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Russian supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160. Armed with cruise missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than five thousand kilometers

The idea of using aircraft on the battlefield arose long before the first airplanes designed by the Wright brothers took to the air. The subsequent development of military aviation was unusually rapid, and to this day airplanes and helicopters have become a formidable weapon in the hands of commanders, second in power only to nuclear missile forces. Without dominance in the sky, achieving victory on earth is incredibly difficult, and often impossible. Aviation is capable of detecting and destroying any target; it is difficult to hide from it and even more difficult to defend against.

What is military aviation?

Modern military air force include special troops and services, as well as a rather complex set of technical means, varied in their intended purpose, that can be used to solve attack, reconnaissance, transport and some other tasks.

The main part of this complex are the following types aviation:

Strategic;
Frontline;
Sanitary;
Transport.

Additional aviation units are also included in the air defense forces, navy and ground forces.

History of the creation of military aviation

Sikorsky's Ilya Muromets aircraft is the world's first four-engine bomber

The first airplanes for a long time used almost exclusively for entertainment and sporting purposes. But already in 1911, during the armed conflict between Italy and Turkey, aircraft were used in the interests of the army. At first these were reconnaissance flights, the first of which took place on October 23, and already on November 1, the Italian pilot Gavoti used weapons on ground targets, dropping several ordinary hand grenades on them.

By the beginning of the First World War, the great powers managed to acquire air fleets. They consisted mainly of reconnaissance airplanes. There were no fighters at all, and only Russia had bombers - these were the famous Ilya Muromets aircraft. Unfortunately, it was never possible to establish a full-fledged serial production of these machines, so they total quantity did not exceed 80 copies. Meanwhile, Germany produced hundreds of its own bombers in the second half of the war.

In February 1915, the world's first fighter aircraft, created by the French pilot Roland Garros, appeared on the Western Front. The device he invented for firing through a propeller was quite primitive, although it worked; however, already in May of the same year, the Germans put into operation their own fighters equipped with a full-fledged synchronizer. From this point on, air battles became increasingly common.

German fighter Fokker Dr.I. One of these aircraft was used the best ace World War I by Manfred von Richthofen

After the end of World War I, aircraft continued to develop rapidly, increasing their speed, range and payload. At the same time, the so-called “Douay Doctrine” appeared, named after its author, an Italian general who believed that victory in the war could only be achieved by aerial bombardment, methodically destroying the enemy’s defense and industrial potential, undermining his morale and will to resist.

As subsequent events showed, this theory does not always justify itself, but it was it that largely determined the subsequent directions of development of military aviation throughout the world. The most notable attempt to put the Douay Doctrine into practice was the strategic bombing of Germany during World War II. In the end military aviation made a huge contribution to the subsequent defeat of the “Third Reich”, however, it was still not possible to do without the active actions of the ground forces.

Armadas of long-range bombers were considered the main percussion instrument and in the post-war period. It was in those years that jet aircraft appeared, which largely changed the very idea of military aviation. Huge “flying fortresses” became just a convenient target for the Soviet high-speed and well-armed MiGs.

B-29 - American strategic bomber of the 40s, the first carrier of nuclear weapons

This meant that bombers also had to become jet-powered, which soon happened. During these years, aircraft became increasingly complex. If during World War II only one aircraft technician was involved in servicing the fighter, then in subsequent years it was necessary to attract a whole team of specialists.

During the Vietnam War, multi-role aircraft, capable of striking ground targets as well as air combat, came to the fore. This was the American F-4 Phantom, which to some extent became a source of inspiration for the Soviet designers who developed the MiG-23. At the same time, the conflict in Vietnam once again showed that bombing alone, even the most intense, is not enough for victory: combat aviation without the help of ground forces, it is capable of forcing capitulation only on a morally broken enemy, prepared in advance for defeat.

In the 70-80s of the last century, fourth-generation fighters appeared in the skies. They differed from their predecessors not only flight characteristics, but the composition of the weapons. The use of high-precision weapons has once again changed the face of air warfare: there has been a transition from massive airstrikes to “targeted” ones.

Su-27 (left) and F-15 are the best fighters of the 80s of the last century

Today, the main direction of development of military aviation has become the intensive use of drones, both reconnaissance and strike, as well as the creation of stealth multi-purpose aircraft, such as the American F-35 or Russian Su-57.

