet-designed attack helicopter used by the Russian army.
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Mi-24 helicopter
Mi-24 is a world-famous attack helicopter, created in the 1970s in the USSR.
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Mi-26 helicopter
The Mi-24 is a heavy transport helicopter, also developed back in Soviet times. On the this moment is the largest helicopter in the world.
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The two strongest 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 units are issued, 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 can find accurate, statistical data on the number of attack aircraft, fighters, etc. in service somewhere. Such information is classified as 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 subdivided to long-range, transport, operational-tactical and army. This includes attack aircraft, bombers, fighters, transport aircraft.
How many military aircraft does Russia have? Approximate number - 1614 units of military air equipment. These are 80 strategic bombers, and 150 long-range bombers, 241 attack aircraft, etc.
For comparison, you can give how many in Russia passenger aircraft. Total 753. Of them 547 — trunk and 206 - regional. Since 2014, the demand for passenger flights began to fall, so the number of operated cars has also decreased. 72% of them are foreign models ( and ).
New aircraft in the Russian Air Force are advanced models military equipment. Among them are Su-57. This is 5th generation fighter with a wide range of functions. Until August 2017, it was developed under a different name - Tu-50. It began to be created as a replacement for the Su-27.
The first time he soared into the sky yet in 2010. Three years later, it was launched into small-scale production for testing. By 2018 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 accurate strikes against targets on land and in water. Winter 2017 year, the first tests began. By 2020 first deliveries are planned.
A-100 Premier- another novelty in the Russian Air Force. Early warning aircraft. It should replace the outdated models - A50 and A50U.
From training machines can be brought 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, which should replace the An-26. The second was developed jointly with, but now they continue to design it, as a replacement for the An-12.
Of the 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 the zones of military conflicts. Mi-38 is a multifunctional helicopter. Its financing is provided directly by the state.
There is also a novelty among passenger models. This is IL-114. Turboprop aircraft with two engines. It accommodates 64 passengers, and flies to a distance - up to 1500 km. It is being developed to replace An-24.
If we talk about small aviation in Russia, then the situation here is extremely deplorable. There are only 2-4 thousand aircraft and helicopters. And the number of amateur pilots is declining every year. This is due to the fact that two taxes must be paid for any aircraft at once - transport and property.
Air fleets of Russia and the USA - a comparative analysis
The total number of aircraft in the United States - this is 13,513 cars. The researchers note that among them - 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 as they keep the air bases on alert and provide excellent logistics to the American forces. In this comparison, the US Air Force and the Russian Air Force clearly win the first.
The US Air Force has a large amount of equipment.
In terms of the pace of renewal of military air technology, Russia is pulling ahead. By 2020, it is planned to release another 600 units. The real power gap between the two powers will be 10-15 % . It is already noted that Russian S-27s are ahead of American F-25s.
Speaking of comparison armed forces Russia and the United States, the trump card of the first is the presence of particularly powerful air defense systems. They reliably protect the air latitudes of Russia. Modern Russian complexes Air defense S-400 have no analogues anywhere in the world.
Russian air defense is something like an “umbrella” that protects the skies of our country until 2020. By this milestone, it is planned to completely update almost all military equipment, including air.
The Russian Federation is a powerful aviation power with its own history, the air force of which is capable of resolving any conflicts that threaten our country. This was clearly demonstrated by the events of recent months in Syria, where Russian pilots are successfully flying fighting against the ISIS army, which represents a terrorist threat to the entire modern world.
Story
Russian aviation began its existence 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, military aviation Russian Empire became one of the best air forces of that time, although the aircraft industry in 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 purchased aircraft from other countries, Russian land was never scarce in talented people. In 1904 Professor Zhukovsky founded an 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", designer Grigorovich developed various hydroplane schemes.
Aviators Utochkin and Artseulov were very popular among the pilots of that time, and the military pilot Pyotr Nesterov amazed everyone by completing his legendary “dead 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 Army and Naval aviation, each type had several aviation groups, which included air squadrons of 6-10 aircraft each. Initially, the pilots were engaged only in adjusting artillery fire and reconnaissance, but then with the help of bombs and machine guns they destroyed enemy manpower. With the advent of fighters, battles began to destroy enemy aircraft.
1917
By the autumn of 1917, Russian aviation numbered about 700 aircraft, but then October Revolution and it was disbanded, many Russian pilots died in the war, and most of the survivors of the revolutionary coup emigrated. Young soviet republic in 1918 she founded her 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 course towards industrialization, its revival began.
The Soviet government intensively took up the construction of new enterprises aviation industry and creation of KB. In those years, 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 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 quickly increase the aircraft fleet. At the turn of the 40s, wonderful fighters appeared, built in the Yakovlev and Lavochkin Design Bureau - these are Yak-1 and LaG-3, Ilyushin Design Bureau commissioned the first attack aircraft, designers led by Tupolev created a long-range bomber TB-3, and the design bureau of Mikoyan and Gurevich completed flight tests of the fighter.
