Aviation: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Russian Air Force: development history and current composition Modern Russian military aviation

The air force is one of the most important components of the defense capability of each country. Every day, scientists around the world are working to create faster and more efficient combat aircraft. Our today's review presents 19 of the best fighter models that have already proven themselves in battle.

1. American attack fighter - Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

This model is a modernized version of a military aircraft. F/A-18. The sample weighs 14.5 tons, while one full tank will be enough to fly 3300 kilometers. The aircraft is equipped with a powerful F404 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed can reach 1915 km/h. The Super Hornet costs about US$67 million.

2. German monoplane fighter - Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wurger

The presented model proved to be excellent in the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Kurt Tank is the developer of a fighter called the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wurger, which was created specifically for the German Air Force. The aircraft made its first flight back in 1939.

3. American light fighter - Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon

This model was developed back in 1974, but was put into operation at the end of 1979. The length of the sample is 15 meters. The sample is equipped with a powerful General Electric F110 engine. Price General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is about 19 million US dollars.

4. Swedish multirole fighter - Saab JAS 39 Gripen

The presented model has been in service with the Swedish Air Force since 1997. The weight of this sample is 6622 kilograms, while the flight range from one full tank reaches 3250 kilometers. The creator of the aircraft is Saab AB. Costs Saab JAS 39 Gripen approximately 60 million US dollars.

5. Fighter - Su-30MKI (Flanker-H)

The upgraded aircraft model weighs 18,400 kilograms, while its flight range from one full tank reaches 3,000 kilometers. This model made its first flight in 2000. The fighter is equipped with a powerful AL-31F engine. Price Su-30MKI is 25 million US dollars.

6. Double fighter - McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle

This model was created on the basis of the F-15D combat training fighter. This aircraft can be used to patrol and provide cover for ground forces. The sample is equipped with a powerful Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed can reach 2655 kilometers per hour. Price McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle is approximately US$31 million.

7. French multirole fighter - Dassault Rafale

French company Dassault Aviation is the creator of a 15 meter fighter called - Dassault Rafale. The maximum speed of this model reaches 2130 km / h, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 3700 kilometers.

8. Experimental aircraft - Sukhoi Su-35

This fighter weighs 18,400 kilograms, while its flight range from one fully filled tank is 3,600 kilometers. The model is equipped with a powerful AL-31F engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft reaches 2500 km/h. Costs Su-27M about 65 million US dollars.

9. Multirole fighter - Eurofighter Typhoon

This model was created by Eurofighter GmbH in 1986. The aircraft weighs 11 tons, while its flight range from one fully filled tank is 3790 kilometers. The maximum allowable speed of the aircraft is 1838 km/h.

10. Fighter-bomber - Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

American company Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is the creator of a stealth fighter called - Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. This model is equipped with a powerful Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed can reach 1930 km / h, and the flight range is 2220 kilometers. The sample made its first flight in 2006.

11. American strike aircraft - Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

This model is the development of the company lockheed martin. This sample is designed to quietly penetrate the enemy's air defense system and destroy strategically important targets. The aircraft is equipped with a powerful General Electric F404 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 993 kilometers per hour. Price Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is about 100 million US dollars.

12. Multirole fighter - MiG 21

This model is equipped with a turbojet engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 2175 kilometers per hour. The model made its first flight back in 1955. MiG-21 is one of the most common supersonic aircraft in the world.

13. English fighter - Supermarine Spitfire

This model is one of the best fighters of the Second World War. This sample is equipped with powerful engines such as: Rolls-Royce Merlin, Rolls-Royce Griffon, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can be 584 kilometers per hour. The aircraft made its first flight back in 1936.

14. Russian fighter - MiG-35

This model is equipped with a powerful RD-33 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 2600 km/h. The sample made its first flight in 2007. One full tank of aircraft is enough for 2,000 kilometers.

15. Multirole fighter - Chengdu J-10

This model is the development of a Chinese company Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.
The presented sample is equipped with a turbofan engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed of the aircraft can reach 2327 kilometers per hour. The aircraft made its first flight in 1998. Price Chengdu J-10 is 28 million US dollars.

16. British fighter - Hawker Siddeley Harrier

This model is the development of Hawker Siddeley, which in 1960 created a fighter called Hawker Siddeley Harrier. The maximum allowable flight speed of this sample is 1175 kilometers per hour.

17. American fighter - North American P-51 Mustang

This model was created by designer Edgar Schmüd together with the company North American Aviation. This model is equipped with a powerful twelve-cylinder engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 703 kilometers per hour.

18. Russian fighter - Su-47 Berkut

This model is equipped with powerful engines such as AL-31F, D-30, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 2650 km/h. The sample weighs 16,380 kilograms, while the flight range from one fully filled tank is 3,300 kilometers. The Su-47 Berkut costs about 70 million US dollars.

19. Multirole fighter - Su-27

This model is equipped with a powerful AL-31F engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed can reach 2500 km/h. The sample weighs 16380 kilograms, while the flight range from one fully filled tank is 3530 kilometers. Costs Su-27 approximately US$30 million.

