Special Purpose Command
Encyclopedia
The Special Purpose Command (Komandovaniye Spetsialnogo Naznacheniya) was a formation of the Russian Air Force
, the strongest among the tactical aviation and anti-aircraft groupings. Its zone of responsibility amounted to 1.3 million km², taking in 40 million people, as well as the country's capital, Moscow
. On July 1, 2009 it was superseded by the Operational-Strategic Command for Missile-Space Defence (:ru:Объединённое стратегическое командование воздушно-космической обороны).
As a result of the air force reforms implemented on June 1, 1998, the Moscow District of the PVO and the 16th Air Army of VVS became a single entity, the Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defense. According to Interfax, 5 January 2002, in the summer of 2002 the former Moscow District of the VVS and PVO was split into the reactivated 16th Air Army, a tactical force, and the Special Purpose Command of the Central Air Defence Zone, an air defense force.
Pyotr Butowski, writing in 2004, seems to indicate that the Special Purpose Command (he makes no mention of the ‘of the Central Air Defence Zone’) is merely essentially a redesignation of the former Moscow District. The rearrangement of the Moscow District of the VVS and PVO into the Special Purpose Command is apparently connected with plans in the long term for the military-space defense of the central industrial region.
The current commanding officer of the KSpN is Colonel-General Yuri Solovyov. The Moscow District of the Air Defense Force has a long history, dating back to the Second World War. Until 1950, MiG-15 interceptor regiments were concentrated in the Moscow District to protect the capital against US bomber attack. After 1950 significant elements, the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps, were redeployed to fight in the Korean War
. The district's commander was replaced shortly before the Matthias Rust affair in 1988 for insufficient support of Mikhail Gorbachev
's perestroika
policy.
flying Su-24MPs, and the 9th Fighter Aviation Division
(9 iad), at Kubinka
, with four regiments. The division incorporated the 32nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, also at Shatalovo, with MiG-23MLDs, the 234th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kubinka
with MiG-29s, the 274th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment at Migalovo
(274 apib) with Su-17s, and the 343rd Fighter Aviation Regiment at Sennoy
with MiG-29s. Also part of the force was a ground signals regiment, the 131st. 32nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment served in Cuba as part of 'Operation Anadyr
' during the Cuban Missile Crisis
of 1963. The regiment was temporarily renamed 213th Fighter Aviation Regiment while in Cuba.
In 1988 the Order of Lenin Moscow District of the Air Defence Forces had four air defence corps and a division, which included 11 fighter aviation regiments, one transport helicopter regiment, 28 anti-aircraft rocket regiments, and four radar brigades and regiments. The corps were the 2nd, at Balashikha
, 3rd at Rzhev
, 7th at Kursk
, and 16th at Gorki
. One of the fighter regiments was the 472nd Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kursk
. Joseph Stalin's son Vasily Stalin commanded the Moscow district air defence forces in the early 1950s. Moscow district air defence had been provided during World War II/Great Patriotic War by initially the Moscow PVO Corps Region. The Corps Region Headquarters, then formed the Moscow Front PVO from 6 April 1942 - 10 July 1943. In turn, the Moscow Front PVO was redesignated as Headquarters, Special Moscow PVO Army.
, it is now the tactical air force component of the Moscow Military District
, headquartered at Kubinka
.
The army was formed on August 10, 1942 at Stalingrad
and included the 228th and 291st Assault Aviation Divisions and two separate aviation regiments. It took part in Operation Uranus
as part of the Don Front
in November–December 1942, being commanded by Sergei Rudenko
. It was involved in the Battle of Kursk
, and was part of the First Belorussian Front for the liberation of Belarus, the Lublin-Brest Offensive, and the assault on Berlin
. For a long period after the war, the army was stationed with the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
, headquartered at Zossen
-Wünsdorf. In 1949, it was renamed the 24th Air Army, but was reformed as the 16th in 1968. In its last years in Germany
, it consisted of:
The 16th Air Army ceremonially said farewell to Germany at the Sperenburg Open Day on 27 May 1994. On that day the Air Army Headquarters was moved to Kubinka
in the Moscow Military District
. However the last aircraft from the 226th Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment did not leave Sperenburg until 6 September 1994. A visiting Il-76MD was the last aircraft movement three days later.