1941
At the beginning of the summer of 1941, the aviation industry, on the verge of war, produced 50 aircraft per day, and three months later 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 without having time to take off. Our pilots in the first battles, having no experience, used outdated tactics and as a result suffered heavy losses.
It was possible to reverse the situation only in the middle of 1943, when the flight crew gained the necessary experience and aviation began to receive more modern equipment, such aircraft as fighters Yak -3, La-5 and La-7, modernized attack aircraft with an air gunner IL-2, bombers, long-range bombers.
In total, more than 44 thousand pilots were trained and released during the war period, but the losses were huge - 27,600 pilots died in battles on all fronts. By the end of the war, our pilots had gained complete air superiority.
After the end of hostilities, a period of confrontation began, known as the Cold War. In aviation, the era of jet aircraft began, 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 for fourth-generation fighters and Su-29, began the development of machines of the fifth generation.
1997
But the subsequent collapse Soviet Union buried all undertakings that emerged from its composition, the republics 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 combined the air defense and air force 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 successfully conducts military operations against world terrorism.
The nineties were a period of degradation of Russian aviation, this process was stopped only in the early 2000s, by 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, aircraft equipment has been serviced unsatisfactorily, training flights have practically ceased due to lack of finances.
year 2009
Since 2009, the level of preparedness of personnel has begun to rise, aviation equipment has been modernized and overhaul, the purchase of new cars 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 is improving their skills, the material well-being of pilots and technicians has increased.
The Russian Air Force is steadily conducting exercises, improving combat skills and craftsmanship.
Structural organization of the air force
On August 1, 2015, the Air Force organizationally merged into the military space forces, the commander-in-chief of which was Colonel-General Bondarev. The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force 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 - these are long-range, military transport and army aviation. Radio engineering, anti-aircraft and missile troops 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 troops also included in the air force. In addition, the Air Force cannot be imagined without engineering and rear services, medical and meteorological units.
The Russian Air Force is designed to perform the following tasks:
- Reflection of any attacks of the aggressor in the air and space.
- Implementation of air cover for launchers, cities and all significantly important objects,
- Conducting reconnaissance.
- Destruction of enemy troops using conventional and nuclear weapons.
- Close 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 commands are 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. By 2010, there were about 70 former aviation regiments, and now these are air bases, in total there were 148 thousand people in the air force, and the Russian Air Force is second only to US aviation in numbers.
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 Union, develops supersonic speed and has a variable sweep wing. according to the plan of the developers, it is capable of overcoming enemy air defenses at ultra-low altitude and delivering a nuclear strike. There are only 16 such aircraft in the Russian Air Force, and the question is - will our industry be able to establish the production of such aircraft?
The aircraft of the Tupolev Design Bureau first took to the air during Stalin's lifetime and has been in service ever since. Four turboprop engines allow long-distance flights along the entire border of our country. Nickname " Bear"deserved because of the bass sound of these motors, 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 capable of flying at supersonic speed, equipped with a variable sweep wing, the production of these aircraft was launched back in the last century in the 60s. Are in the ranks of 50 cars, a hundred aircraft Tu-22M mothballed.
Fighter aircraft
Front-line fighter released in Soviet time, refers to the first machines of the fourth generation, later modifications of this aircraft are in service, about 360 units in number.
On the base Su-27 a vehicle with electronic equipment was released, capable of identifying targets on the ground and in the air at a great distance and transmitting target designations to other crews. There are 80 such aircraft in total.
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; the air force has 48 aircraft.
fourth generation Russian aircraft started with MiG-27, more than two dozen modified models of this machine were produced, in total 225 combat units are in service.
Another fighter-bomber that cannot be left out is the latest aircraft in service with the Air Force in the amount of 75 units.
Attack aircraft 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 machines will be decommissioned, now there are about a hundred such machines in service.
Legendary Stormtrooper Su-25 Grach, which has 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 yet see a worthy replacement. Today, 200 combat-ready vehicles and 100 aircraft are on conservation.
The interceptor develops high speed in a matter of seconds and is designed for a long range. The modernization of this machine 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 carry out tasks for the delivery of goods and military equipment.
training aircraft
Designed after the collapse of the Union, the only training aircraft went into production, immediately gaining a reputation as an excellent training machine with an aircraft imitation program for which a future pilot is being retrained. In addition to him, there is a Czech training aircraft L-39 and an aircraft for training pilots of transport aviation Tu-134UBL.
Army Aviation
This type of aviation is represented mainly by Mil and Kamov helicopters, and even by the machine of the Kazan Ansat Helicopter Plant. After being discontinued, 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. Eights in service - 570 units, and Mi-24- 620 units. The reliability of these Soviet machines is beyond doubt.
