Belarusian Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Belarussian Air Force is the air force
of the Armed Forces of Belarus
, formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Byelorussian SSR
.
in 2001, the Air Force, and Air Defense troops were created as one of the arms of the Armed Forces of Belarus
. The VVS
and Air Defense forces are intended to protect population centres such as cities and regions, as well as the administrative, industrial, economic interests of the Republic. They are also intended to defend troops from the impacts of enemy air attacks, and also against the attacks of hostile troops, as well as fire support and the guarantee of combat operations of ground forces.
In peacetime, VVS and Air Defense forces are on standby to protect the state boundary in the air and also control of Belarussian airspace.
The Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Belarus are organized into six major flying regiments, including two interceptor, three strike, and a reconnaissance regiments. The air force consists of more than 22,000 personnel, though this number is being reduced. There are 3 airbases: Machulishi
, Lida
, and Baranovichi
. The Air Force is responsible for all military aviation, as the Army maintains no aircraft of its own.
The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force
.
was created. By General Staff order of 10 January 1949 the Army became the 26th Air Army (ГШ ВС СССР № ОРГ 120026). In 1980, the 26th Air Army was redesignated the Air Forces of the Belorussian Military District
(ГШ ВС СССР 1980 года № 314/1/00170). On 1 May 1988, in accordance with the Ministry of Defence of the USSR's Decree № 0018, the Air Forces of the District were again renamed the 26th Air Army. On 15 June 1992, by decree № 05 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, the 26th Air Army headquarters became the command of the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
A Su-27UBM aircraft crashed on the second day of the Air Show 2009 in Radom killing both pilots.
30 November 2011, a Mi-24 helicopter crashed in a small forest near the village of Novye Zasimovichi. According to eyewitnesses, thick fog fell the previous evening.
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
of the Armed Forces of Belarus
Armed Forces of Belarus
The Armed Forces of Belarus consist of the Army and the Air and Air Defense Forces, all under the command of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus...
, formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Byelorussian SSR
Byelorussian SSR
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was one of fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union. It was one of the four original founding members of the Soviet Union in 1922, together with the Ukrainian SSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
.
Organization
In accordance with an edict of the President of BelarusPresident of Belarus
The office of President of Belarus is the head of state of Belarus. The office was created in 1994 with the passing of the Constitution of Belarus by the Supreme Soviet. This replaced the office of Chairman of the Supreme Soviet as the head of state...
in 2001, the Air Force, and Air Defense troops were created as one of the arms of the Armed Forces of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. The VVS
VVS
VVS is a three letter acronym which may refer to:* Very Very Slightly Included, a way of describing the clarity of a diamond* Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, a syndrome of vulvodynia associated with chronic disease* V. V. S...
and Air Defense forces are intended to protect population centres such as cities and regions, as well as the administrative, industrial, economic interests of the Republic. They are also intended to defend troops from the impacts of enemy air attacks, and also against the attacks of hostile troops, as well as fire support and the guarantee of combat operations of ground forces.
In peacetime, VVS and Air Defense forces are on standby to protect the state boundary in the air and also control of Belarussian airspace.
The Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Belarus are organized into six major flying regiments, including two interceptor, three strike, and a reconnaissance regiments. The air force consists of more than 22,000 personnel, though this number is being reduced. There are 3 airbases: Machulishi
Machulishi
Machulishi is a municipality and urban-type settlement in Belarus, located in the Minsk Region. It is part of the Minsk Raion and its population, as of 2010, was of 7,300.-History:The town was first mentioned in 1590...
, Lida
Lida
Lida is a city in western Belarus in Hrodna Voblast, situated 160 km west of Minsk. It is the fourteenth largest city in Belarus.- Etymology :...
, and Baranovichi
Baranovichi
Baranovichi , is a city in the Brest Province of western Belarus with a population of 173,000. It is a significant railway junction and home to a state university.-Overview:...
. The Air Force is responsible for all military aviation, as the Army maintains no aircraft of its own.
The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force
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...
.
Prior History
On 5 May 1942 on the basis of the Air Forces of the Western Front the 1st Air Army1st Air Army
The 1st Air Army was an Air Army in the Soviet Air Force which served during World War II. It was formed on May 10, 1942 within the Soviet Western Front, and renamed the 26th Air Army on January 10, 1949 in the Belorussian Military District....
was created. By General Staff order of 10 January 1949 the Army became the 26th Air Army (ГШ ВС СССР № ОРГ 120026). In 1980, the 26th Air Army was redesignated the Air Forces of the Belorussian Military District
Belorussian Military District
The Byelorussian Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces. Originally in the times of Russian Civil War it formed as the Western Front, and in April 1924 it was renamed to the Western Military District. In October 1926 it was redesignated the Belorussian Military...
(ГШ ВС СССР 1980 года № 314/1/00170). On 1 May 1988, in accordance with the Ministry of Defence of the USSR's Decree № 0018, the Air Forces of the District were again renamed the 26th Air Army. On 15 June 1992, by decree № 05 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, the 26th Air Army headquarters became the command of the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
Accidents
20 April 2009, two MiG-29 aircraft were performing an exercise when they both collided. One managed to land safely, while the other crashed.A Su-27UBM aircraft crashed on the second day of the Air Show 2009 in Radom killing both pilots.
30 November 2011, a Mi-24 helicopter crashed in a small forest near the village of Novye Zasimovichi. According to eyewitnesses, thick fog fell the previous evening.