Purpose of military aviation

List of main tasks that are solved with the help of military aircraft and helicopters:

Conducting all types of aerial reconnaissance;
Artillery fire adjustment;
Destruction of ground, sea, air and space targets, small and large, stationary and mobile, area and point;
Mining of areas;
Protection of airspace and ground forces;
Transportation and landing of troops;
Delivery of various military cargo and equipment;
Evacuation of the wounded and sick;
Conducting campaign events;
Inspection of the area, detection of radiation, chemical and bacteriological contamination.

Thus, military aviation can bring enormous benefits, of course, provided that it is used correctly.

Military aviation equipment

During the First World War, attack airships (Zeppelins) were actively used, however, today there is nothing similar in the Air Force. All equipment used is airplanes (airplanes) and helicopters.

Aircraft

The breadth of the range of tasks solved with the help of aviation forces the Air Force to include vehicles from several different types. Each of them has its own purpose.

F-111 - American front-line bomber with variable sweep wings

Combat aircraft

This type of aviation includes:

Fighters. Their main purpose is to destroy enemy aircraft and gain air superiority, local or complete. All other tasks are secondary. Armament – guided air-to-air missiles, automatic cannons;
Bombers. Can be front-line or strategic. They are used mainly for attacks on ground targets. Armament - air-to-surface missiles (including unguided ones), free-falling, gliding and guided bombs, as well as torpedoes (for anti-submarine aircraft);
Stormtroopers. Used primarily for direct support of troops on the battlefield;
Fighter-bombers are aircraft capable of striking ground targets and conducting air combat. All modern fighters are like this to some extent.

Strategic bombers differ significantly from other combat aircraft in their weapons complex, which includes cruise missiles long range.

Reconnaissance and air surveillance aircraft

In principle, “regular” fighters or bombers equipped with the necessary equipment can be used to solve reconnaissance tasks. An example is the MiG-25R. But there is also specialized equipment. These are, in particular, the American U-2 and SR-71, and the Soviet An-30.

High-speed reconnaissance aircraft SR-71 Blackbird

Long-range radar detection aircraft - the Russian A-50 (created on the basis of the Il-76), and the American E-3 Sentry - also fall into this category. Such machines are capable of conducting deep radio reconnaissance, however, they are not secretive, since they are a source of powerful electromagnetic radiation. Such reconnaissance aircraft as the Il-20, which are mainly engaged in radio interception, behave much more “modestly”.

Transport aircraft

This type of aircraft is used to transport troops and equipment. Some models of machines included in the transport aviation, are adapted for landing - both conventional and parachuteless, carried out from extremely low altitudes.

IN Russian army The most commonly used military transport aircraft are the Il-76 and An-26. If it is necessary to deliver cargo of significant weight or volume, heavy An-124s can be used. Of the American military aircraft for a similar purpose, the most famous are the C-5 Galaxy and C-130 Hercules.

Il-76 is the main aircraft of Russian military transport aviation

Training aircraft

Becoming a military pilot is quite difficult. The hardest thing is to gain real skills that cannot be replaced by virtual flights on a simulator or deep study of theory. To solve this problem, training aviation is used. Such aircraft can be either specialized machines or variants of combat aircraft.

For example, the Su-27UB, although used for pilot training, can be used as a full-fledged fighter. At the same time, the Yak-130 or the British BAE Hawk are specialized training aircraft. In some cases, even such models can be used as light attack aircraft to strike ground targets. This usually happens “due to poverty”, in the absence of full-fledged combat aircraft.

Helicopters

Although rotary-wing aircraft were used to a limited extent already during the Second World War, after the end of hostilities, interest in “helicopters” noticeably decreased. It soon became clear that this was a mistake, and today helicopters are used in the armies of the most different countries peace.

Transport helicopters

Conventional airplanes cannot take off and land vertically, which somewhat narrows their scope of application. Helicopters initially had this property, which made them a very attractive means for delivering goods and transporting people. The first full-fledged “debut” of such machines took place during the Korean War. The US Army, using helicopters, evacuated the wounded directly from the battlefield, delivered ammunition and equipment to the soldiers, and created problems for the enemy by landing small armed detachments in their rear.

V-22 Osprey is one of the most unusual examples of rotorcraft

Today the most typical transport helicopter in the Russian army is the Mi-8. The huge heavy Mi-26 is also used. The US military operates the UH-60 Blackhawk, CH-47 Chinook, and the V-22 Osprey.

