5th Air Army
Encyclopedia
The 5th Air Army was the Russian Air Force
's smallest Air Army, with the headquarters located in Yekaterinburg
, its zone of responsibility being the Volga-Ural Military District, on the border between Europe
and Asia
. The commanding officer of the 5th Air Army was from May 2006, Lieutenant-General Vadim Volkovitskiy.
The 5th Air Army was first created during World War II, formed from the Air Forces of the North Caucasus Front in June 1942, consisting of three fighter, one ground attack, and one bomber division. During the Battle of Kursk
it fought as part of the Steppe Front
, and comprised the 7th Combined Air Corps, 8th Combined Air Corps, 3rd Fighter Corps, and the 7th Fighter Corps. On 10 January 1949 it was redesignated the 48th Air Army.
5th Air Army appears to have been reformed in 1988 from the Air Forces of the Odessa Military District
(VVS OdVO). The 119th 'Nevel' Order of Suvorov
Fighter Aviation Division was part of the VVS OdVO, and the 5th Air Army VVS both before the VVS OdVO period and afterwards. The Army was still serving there when the Soviet Union dissolved
, and consisted in 1991-92 of a single MiG-29 fighter regiment and a Su-17 reconnaissance regiment. Other elements included the 86th Guards Fighter Regiment with MiG-29s at ~Markuleshcht
, across the border in Moldova
, whose aircraft became part of the fledgling Moldovan Air Force. The formation was later downgraded in status by the Ukrainian Air Force
, which took the force over, to an Aviation Corps.
The 5th Army of the VVS and PVO was re-created by Russia in 2001 from the 5th Independent Corps of VVS and PVO. The Air Army had no combat aircraft (except a small number of Su-25 attack aircraft located at Kant, Kyrgyzstan
) and only three regiments of surface-to-air missile
s (Yekaterinburg
, Samara
and Engels), but includes two helicopter regiments and some other auxiliary units. The 764th Interceptor Aviation Regiment, operating MiG-31 aircraft, which was stationed Bolshoye Savino Airport
16 km southwest of Perm
, within the zone of the 5th Air Army, is subordinated directly to the Air Forces HQ. The Kant Air Base was commissioned in October 2003 and is also subordinated to the 5th Air Army, along with possibly another air base in Dushanbe
, Tajikistan
. Since July 2007, the commander of the 5th Air Army is General Lieutenant Mikhail Kucheryavy.
In 2007, 12 Mi-24 and 12 Mi-8 of the Army took part in the joint Russia-Sino exercise Peace Mission 2007. (Warfare.ru)
In 2009 the Army was disbanded and incorporated within the new 4th Command of Air Forces and Air Defence.
Russian Air Force
The Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...
's smallest Air Army, with the headquarters located in Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
, its zone of responsibility being the Volga-Ural Military District, on the border between Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The commanding officer of the 5th Air Army was from May 2006, Lieutenant-General Vadim Volkovitskiy.
The 5th Air Army was first created during World War II, formed from the Air Forces of the North Caucasus Front in June 1942, consisting of three fighter, one ground attack, and one bomber division. During the Battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
it fought as part of the Steppe Front
Steppe Front
The Steppe Front and later the 2nd Ukrainian Front was a Front , effectively an Army group sized formation, of the Soviet Army during the Second World War...
, and comprised the 7th Combined Air Corps, 8th Combined Air Corps, 3rd Fighter Corps, and the 7th Fighter Corps. On 10 January 1949 it was redesignated the 48th Air Army.
5th Air Army appears to have been reformed in 1988 from the Air Forces of the Odessa Military District
Odessa Military District
The Odessa Military District was a military administrative division of the Imperial Russian military, the Soviet Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was known under such name from around 1862 to 1998. It was reorganized as part of the Military of Ukraine and the Military of Moldova in...
(VVS OdVO). The 119th 'Nevel' Order of Suvorov
Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov is a Soviet award, named after Aleksandr Suvorov , that was established on July 29, 1942 by a decision of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR. This decoration was created to award senior army personnel for exceptional leadership in combat operations...
Fighter Aviation Division was part of the VVS OdVO, and the 5th Air Army VVS both before the VVS OdVO period and afterwards. The Army was still serving there when the Soviet Union dissolved
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
, and consisted in 1991-92 of a single MiG-29 fighter regiment and a Su-17 reconnaissance regiment. Other elements included the 86th Guards Fighter Regiment with MiG-29s at ~Markuleshcht
Marculesti
Mărculeşti is a city in Floreşti district, in the northern Moldova, with a population of 2,081 at the 2004 census.-External links:*...
, across the border in Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
, whose aircraft became part of the fledgling Moldovan Air Force. The formation was later downgraded in status by the Ukrainian Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force
The Ukrainian Air Force is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Command and headquarters are located in the city of Vinnytsia....
, which took the force over, to an Aviation Corps.
The 5th Army of the VVS and PVO was re-created by Russia in 2001 from the 5th Independent Corps of VVS and PVO. The Air Army had no combat aircraft (except a small number of Su-25 attack aircraft located at Kant, Kyrgyzstan
Kant, Kyrgyzstan
Kant is a city in the Chuy Valley of northern Kyrgyzstan, some 20 km from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.It is the administrative center of the Ysyk-Ata District ....
) and only three regiments of surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
s (Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
, Samara
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
and Engels), but includes two helicopter regiments and some other auxiliary units. The 764th Interceptor Aviation Regiment, operating MiG-31 aircraft, which was stationed Bolshoye Savino Airport
Bolshoye Savino Airport
Bolshoye Savino Airport is an international airport in Perm Krai, Russia located 16 km southwest of Perm, in the village of Bolshoye Savino. It is the only airport in Perm Krai with regular scheduled passenger flights. The majority of flights are between Perm and Moscow...