On 1 June 1998, the 16th Air Army was disbanded and its units incorporated into the Moscow District of VVS and PVO, in accordance with the amalgamation of the Air Forces and the Russian Air Defence Forces
. This was quickly reversed and on 25 November 1998, the 16th Composite Air Corps was re-raised. The 16th Composite Air Corps was reformed as the 16th Air Army on 1 February 2002.
Savasleyka
is another airbase within the Moscow Military District
's boundaries, but its exact operational status is currently unclear, as the formerly resident unit, the 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, was not listed as operational in the most widely available recent survey of Russian air power, which was done by Air Forces Monthly
in August and September 2007. The 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment had previously been withdrawn from Vainode Air Base in Latvia. Russian internet sources now say it has been reorganised as the 3958th Air Base.
The 16th Air Army will soon receive two regiments of the advanced Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers in the near future. General Belevitch said the 16th Air Army would also receive MiG-29SM Fulcrum fighters to replace outdated MiG-29s and modernized Su-25 Frogfoot close support aircraft, which showed outstanding performance during operations in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other "hot spots."
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...
, the strongest among the tactical aviation and anti-aircraft groupings. Its zone of responsibility amounted to 1.3 million km², taking in 40 million people, as well as the country's capital, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. On July 1, 2009 it was superseded by the Operational-Strategic Command for Missile-Space Defence (:ru:Объединённое стратегическое командование воздушно-космической обороны).
As a result of the air force reforms implemented on June 1, 1998, the Moscow District of the PVO and the 16th Air Army of VVS became a single entity, the Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defense. According to Interfax, 5 January 2002, in the summer of 2002 the former Moscow District of the VVS and PVO was split into the reactivated 16th Air Army, a tactical force, and the Special Purpose Command of the Central Air Defence Zone, an air defense force.
Pyotr Butowski, writing in 2004, seems to indicate that the Special Purpose Command (he makes no mention of the ‘of the Central Air Defence Zone’) is merely essentially a redesignation of the former Moscow District. The rearrangement of the Moscow District of the VVS and PVO into the Special Purpose Command is apparently connected with plans in the long term for the military-space defense of the central industrial region.
The current commanding officer of the KSpN is Colonel-General Yuri Solovyov. The Moscow District of the Air Defense Force has a long history, dating back to the Second World War. Until 1950, MiG-15 interceptor regiments were concentrated in the Moscow District to protect the capital against US bomber attack. After 1950 significant elements, the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps, were redeployed to fight in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The district's commander was replaced shortly before the Matthias Rust affair in 1988 for insufficient support of Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
's perestroika
Perestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
policy.
VVS and PVO Units in the District in the late 1980s
In the last days of the Soviet Union there was a considerable Soviet Air Defence Forces presence, and a smaller Air Forces presence, in the Moscow Military District. The Air Forces of the Moscow Military District, alternately known as the 78th Air Army, consisted of a reconnaissance regiment, the 47th Guards Separate Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment at ShatalovoShatalovo
Shatalovo is an air base in Smolensk Oblast, Russia located 8 km south of Pochinok. It is a large hardened air base with pads for 19 bombers and 15 fighters in addition to a small amount of tarmac space...
flying Su-24MPs, and the 9th Fighter Aviation Division
Aviation Division
An Aviation Division was a type of formation of the Military Air Forces of the Red Army during the Second World War, the Military Air Forces of the Soviet Union, Forces of Anti Aircraft Defence of the Soviet Union and Aviation of the Military Naval Fleet, and since 1991 remain major formations...