Attack helicopters

The first rotary-wing vehicle, created specifically to engage ground targets and provide direct fire support to its own troops, appeared in the United States in the 60s. It was a UH-1 Cobra helicopter, some modifications of which are still used by the US military today. The functions of these machines to some extent overlap with the tasks of attack aircraft.

In the 70s attack helicopters were considered perhaps the most effective anti-tank weapon. This became possible thanks to new types of guided aircraft missiles, such as the American TOW and Hellfire, as well as the Soviet Phalanx, Attack and Vikhryam. A little later combat helicopters were additionally equipped with air-to-air missiles.

The most “brutal” combat helicopter in the world - the Mi-24 - is capable of not only striking ground targets, but also transporting paratroopers

The most famous vehicles of this class are the Mi-24, Ka-52, AH-64 Apache.

Reconnaissance helicopters

In Soviet and then Russian army aviation, reconnaissance tasks were usually assigned not to specialized, but to ordinary combat or transport helicopters. The USA took a different path and developed the OH-58 Kiowa. The equipment placed on board this vehicle allows you to confidently detect and recognize various targets at long distances. Weak side The helicopter is poorly protected, which sometimes led to losses.

Of the Russian models, the Ka-52 has the most advanced reconnaissance equipment, which allows this vehicle to be used as a kind of “gunner”.

UAV

Over the past decades, the importance of unmanned aerial vehicles has grown significantly. Drones make it possible to conduct reconnaissance and even launch surprise attacks on targets while remaining invulnerable. They are not only difficult to shoot down, but even easy to detect.

Drones are likely to become a priority in aviation development for the foreseeable future. Such machines will, in particular, be used as assistants for the most modern tanks and fifth generation fighters. Over time, they may completely replace manned combat aircraft.

Promising Russian UAV "Okhotnik"

Air defense

To solve problems air defense Both conventional front-line fighters and specialized interceptors can be used. Special attention such aircraft were given priority in the USSR, since American strategic bombers had long been considered the No. 1 threat.

The most famous air defense aircraft were the Soviet MiG-25 and MiG-31 interceptors. These are relatively low-maneuverable aircraft, but they are capable of quickly accelerating to speeds of more than 3,000 kilometers per hour.

Of the American fighters with a similar purpose, the F-14 Tomcat is the most famous. This carrier-based aircraft was the only carrier of the AIM-54 Phoenix long-range missiles and was used to protect carrier strike groups from air attacks.

MiG-25 interceptor on takeoff. Taking advantage of their record speed, such aircraft successfully evaded dozens of air-to-air missiles fired at them.

In recent decades aviation technology develops differently at a fast pace, as it was before. Fighters such as the F-15, F-16, F/A-18 and Su-27 continue to dominate the air force ah different countries, although these machines first took to the air back in the 70-80s of the last century. Of course, this does not mean that progress has stopped. The composition of weapons is changing, on-board electronics are being updated, and most importantly, the tactics and strategy for using aviation are being revised, which in the future may become largely unmanned. One thing is clear - whatever the technical composition of the Air Force, airplanes and helicopters will remain one of the most powerful means of achieving victory in any military conflict.

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. Year after year, combat aircraft receive more and more advanced electronics, more and more powerful means of combat, their speed increases, and their visibility on radar screens decreases. Currently, aviation, even alone, can play a key role in a modern regional conflict. This in military history humanity has never existed before.

During the aggression in Yugoslavia, NATO aviation decided the course of the conflict practically without resistance from ground forces. 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 Saddam Hussein’s large army. The US Air Force and its allies hunted Iraqi armored vehicles with impunity, having previously destroyed Iraqi combat aircraft.

Eat important nuance. Modern airplanes are so expensive (the cost of an Americanfifth generation aircraftThe F-22 costs about $350 million, which only very rich countries can afford to build or buy. The rest can only hope for a miracle or prepare for a guerrilla war.

With the advent of new precision-guided munitions, communications systems and satellite navigation and target designation, the role and power of the air force has increased manifold. Modern and future aircraft are also changing rapidly. The use of modern materials, engines of new designs, and sophisticated electronics makes a modern combat aircraft the crown of scientific and technological progress.