Unmanned aircraft
In the USSR, little importance was attached to this type of weapon, but technological progress does not stand still, and in modern times, drones have found worthy use. These aircraft conduct reconnaissance and filming of enemy positions, carry out the destruction command posts without risk to the lives of people who control these drones. In the Air Force, several types of UAVs are "Pchela-1T" and "Reis-D", the obsolete Israeli drone is still in service "Outpost".
Prospects for the Russian Air Force
In Russia, several aircraft projects are under development 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 passes the final stage of flight tests and will enter combat units in the near future.
An interesting project was presented by Ilyushin Design Bureau, aircraft and, developed by its designers, are replacing Antonov machines and removing our dependence on the supply of spare parts from Ukraine. The newest fighter aircraft is put into operation, test flights of new rotorcraft are being completed and Mi-38. Started developing a project for a new strategic aircraft PAK-DA, they promise that it will be lifted into the air in 2020.
Since the first use of aircraft on the battlefield, their role in military conflicts has been constantly growing. The role of aviation has become especially significant over the past thirty to fifty years. Combat aircraft from year to year receive more and more advanced electronics, more and more powerful means combat, their speed increases, their visibility on the radar screens decreases. At present, aviation, even alone, can play a key role in today's regional conflict. Such in military history humanity has never existed.
During the aggression in Yugoslavia, the aviation of the NATO countries practically without resistance from the ground forces decided the course of the conflict. The same can be said about the first American company in Iraq. It was aviation that then played a decisive role in the defeat of the large army of Saddam Hussein. The US Air Force and its allies hunted with impunity for Iraqi armored vehicles, having previously destroyed combat aircraft Iraq.
There is important nuance. Modern aircraft are so expensive (the cost of an Americanfifth generation aircraftF-22 is about $ 350 million) that only very rich countries can afford to build or buy them. The rest can only hope for a miracle or prepare for a guerrilla war.
With the advent of new high-precision munitions, communication systems and satellite navigation and target designation, the role and power of the air force has increased many times over. Modern and advanced aircraft are also changing rapidly. The use of modern materials, engines of new designs, the most sophisticated electronics - makes a modern combat aircraft the crowning achievement of scientific and technological progress.
At present, the leading aviation powers are engaged in the creation of a fifth generation fighter. The United States already has such fighters in service - the F-22 "Raptor" and the F-35 "Lightning". These aircraft have long passed the testing stage, launched into series and put into service. The Russian Air Force, China and Japan, in practice, are still lagging behind in this respect.
At the end of the 20th century, the USSR could compete on equal terms with the United States in the sky due to the excellent fourth-generation MiG-29 and Su-27 machines. They roughly corresponded in their performance characteristics to the American F-15, F / A-18 and F-16 aircraft. But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the development of new machines in Russia was suspended for several years. The work was practically not funded, and new developments were often created on the initiative of the aircraft manufacturers themselves and did not find support from the state. In the meantime, the United States did not waste time: in the 90s, the development of the fifth generation aircraft was actively carried out, and in 1997 a prototype was tested, which in the future received the designation F-22 "Raptor".
The United States is so far the only country that has a fifth-generation aircraft in service. Moreover, the F-22 is forbidden to sell even to allies. For deliveries abroad, the Americans created another F-35 Lightning aircraft (Lightning) - but, according to experts, it has weaker characteristics than the F-22. But what about Russia? What are the plans of the Russian aviation industry? Are there any promising developments that will replace fourth-generation aircraft in the future?
"Our answer to Chamberlain" - the latest Russian military aircraft
If you look at what the Russian aviation industry can now offer to the domestic air force, then we will mainly see modifications of the fourth generation Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft. They even came up with a new classification for them, the MiG-35, and they refer to the 4 ++ generation, thereby indicating that this is almost the fifth generation. There is no doubt, and the MiG-29 and Su-27 are really wonderful machines that were among the best in the world. But that was in the late eighties. The latest versions of these machines, of course, have been seriously modified, engines have been improved, new electronics and navigation systems have been installed, but will they be able to withstand the Raptor in battle?
A new generation aircraft has already been created in Russia - this is PAK-FA (a promising front-line aviation complex), aka T-50. With its futuristic shape, the new Russian aircraft is very reminiscent of the F-22. The aircraft first took to the air in 2010, and in 2011 it was shown to the general public for the first time at the MAKS air show. We have very little reliable information about this latest machine. Currently, the aircraft is being finalized, but in the near future it should go into series.