(9 iad), at Kubinka
Kubinka (air base)
Kubinka is an air base in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 5 km northwest of Kubinka. In close proximity to Moscow, the Kubinka facility showcases the best of the Russian Air Force to the general public....
, with four regiments. The division incorporated the 32nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, also at Shatalovo, with MiG-23MLDs, the 234th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kubinka
Kubinka (air base)
Kubinka is an air base in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 5 km northwest of Kubinka. In close proximity to Moscow, the Kubinka facility showcases the best of the Russian Air Force to the general public....
with MiG-29s, the 274th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment at Migalovo
Migalovo
Migalovo is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia located 10 km west of Tver. It is a large military airlift base. It currently houses all of Russia's remaining Antonov An-22 fleet...
(274 apib) with Su-17s, and the 343rd Fighter Aviation Regiment at Sennoy
Sennoy (airport)
Sennoy is an air base in Saratov Oblast, Russia located 2 km south of Sennoy...
with MiG-29s. Also part of the force was a ground signals regiment, the 131st. 32nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment served in Cuba as part of 'Operation Anadyr
Operation Anadyr
Operation Anadyr was the code name used by the Soviet Union for their Cold War secret operation of deploying ballistic missiles, medium-range bombers, and a division of mechanized infantry in Cuba to create the army group that would be able to prevent an invasion of the island by U.S. forces...
' during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
of 1963. The regiment was temporarily renamed 213th Fighter Aviation Regiment while in Cuba.
In 1988 the Order of Lenin Moscow District of the Air Defence Forces had four air defence corps and a division, which included 11 fighter aviation regiments, one transport helicopter regiment, 28 anti-aircraft rocket regiments, and four radar brigades and regiments. The corps were the 2nd, at Balashikha
Balashikha
Balashikha is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pekhorka River east of Moscow. It is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of from north to south and from east to west, and many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to...
, 3rd at Rzhev
Rzhev
Rzhev is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population:...
, 7th at Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
, and 16th at Gorki
Gorki
Gorki may refer to:*Gorki, Russia, name of several inhabited localities in Russia*Gorki , originally named "Gorky", Belgian band of Luc De Vos-See also:*Gorki , a station of the Kazan Metro, Kazan, Russia*Gorky...
. One of the fighter regiments was the 472nd Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kursk
Kursk Vostochny Airport
Vostochny Airport is an interceptor aircraft base in Kursk Oblast, Russia located 7 km east of Kursk. It is a medium-sized base 4 miles northeast of Kursk. Several alert pads, with civilian tarmac on other side of airfield.Khalino was home to:...
. Joseph Stalin's son Vasily Stalin commanded the Moscow district air defence forces in the early 1950s. Moscow district air defence had been provided during World War II/Great Patriotic War by initially the Moscow PVO Corps Region. The Corps Region Headquarters, then formed the Moscow Front PVO from 6 April 1942 - 10 July 1943. In turn, the Moscow Front PVO was redesignated as Headquarters, Special Moscow PVO Army.
16th Air Army
The 16th Air Army (16 Vozdushnaya Armiya) is the most important unit of the Special Purpose Command. Initially formed during the Second World War as a part of the Soviet Air ForceSoviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
, it is now the tactical air force component of the Moscow Military District
Moscow Military District
The Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
, headquartered at Kubinka
Kubinka
Kubinka is a town in Odintsovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Setun River, west of Moscow. Population: Kubinka was the location of the Soviet Union's tank proving grounds, and today is the home of the Kubinka Tank Museum...
.