And aircraft lovers will surely be interested to look at these

The air force has long been the backbone of the armed forces of any army. Aircraft are becoming not just a means of delivering bombs and missiles to the enemy camp, modern aviation is multifunctional combat systems with wings. The latest F-22 and F-35 fighters, as well as their modifications, have already been put into service with the US Army, and here we mean "army" as ground forces. This means that the infantry is now on a par with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles have fighters in their composition. This highlights the role of aviation in modern warfare. This shift towards multifunctionality made possible new developments in the field of aircraft construction and a change in the principles of war. A modern fighter can fight without approaching a target closer than 400 km, launch missiles at 30 targets and turn around and fly to the base at the same second. The case is of course a private one, but it describes the picture more than. Not quite what we are used to seeing in Hollywood blockbusters in which, no matter how far you look into the future, fighters in the air and in space are fighting the classic "dog fights" of the Great Patriotic War. Some time ago, a couple of news sites were full of news that in the simulation of the battle of "drying" and the F-22, the domestic machine emerged victorious due to superiority in maneuverability, of course, it was about superiority in close combat. All articles noted that in long-range combat, the Raptor is superior to the Su-35 due to more advanced weapons and guidance systems. What distinguishes 4 ++ and 5 generations.

At the moment, the Russian Air Force is armed with combat aircraft of the so-called 4 ++ generation, the same Su-35s. This is a product of a deep modernization of the Su-27, MiG-29, which have been available since the 80s, it is planned to begin a similar modernization of the Tu-160 soon. 4 ++ means as close as possible to the fifth generation, in general, modern "drying" differs from PAK FA in the absence of "stealth" and AFAR. Nevertheless, the possibilities for modernizing this design have been exhausted in principle, so the issue of creating a new generation of fighters has been standing for a long time.

Fifth generation

Fifth generation of fighters. We often hear this term in the news about modern weapons and at aviation shows. What is it? "Generation" is, in general terms, a list of requirements that modern military doctrine imposes on a combat vehicle. The 5th generation vehicle should be stealthy, have supersonic cruising speed, advanced target detection systems and electronic warfare, but the most important thing is versatility. No wonder the projects have the word "complex" in their name. The ability to fight equally well in the air and hit ground targets largely determines the appearance of the fifth generation. These are the tasks that were set before the future designers of the new symbol of domestic aviation.

The development of a new generation began in the USSR and the USA almost simultaneously, back in the 80s, and in the States in the 90s they already chose a prototype. Due to events known to the whole world, the Soviet program found itself in stagnation for many years, this is the reason for the backlog in our days. As you know, the 5th generation fighter F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning are already in service with the United States and a number of other countries. Remarkably, the Raptors have not yet been supplied even to the allies, having significant advantages over the Lightnings, the exclusive presence of the Raptors in the US Army makes their Air Force the most advanced in the world.

Our response to the Raptors is still being prepared, the deadlines have been repeatedly postponed, from 2016 to 2017 2019, now it’s 2020, but experts say that another postponement is possible, although they note that the new Russian fighter every day more and more takes the form of a product ready for serial production.

Su-47 Berkut

In Russia, the fifth generation has a long-suffering history. As you know, PAK FA, also known as the T-50, and more recently the Su-57, is not the first attempt to get an ultra-modern multi-role fighter into service. One of these attempts was the Su-47, also known as the Berkut. The test of a new aircraft with reverse swept wings took place back in the 90s. The car is very memorable and has been in sight and heard for a long time. "Reverse" wings partly played a cruel joke with him. Such a design brought the aircraft to a new level of maneuverability, however, to solve all the problems of a similar design of forces, neither in Russia nor in the States, where in the 80s there was the X-29 project, a fighter with a similar wing sweep. Also, this prototype did not meet all the requirements of the fifth generation, for example, it could overcome supersonic sound only in afterburner.

Only one fighter was built and now it is used only as a prototype. Perhaps the Su-47 will be the last attempt to create an aircraft with a reverse swept wing.

Su-57 (PAK FA)

PAK FA (Perspective Aviation Complex of Frontal Aviation) is a new Russian aircraft. Became the first successful attempt to bring to life the fifth generation of aircraft. At the moment, there is little information about its characteristics in the public domain. From the obvious, it has all the characteristics of the fifth generation, namely supersonic cruising speed, "stealth" technologies, active phased array antenna (AFAR) and so on. Outwardly, it looks like the F-22 Raptor. And now everyone who is not too lazy is already starting to compare these machines, no wonder, because the Su-57 will become the main “protagonist” in the fight against the Raptors and Lightnings. It is worth noting that in the new realities, the improvement of missiles will also occupy a special place, as already mentioned, entry into battle takes place at gigantic distances, so how much a fighter will be maneuverable and how well it feels in close combat is the tenth thing.

In Russia, the “arrows” for the latest aviation technology are the R-73 rocket and its modifications, which rightfully bear the glory of a formidable weapon. But the designers, according to the good Russian tradition, "just in case" provided for the installation of a 30-mm air gun on the Su-57.