In order to try to compare the PAK-FA with its American counterpart F-22, you need to clearly understand what the fifth generation aircraft is and how it differs from previous machines. The military put forward clear requirements for the new generation car. Such an aircraft must have low visibility in all wavelength ranges, primarily in radar and infrared, it must be multifunctional, extremely maneuverable, maintain supersonic cruising speed (go to supersonic speed without afterburner), be able to conduct all-aspect close combat and carry out multi-channel firing of missiles. at a great distance. The aircraft of the fifth generation must have "advanced" electronics, which would greatly facilitate the work of the pilot.
Experts are already comparing the F-22 and PAK-FA, using the meager information that is available today. The newest Russian aircraft has large dimensions, including wingspan, and therefore, most likely, it will be more maneuverable than its American counterpart. PAK-FA has a slightly higher maximum speed, but loses to the "American" in cruising. The Russian aircraft has a greater practical range and a lower takeoff weight. However, the PAK-FA loses to the F-22 in stealth.
It is not easy to compare these two aircraft, and above all because of the lack of information. There is one more nuance: modern aircraft are not only aerodynamics and weapons, but primarily electronics that control all aircraft systems. The USSR has always lagged behind in this area, and Russia is doing the same for the time being. radar Russian aircraft is not inferior to the best world analogues - but the on-board equipment leaves much to be desired.
In 2014, small-scale production of the PAK-FA began, the start of serial production of the aircraft is scheduled for 2019.
Here Comparative characteristics two aircraft.
The flight of the Berkut
Another very interesting machine created at the Sukhoi Design Bureau is the Su-47. It is a pity that it is still at the prototype stage. This aircraft has a reverse swept wing, which provides the machine with unprecedented maneuverability and rate of climb. Composite materials were widely used in the Su-47, and the control interface in the cockpit was significantly improved.
The Su-47 was also created as a prototype of the fifth generation aircraft. But it still falls short of the requirements put forward for such machines. "Berkut" cannot fly at supersonic speed without afterburner. In the future, they plan to equip the aircraft with a new engine with a variable thrust vector, which would allow the Su-47 to overcome the supersonic barrier without afterburner.
Berkut made its first flight in 1997, only one such aircraft was built. It is currently being used as a test.
Here are the characteristics of the Su-47 Berkut aircraft.
Another new aircraft recently adopted by the Russian Air Force is the . In 2014, 12 such aircraft arrived in the VKS air regiments, in total, by the end of 2019, the Air Force will receive 48 Su-35s. This aircraft, developed at the Sukhoi Design Bureau, belongs to the 4++ generation and has technical and combat characteristics almost at the level of the fifth generation aircraft.
It differs from PAK-FA only in the absence of stealth technologies and an active phased antenna array (AFAR). The aircraft is equipped with a new information and control system, phased array radar, new engines with thrust vector control, which can develop supersonic speeds without afterburner. The airframe has also been strengthened.
With the adoption of this aircraft, Russian military pilots can fight back against the latest aircraft of the latest generation.
The main characteristics of the Su-35 aircraft:
All of the above aircraft have already left the design bureaus and factory floors and have long made their first flight. Currently, the Ilyushin Design Bureau is developing new lightweight transport aircraft, which should replace the obsolete An-26.
The first flight of the future transport aircraft is scheduled for 2019, and the start of its mass production is scheduled for 2019. The new machine will have a carrying capacity of up to six tons, it will be equipped with two turboprop engines. The IL-112 will be able to land and take off both from equipped runways and from unpaved airfields. In addition to the cargo modification of the aircraft, aircraft manufacturers plan to create a passenger version of the machine, it can be used on regional airlines.
"Mig" of the fifth generation
Sergey Korotkov, CEO RAC "MiG", told reporters that the specialists of the design bureau are working on a fifth-generation fighter. For the basis new car, most likely, they will take the MiG-35 (another Russian machine of the 4 ++ generation). According to the developers, the new MiG will be very different from the PAK FA and will perform completely different functions.
New strategic bomber
Russia is developing a new strategic bomber to replace the Tu-160 and Tu-95 aircraft. The development of the new PAK DA (a promising long-range aviation complex) was entrusted to the Tupolev Design Bureau, although it can be noted that the Tupolev team began work on this machine back in 2009. In 2014, a contract was signed between the Design Bureau and the Ministry of Defense for design work.
There is very little information about the future aircraft, but the leadership of the Russian Air Force said that the aircraft will be subsonic, will be able to carry more weapons than the Tu-160, and most likely will be made according to the "flying wing" design.
The readiness of the first machine is expected in 2020, and the start of mass production in 2025. It should be noted that work on the creation of a similar aircraft is now underway in the United States. As part of the Next Generation Bomber project, a subsonic aircraft with a low visibility level and a long range (about nine thousand kilometers) is being developed. According to media reports, the cost of one such machine can reach half a billion dollars.
After the collapse of the USSR, the aviation industry went through hard times. Many projects have been delayed for years and now is the time to catch up. A sixth-generation fighter is to be developed, but so far this is almost a fantasy.
Video: new Russian aircraft
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