16 km southwest of Perm
Perm
Perm is a city and the administrative center of Perm Krai, Russia, located on the banks of the Kama River, in the European part of Russia near the Ural Mountains. From 1940 to 1957 it was named Molotov ....
, within the zone of the 5th Air Army, is subordinated directly to the Air Forces HQ. The Kant Air Base was commissioned in October 2003 and is also subordinated to the 5th Air Army, along with possibly another air base in Dushanbe
Dushanbe
-Economy:Coal, lead, and arsenic are mined nearby in the cities of Nurek and Kulob allowing for the industrialization of Dushanbe. The Nurek Dam, the world's highest as of 2008, generates 95% of Tajikistan's electricity, and another dam, the Roghun Dam, is planned on the Vakhsh River...
, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
. Since July 2007, the commander of the 5th Air Army is General Lieutenant Mikhail Kucheryavy.
In 2007, 12 Mi-24 and 12 Mi-8 of the Army took part in the joint Russia-Sino exercise Peace Mission 2007. (Warfare.ru)
In 2009 the Army was disbanded and incorporated within the new 4th Command of Air Forces and Air Defence.
2007 Russian Structure
- Headquarters, 5th Air Army - YekaterinburgYekaterinburgYekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
- 30th Aviation Base - HQ at KoltsovoKoltsovoKoltsovo may refer to:*Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, an urban-type settlement in Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia*Koltsovo, Yekaterinburg, a former urban-type settlement in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia; now a part of the city of Yekaterinburg...
near YekaterinburgYekaterinburgYekaterinburg is a major city in the central part of Russia, the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountain range, it is the main industrial and cultural center of the Urals Federal District with a population of 1,350,136 , making it Russia's...
- An-26 (former 128th Independent Composite Air Squadron); - 303rd Independent Helicopter Squadron (HisorHisorHisor is a city in western Tajikistan, about 15 km west of Dushanbe. It is the capital of Hisor District, one of the Districts of Republican Subordination. It lies at an altitude of 799-824 m, surrounded by high mountains . The Khanaka River, a tributary to the Kofarnihon River, flows through the...
, TajikistanTajikistanTajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
) - 320th Independent Transport Squadron of Search & Rescue Service - HQ at Uprun (Troitsk), near ChelyabinskChelyabinskChelyabinsk is a city and the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located in the northwestern side of the oblast, south of Yekaterinburg, just to the east of the Ural Mountains, on the Miass River. Population: -History:...
- Mi-8Mil Mi-8The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
; - 999th Air Base - HQ at Kant, KyrgyzstanKant, KyrgyzstanKant is a city in the Chuy Valley of northern Kyrgyzstan, some 20 km from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.It is the administrative center of the Ysyk-Ata District ....
- L-39, Mi-8, Su-25;
- 30th Aviation Base - HQ at Koltsovo
- 76th Division of PVO (Samara)
- 511th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment (Engels, Saratov Oblast)
- 185th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment (former 57th SAM Brigade) (BeryozovskyBeryozovskyBeryozovsky , Beryozovskaya , or Beryozovskoye may refer to:*Beryozovsky District, name of several districts in the countries of the former Soviet Union*Beryozovsky Urban Okrug, name of several urban okrugs in Russia...
/Березовский) - 568th(?) Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment (Samara) - До 1993- 134 Красн. зрбр
- One radiotechnical brigade, one radiotechnical regiment (radar)
- Army Aviation component;
-
- 793rd Independent Helicopter Regiment - HQ at Kinel'-Cherkasy - Mi-8, Mi-26;
- 237th Independent Helicopter Squadron - HQ at Bobrovka - Mi-8, Mi-24;
-
1988 Soviet Structure
- Headquarters - Odessa
- 29th Independent Training Regiment (Berdyansk) (Su-17)
- 90th Independent Assault Aviation Regiment (ArtsyzArtsyzArtsyz is a city in Odessa Oblast, Ukraine. Population is 16,370 ....
) (Su-25) (disbanded 1989; directive issued 22.7.89, and all aircraft was transferred to SakiSakiHector Hugh Munro , better known by the pen name Saki, and also frequently as H. H. Munro, was a British writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories satirised Edwardian society and culture. He is considered a master of the short story and often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy...
, Krymskaya Oblast.) - 190th Independent Fighter-Bomber Regiment (Kanatovo, Kirovograd Oblast)(MiG-27)(former 866 IAP, World War II)
- 290th Independent Assault Aviation Regiment (SakiSakiHector Hugh Munro , better known by the pen name Saki, and also frequently as H. H. Munro, was a British writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories satirised Edwardian society and culture. He is considered a master of the short story and often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy...
) (Su-25) - 642nd Guards Independent Fighter-Bomber Regiment (VoznesenskVoznesenskVoznesensk is a city in the Mykolaiv Oblast of Ukraine and a center of Voznesenskyi Raion . As of 2001, the city's population is 42,634....
, Nikolayev Oblast) - 827th Independent Reconnaissance Regiment (Limanskoye)
- 119th Fighter Aviation Division (Military Unit No. 06846) (TiraspolTiraspolTiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
, Moldovian SSR)- 86th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (Markuleshty, Moldovian SSR) (MiG-29)
- 161st Fighter Aviation Regiment (Limanskoye, Odessa Oblast) with MiG-29 and MiG-23
- 684th Guards Orshanskiy Red Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment (TiraspolTiraspolTiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is the capital and administrative centre of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . The city is located on the eastern bank of the Dniester River...
) (MiG-23MLD)(disbanded 1989, after a flying accident in 7.88, which killed several civilians in Tiraspol. Former 133 Guards IAP)