Currently, leading aviation powers are creating 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, were put into production and put into service. The Russian Air Force, China and Japan are still lagging behind in this regard.

At the end of the 20th century, the USSR could compete on equal terms with the United States in the skies due to the excellent fourth-generation aircraft Mig-29 and Su-27. In terms of their performance characteristics, they roughly corresponded to the American F-15, F/A-18 and F-16 aircraft. But after the collapse Soviet Union the development of new cars 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. Meanwhile, the United States wasted no time: in the 90s, the development of a fifth-generation aircraft was actively underway, and in 1997 a prototype was tested, which would later be designated the F-22 “Raptor.”

The United States is so far the only country to have a fifth-generation aircraft in service. Moreover, the F-22 is prohibited from being sold even to allies. For deliveries abroad, the Americans created another aircraft, the F-35 Lightning, but it, according to experts, has weaker characteristics than the F-22. 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 newest military aircraft of Russia

If we look at what the Russian aviation industry can now offer to the domestic air force, we will mainly see modifications of the fourth generation Su-27 and Mig-29 aircraft. They even came up with a new classification, Mig-35, and they belong to the 4++ generation, thereby indicating that this is almost the fifth generation. There is no doubt, both the Mig-29 and Su-27 are truly 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, are seriously modified, the engines are improved, new electronics and navigation systems are installed, but will they be able to withstand the Raptor in battle?

A new generation aircraft has already been created in Russia - this is the PAK-FA (advanced aviation complex for front-line aviation), also known as T-50. With its futuristic shape, the new Russian aircraft is very reminiscent of the F-22. The plane first took to the air in 2010, and in 2011 it was first shown to the general public at the MAKS air show. We have very little reliable information about this newest machine. The aircraft is currently being finalized, but it should go into production in the near future.

In order to try to compare the PAK-FA with its American counterpart, the F-22, you need to clearly understand what a fifth-generation aircraft is and how it differs from previous machines. The military puts forward clear requirements for the new generation vehicle. Such an aircraft must have low visibility in all wavelengths, primarily in radar and infrared, it must be multifunctional, extremely maneuverable, maintain a 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 long range. A fifth-generation aircraft must have “advanced” electronics, which would greatly facilitate the pilot’s work.

Experts are already comparing the F-22 and PAK-FA, based on the meager information that is available today. The newest Russian aircraft has large dimensions, including a wingspan, and therefore, most likely, it will be more maneuverable than its American counterpart. PAK-FA has a little more maximum speed, but loses to the “American” in cruising. The Russian aircraft has a longer practical range and a lower take-off weight. However, the PAK-FA loses to the F-22 in stealth.

It is not easy to compare these two aircraft, primarily due to a lack of information. There is one more nuance: modern aircraft- This is not only aerodynamics and weapons, but primarily electronics that control all aircraft systems. The USSR has always lagged behind in this area, and the situation is similar in Russia. Radar Russian plane is not inferior to the world's best analogues - but the on-board equipment leaves much to be desired.

Small-scale production of the PAK-FA began in 2014; the start of mass production of the aircraft is planned for 2019.

Here comparative characteristics two planes.

Flight of the Berkut

Another very interesting machine created at the Sukhoi Design Bureau is the Su-47. It's a pity that it still remains at the prototype stage. This aircraft has a forward-swept wing, which provides the aircraft with unprecedented maneuverability and rate of climb. The Su-47 made extensive use of composite materials, and the control interface in the cockpit was significantly improved.

The Su-47 was also created as a prototype of a fifth-generation aircraft. But it does not yet live up to the requirements put forward for such machines. The Berkut cannot fly at supersonic speeds without afterburner. In the future, they plan to equip the aircraft with a new engine with variable thrust vectoring, which would allow the Su-47 to overcome the supersonic barrier without afterburner.

The Berkut made its first flight in 1997; only one such aircraft was built. It is currently being used as a test site.

Here are the characteristics of the Su-47 Berkut aircraft.

Another newest aircraft recently adopted by the Russian Air Force is the . In 2014, 12 such aircraft arrived at the Aerospace Forces air regiments; in total, by the end of 2019, 48 Su-35s will arrive in the Air Force. This aircraft, developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, belongs to the 4++ generation and has technical and combat characteristics almost at the level of a fifth-generation aircraft.