The army was formed on August 10, 1942 at Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
and included the 228th and 291st Assault Aviation Divisions and two separate aviation regiments. It took part in Operation Uranus
Operation Uranus
Operation Uranus was the codename of the Soviet strategic operation in World War II which led to the encirclement of the German Sixth Army, the Third and Fourth Romanian armies, and portions of the German Fourth Panzer Army. The operation formed part of the ongoing Battle of Stalingrad, and was...
as part of the Don Front
Don Front
The Don Front was a front of the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War. The name refers to Don River, Russia....
in November–December 1942, being commanded by Sergei Rudenko
Sergei Rudenko (general)
Serhi Gnatovich Rudenko was a Soviet Marshal of the Aviation.-Early life:...
. It was involved in 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,...
, and was part of the First Belorussian Front for the liberation of Belarus, the Lublin-Brest Offensive, and the assault on Berlin
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
. For a long period after the war, the army was stationed with the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
The Group of Soviet Forces in Germany , also known as the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany and the Western Group of Forces were the troops of the Soviet Army in East Germany....
, headquartered at Zossen
Zossen
Zossen is a German town in the district of Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, and next to the B96 highway. Zossen consists of several smaller municipalities, which were grouped together in 2003 to form the city.-Geography:...
-Wünsdorf. In 1949, it was renamed the 24th Air Army, but was reformed as the 16th in 1968. In its last years in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, it consisted of:
- Headquarters, ZossenZossenZossen is a German town in the district of Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg, south of Berlin, and next to the B96 highway. Zossen consists of several smaller municipalities, which were grouped together in 2003 to form the city.-Geography:...
-Wünsdorf- 11 Independent Reconnaissance 'Vitsbsk Red Banner Order of Kutuzov' Aviation Regiment (WelzowWelzowWelzow is a town in the district of Spree-Neiße, in southeastern Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 16 km northwest of Hoyerswerda, and 23 km southwest of Cottbus....
, later withdrawn to North Caucasus and joined 4th Air Army4th Air ArmyThe 4th Air Army was a Soviet Air Force formation and from 1992 to 2009 was part of the Russian Air Force. From 1998 the army was designated the 4th Army of Air Forces and Air Defence. It was first established on 22 May 1942 from the Air Forces of the Soviet Southern Front, and fought on the...
) - 226 Independent Mixed Aviation Regiment (Sperenburg, later relocated to KubinkaKubinka (air base)Kubinka is an air base in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 5 km northwest of Kubinka. In close proximity to Moscow, the Kubinka facility showcases the best of the Russian Air Force to the general public....
, see below) - 357 Independent Shturmovaya Aviation Regiment (Brandis, GermanyBrandis, GermanyBrandis is a town in the Leipzig district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 16 km east of Leipzig....
)(Ground attack, Su-25) - 368 Independent Shturmovaya Aviation Regiment (TutowTutowTutow is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
, later withdrawn to North Caucasus and joined 4th Air Army4th Air ArmyThe 4th Air Army was a Soviet Air Force formation and from 1992 to 2009 was part of the Russian Air Force. From 1998 the army was designated the 4th Army of Air Forces and Air Defence. It was first established on 22 May 1942 from the Air Forces of the Soviet Southern Front, and fought on the...
)
- 11 Independent Reconnaissance 'Vitsbsk Red Banner Order of Kutuzov' Aviation Regiment (Welzow
- 15th Reconnaissance Aviation Division
- 6th Fighter Aviation Division
- 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Division16th Guards Fighter Aviation DivisionThe 16th Guards Fighter Aviation Division was an Aviation Division of the Soviet Air Forces, active from 1942 to 1998. Originally activated in 1942 as the 258th Fighter Aviation Division from the Air Forces of the 14th Army, then the 258th Mixed Aviation Division; redesignated in accordance with...
(Damgarten) - 126th Fighter Aviation Division
- 105th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Division
- 125th Fighter Aviation Division
The 16th Air Army ceremonially said farewell to Germany at the Sperenburg Open Day on 27 May 1994. On that day the Air Army Headquarters was moved to Kubinka
Kubinka (air base)
Kubinka is an air base in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 5 km northwest of Kubinka. In close proximity to Moscow, the Kubinka facility showcases the best of the Russian Air Force to the general public....
in the Moscow Military District
Moscow Military District
The Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
. However the last aircraft from the 226th Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment did not leave Sperenburg until 6 September 1994. A visiting Il-76MD was the last aircraft movement three days later.
On 1 June 1998, the 16th Air Army was disbanded and its units incorporated into the Moscow District of VVS and PVO, in accordance with the amalgamation of the Air Forces and the Russian Air Defence Forces
Soviet Anti-Air Defense
The Soviet Air Defence Forces was the air defense branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. It continued being a service branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1998. Unlike Western air defense forces, V-PVO was a branch of the military unto itself, separate from the Soviet...
. This was quickly reversed and on 25 November 1998, the 16th Composite Air Corps was re-raised. The 16th Composite Air Corps was reformed as the 16th Air Army on 1 February 2002.
Savasleyka
Savasleyka
Savasleyka is an air base in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia.It is located near the village of Savasleyka in Kulebaksky District, between the towns of Vyksa , Kulebaki and Navashino .The name of the base is also often transcribed into English as...
is another airbase within the Moscow Military District
Moscow Military District
The Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
's boundaries, but its exact operational status is currently unclear, as the formerly resident unit, the 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, was not listed as operational in the most widely available recent survey of Russian air power, which was done by Air Forces Monthly
Air Forces Monthly
Air Forces Monthly is a military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing, based in Stamford, United Kingdom.Sister publications include Air International, Air Enthusiast, Airliner World, Airports International, FlyPast and Today's Pilot.-External links:*http://www.airforcesmonthly.co.uk/* via...
in August and September 2007. The 54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment had previously been withdrawn from Vainode Air Base in Latvia. Russian internet sources now say it has been reorganised as the 3958th Air Base.
The 16th Air Army will soon receive two regiments of the advanced Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers in the near future. General Belevitch said the 16th Air Army would also receive MiG-29SM Fulcrum fighters to replace outdated MiG-29s and modernized Su-25 Frogfoot close support aircraft, which showed outstanding performance during operations in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other "hot spots."
2007 structure
In 2009 the Russian Air Force was extensively reorganised. This structure is not current. Combat Aircraft magazine's June 2010 issue gives some details of the new structure.- 16th Air Army - KubinkaKubinkaKubinka is a town in Odintsovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Setun River, west of Moscow. Population: Kubinka was the location of the Soviet Union's tank proving grounds, and today is the home of the Kubinka Tank Museum...
- 105th Composite Aviation Division, VoronezhVoronezhVoronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
- 455th Bomber Aviation Regiment - Chertovitskoye Airport, VoronezhVoronezhVoronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
- Su-24, being replaced by Su-34Sukhoi Su-34The Sukhoi Su-34 is a Russian twin-seat fighter-bomber. It is intended to replace the Sukhoi Su-24.- Beginnings and testing :The Su-34 had a somewhat muddied and protracted beginning... - 899th Shturmovik (Assault) Aviation Regiment - ButurlinovkaButurlinovka (air base)Buturlinovka is an air base in Russia located 4 km south of the town of Buturlinovka. There are two small alert pads at either end of runway for 10 fighters. It has probably been adapted for civilian use....
- Su-25, being also replaced with Su-34
- 455th Bomber Aviation Regiment - Chertovitskoye Airport, Voronezh
- 14th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Kursk Vostochny AirportKursk Vostochny AirportVostochny Airport is an interceptor aircraft base in Kursk Oblast, Russia located 7 km east of Kursk. It is a medium-sized base 4 miles northeast of Kursk. Several alert pads, with civilian tarmac on other side of airfield.Khalino was home to:...
- MiG-29 - 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment - Andreapol (air base)Andreapol (air base)Andreapol is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia located 3 km east of Andreapol. It was built as an interceptor base. It is home to 28 Gv IAP , which flew MiG-23P aircraft in the early 1990s and soon acquired MiG-29 aircraft, which continue in service to this day .A MiG-29 crashed on May 12,...