It differs from the PAK-FA only in the absence of stealth technologies and an active phased array antenna (AFAR). The aircraft is equipped with a new information and control system, phased array radar, and new engines with controlled thrust vectoring, which can reach supersonic speed without the use of afterburner. The airframe of the aircraft has also been strengthened.

With the adoption of this aircraft, Russian military pilots can fight back against the latest generation of aircraft.

Main characteristics of the Su-35 aircraft:

All of the above aircraft have already left the design bureaus and factory floors and have long since made their first flight. Currently, the Ilyushin Design Bureau is developing new lightweight transport aircraft, which should replace the outdated An-26.

The first flight of the future transport aircraft is planned for 2019, and the start of its serial production is scheduled for 2019. The new vehicle will have a payload capacity of up to six tons and 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 are planning to create a passenger version of the aircraft; it can be used on regional airlines.

"Mig" fifth generation

Sergey Korotkov, general manager RSK MiG told reporters that specialists from the design bureau are working on a fifth-generation fighter. The new vehicle will most likely be based on the Mig-35 (another Russian car generation 4++). 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, which will replace the Tu-160 and Tu-95 aircraft. The development of the new PAK DA (advanced 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 to carry out design work.

There is very little information about the future aircraft, but the leadership of the Russian Air Force has stated that the aircraft will be subsonic, will be able to carry more weapons than the Tu-160 and will most likely be manufactured according to the “flying wing” design.

The first vehicle is expected to be ready in 2020, and mass production to start in 2025. It should be noted that work on creating a similar aircraft is now underway in the United States. As part of the Next Generation Bomber project, a subsonic aircraft with a low level of visibility 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 experienced difficult times. Many projects have been delayed for years, and now is the time to catch up. The development of a sixth-generation fighter is yet to come, but for now this is almost science fiction.

Video: new Russian aircraft

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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 “superiority in the air”, was recognized by the military circles of all states by the spring of 1916. This required the creation of a special combat aircraft that surpassed all others in speed, maneuverability, altitude and the use of offensive 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 began to appear domestic cars designers J. Gakkel, I. Sikorsky, D. Grigorovich, V. Slesarev, I. Steglau. 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 during the Great Patriotic War sought to hit enemy troops, their 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 increased weight and drag 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 negative sides - the takeoff and landing characteristics and maneuverability of the aircraft 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.

For Russian combat aircraft to further increase the flight speeds of jet fighters exceeding the speed of sound, it was necessary to increase their power supply, increase specific characteristics turbojet engine, as well as 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.

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

Story

Russian aviation began its existence in 1910, but the official 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, which had been organized by that time.

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

"Ilya Muromets"

Despite the fact that Russian state purchased aircraft from other countries, Russian soil has never been scarce for 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 designs.

The aviators Utochkin and Artseulov were very popular among the pilots of that time, and the military pilot Pyotr Nesterov amazed everyone by performing his legendary “dead loop” and became famous in 1914 by ramming an enemy plane 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 Sedov’s expedition.

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

1917

By the fall of 1917, Russian aviation numbered about 700 aircraft, but then the October Revolution 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 founded its own air force in 1918, called the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet. But the fratricidal war ended and they forgot about military aviation; only at the end of the 30s, with the course towards industrialization, did its revival begin.

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

To train and train pilots, flying clubs were founded as initial pilot training schools. After receiving piloting skills at such institutions, the cadets were sent to flight schools and then assigned 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 at the Yakovlev and Lavochkin Design Bureaus - these are Yak-1 And LaG-3, Ilyushin Design Bureau commissioned the first attack aircraft, designers under the leadership of Tupolev created a long-range bomber TB-3, and the design bureau of Mikoyan and Gurevich completed flight tests of the fighter.

1941

The aviation industry, on the threshold of war, produced 50 aircraft per day in the early summer of 1941 and three months later doubled the production of aircraft.

But for Soviet aviation The beginning of the war was tragic; most of the aircraft located at airfields in the border zone were destroyed right in the parking lots without having time to take off. In the first battles, our pilots, lacking experience, used outdated tactics and, as a result, suffered heavy losses.

It was possible to turn this situation around only in mid-1943, when the flight crew acquired the necessary experience and aviation began to receive more modern technology, aircraft such as fighter jets Yak-3, La-5 And La-7, modernized attack aircraft with Il-2 air gunner, bombers, long-range bombers.

In total, more than 44 thousand pilots were trained and graduated during the war, but the losses were enormous - 27,600 pilots were killed 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 cold war. The era of jet aircraft began in aviation, and a new type of military equipment appeared - helicopters. During these years, aviation developed rapidly, more than 10 thousand aircraft were built, the creation of fourth generation fighter projects was completed and Su-29, development of fifth-generation machines began.

1997

But the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union buried all the initiatives; the republics that emerged from it divided all aviation among themselves. In 1997, the President of the Russian Federation, by decree, announced the creation of the Russian Air Force, which united 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 global terrorism.

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

2009

Since 2009, the level of training of personnel began to rise, aviation equipment was modernized and major renovation, 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 are improving their skills; the material well-being of the pilots and technicians has increased.

The Russian Air Force consistently conducts exercises, improving combat skills and prowess.

Structural organization of the air force

On August 1, 2015, the air force organizationally merged with the military space forces, of which Colonel General Bondarev was appointed commander-in-chief. 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 - long-range, military transport and army aviation. Radio engineering, anti-aircraft and rocket troops also included in the Air Force. Key Features to provide intelligence and communications, protection against weapons mass destruction, rescue operations and electronic warfare are carried out by special troops also included in the air force. In addition, it is impossible to imagine the Air Force without engineering and logistics services, medical and meteorological units.

The Russian Air Force is designed to perform the following missions:

Repel any attacks by the aggressor in the air and space.
Providing air cover for launch sites, 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 territorial principle, which abolished the Army Air Force and Air Defense.

Today, 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 air bases, in total there were 148 thousand people in the air force and the Russian Air Force is second in number only to 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 carries pet name « White swan" This machine was produced during the Soviet Union, develops supersonic speed and has a variable sweep wing. According to the developers, it is capable of overcoming enemy air defenses at ultra-low altitude and inflicting 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 machines?

The Tupolev Design Bureau's aircraft first took off 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"earned due to the bass sound of these engines, is capable of carrying cruise missiles and nuclear bombs. The Russian Air Force still has 30 of these machines 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 launched back in the last century in the 60s. 50 vehicles and a hundred aircraft are in service Tu-22M preserved.

Fighter aircraft

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

At the base Su-27 A vehicle was produced that had a radio electronic equipment, capable of identifying targets on the ground and in the air at a great distance and transmitting target designations to other crews. There are a total of 80 such aircraft in stock.

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.

The fourth generation of Russian aircraft began with MiG-27 More than two dozen modified models of this vehicle have been produced, with a total of 225 combat units in service.

Another fighter-bomber that cannot be ignored is the newest aircraft, which is in service with the Air Force in the amount of 75 units.

Attack aircraft and interceptors

- This exact copy The F-111 is a US Air Force aircraft that has not been flying for a long time; its Soviet counterpart is still in service, but by 2020 all aircraft will be decommissioned; there are currently about a hundred similar aircraft in service.

Legendary Stormtrooper Su-25 "Rook", 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 mothballed.

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

Military transport aviation

The main fleet of transport aircraft are aircraft from the Antonov Design Bureau and several modifications from 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 to deliver cargo and military equipment.

Training aircraft

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

Army aviation

This type of aviation is represented mainly by Mil and Kamov helicopters and also by the machine of the Kazan Helicopter Plant “Ansat”. After being discontinued, the Russian army aviation was replenished with one 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

The USSR attached little importance 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 destruction command posts without risking the lives of people operating these drones. The Air Force has several types of UAVs - these are "Bee-1T" And "Flight-D", an outdated Israeli drone is still in service "Outpost".

Prospects for the Russian Air Force

In Russia, several aircraft projects are in 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 is undergoing the final stage of flight testing and will enter combat units in the near future.

An interesting project was presented by the Ilyushin Design Bureau; the aircraft and aircraft developed by its designers are replacing the Antonov aircraft and removing our dependence on the supply of spare parts from Ukraine. Commissioned newest fighter, test flights of new rotorcraft are completed and Mi-38. We started developing a project for a new strategic aircraft PAK-DA, they promise that it will be lifted into the air in 2020.

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 strategic aviation Russia, 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. This is 80 strategic bombers, and 150 long-range bombers, 241 attack aircraft, etc.

For comparison, you can give how many passenger planes there are in Russia. Total 753. Of these 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. 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 a large number 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.