- MiG-29 - 47th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - ShatalovoShatalovoShatalovo is an air base in Smolensk Oblast, Russia located 8 km south of Pochinok. It is a large hardened air base with pads for 19 bombers and 15 fighters in addition to a small amount of tarmac space...
- MiG-25 and Su-24MRSukhoi Su-24The Sukhoi Su-24 is a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. This variable-sweep wing, twin-engined two-seater carried the USSR's first integrated digital navigation/attack system...
in service - 237th Air Technology Demonstration Centre of Guards - KubinkaKubinka (air base)Kubinka is an air base in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 5 km northwest of Kubinka. In close proximity to Moscow, the Kubinka facility showcases the best of the Russian Air Force to the general public....
- MiG-29, Su-27, Su-27M, L-39C
- 105th Composite Aviation Division, Voronezh
- 226th Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment - Kubinka (air base)Kubinka (air base)Kubinka is an air base in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 5 km northwest of Kubinka. In close proximity to Moscow, the Kubinka facility showcases the best of the Russian Air Force to the general public....
- 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....
, Mi-9, An-12, An-24, An-26, An-30
- 1st Corps of PVO (BalashikhaBalashikhaBalashikha is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pekhorka River east of Moscow. It is known for its unique river and waterway system. The Pekhorka River system covers an area of from north to south and from east to west, and many small lakes and ponds were created by damming to...
) (surface to air missiles only)- 9th Air Defence Divisions, including the 584 SAM Regiment (Лыткино, Поварово) with the S-400S-400The S-400 Triumf is a new generation anti-aircraft weapon system developed by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family. It is currently in limited service with the Russian Armed Forces....
- one other air defence division
- four SAM regiments in total
- 9th Air Defence Divisions, including the 584 SAM Regiment (Лыткино, Поварово) with the S-400
- 32nd Corps of PVO (RzhevRzhevRzhev is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population:...
)- 611th Fighter Aviation Regiment - DorokhovoDorokhovoDorokhovo is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia, located 7 km southwest of Bezhetsk. It is a small interceptor base with about 10 alert pads for fighter aircraft and some other pads and tarmac space...
- Su-27 - 790th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Khotilovo - MiG-31, MiG-25U
- 611th Fighter Aviation Regiment - Dorokhovo
- Army Aviation components
- 45th Independent Helicopter Regiment - Oreshkovo (Vorotinsk) near Kaluga - Mi-24
- 440th Independent Helicopter Regiment for battle control - Vyazma AirportVyazma AirportVyazma Airport is an airport in Russia located 9 km southeast of Vyazma. It currently serves general aviation.During the Cold War it was a Soviet Anti-Air Defense base and was home to 45 IAP flying MiG-23P interceptor aircraft...
- Mi-24, Mi-8 - 490th Independent Helicopter Regiment for battle control - KlokovoKlokovoKlokovo is an air base in Russia located on north fringe of Tula. It has been home to 374 OVTAP flying Il-76 and An-22 large cargo planes, of 12th Mginskaya Krasnoznamennaya military-transport aircraft division.Then, a scholastic regiment of Tambov military aircraft school was situated there...
(4 km north of Tula) - Mi-24, Mi-8; - 865th Reserve Helicopter Base - Protasovo/Aleksandrovo (air base), near Ryazan
External links
- Soviet ORBAT from last years in Germany
- http://www8.brinkster.com/vad777/russia/air/va/16va_mvo.htm
- www.victory.mil.ru
- http://oko-planet.su/politik/politikarm/13853-v-rossijskoj-armii-sozdano-komandovanie-vozdushno.html - new Operational-Strategic Command for Air and Space Defence reported. The command will be established by the end of 2010 and located at Balashikha near Moscow, where the previous 1st Air Defence Corps was located.