In developing

Another transition to the "five" is planned for another 4 ++ aircraft - MiG-35. Sketches of the "face" of the future interceptor have already been shown, but it is not yet clear whether there will be a need for it or whether the Su-57 will cope with its functions. Not only would a light fighter meet all the requirements of a new generation, it is necessary to develop a fundamentally new engine and solve the problem with the installation of "stealth". Which is impossible for machines of this class in modern realities. As mentioned earlier, the fifth generation assumes multifunctionality, which, in theory, the Su-57 should have, so what tasks will be assigned to the MiG is still not clear.

Another promising machine for the aviation forces of the Russian Federation is the PAK DA, which is being developed within the walls of the Tupolev design bureau. From the abbreviation it is clear that we are talking about long-range aviation. According to the plan in 2025 - the first flight, but given the craving for postponing the release of anything, you can immediately throw on a couple of three, or even five years. Therefore, most likely we will not soon see how the new "Tupolev" takes off into the sky, obviously long-range aviation will get by with the Tu-160 and in the near future its modification.

sixth generation

On the Internet, no, no, yes, a yellow article about the sixth generation of fighter jets slips through. That development is already in full swing somewhere. This is certainly not the case, because we recall that the latest fifth generation is in service only with the United States. Therefore, it is too early to talk about “development in full swing”. Here we would finish with the fifth. As for the speculation about what the weapons of the future will look like, there is room for discussion. What will be the new generation of aircraft?

From the sixth generation, we should expect that all standard characteristics will increase. Speed, agility. Most likely, the weight will decrease, thanks to new materials of the future, electronics will reach a new level. In the coming decades, we can expect breakthroughs in the creation of quantum computers, this will allow us to move to an unprecedented level of computing speed, which in turn will allow us to seriously modernize the modern aircraft AI, which in the future may rightly be called a “co-pilot”. Presumably, there will be a complete rejection of the vertical tail, which is absolutely useless already in modern realities, since fighters operate mainly at the limiting and prohibitive angles of attack. From this, interesting forms of the airframe may follow, perhaps again an attempt to change the sweep of the wing.

The most important question that the designers of the future will decide is whether a pilot is needed at all? That is, whether the fighter will be controlled by AI or by a pilot, and if by a pilot, whether the pilot will control the aircraft remotely or still in the old fashioned way from the cockpit. Imagine an airplane without a pilot. This is a huge “relief” for the car, because in addition to the weight of the pilot himself and his equipment, a decent load is created by the pilot’s seat, which should save lives, which makes it difficult for a car stuffed with electronics and mechanisms for pilot ejection. Not to mention the redesign of the airframe, which does not have to allocate a huge space for a person and puzzle over the ergonomic design of the cockpit to make it easier to control the machine in the air. The absence of a pilot leads to the fact that you no longer need to worry about overloads, which means that the car can be accelerated to any speed that the structure will pull, the same goes for maneuvers in the sky. It will also facilitate the training of pilots. And this is not only about reducing the requirements for the health of the pilot. Now the pilot is the most valuable thing in fighters. Colossal amounts of time and resources are spent on preparation, the loss of a pilot is irreplaceable. If the pilot controls the fighter from a comfortable chair deep in a bunker at a military base, then this will change the face of war no less than a "transplant" from horses to tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

The prospect of completely abandoning the pilot still looks like a task for the more distant future. Scientists warn about the consequences of using AI, and the very philosophical and ethical component of replacing a person with a robot in war is still being studied. Still, we do not yet have the computing power to create a full-fledged replacement for the pilot, but a technological revolution in this area is possible in the coming decades. On the other hand, the flair and military ingenuity of the pilot cannot be recreated by zeros and ones. So far, all these are hypotheses, so the appearance of modern aviation and the air force of the near future will still have a human face.

Russian supersonic strategic bomber Tu-160. Armed with cruise missiles capable of hitting targets over 5,000 kilometers away

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, aircraft and helicopters have become a formidable weapon in the hands of generals, inferior in power only to nuclear missile forces. Without dominance in the sky, it is incredibly difficult, and often impossible, to achieve victory on earth. Aviation is able to detect and destroy any target, it is difficult to hide from it and even more difficult to defend.

What is military aviation

Modern air forces include special troops and services, as well as a rather complex set of technical means that are diverse in their intended purpose, which can be used to solve strike, reconnaissance, transport and some other tasks.

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

1. Strategic;
2. front;
3. sanitary;
4. Transport.

Additional aviation units are also part of the air defense forces, the navy and the ground forces.

The history of the creation of military aviation

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

The first airplanes were used for a long time almost exclusively for recreational and sporting purposes. But already in 1911, during the armed conflict between Italy and Turkey, the 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 conventional 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 aircraft. There were no fighters at all, and only Russia had bombers - these were the famous Ilya Muromets aircraft. Unfortunately, it was not possible to establish a full-fledged serial production of these machines, so their total number did not exceed 80 copies. Meanwhile, Germany in the second half of the war produced hundreds of its own bombers.

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 commissioned their own fighters equipped with a full-fledged synchronizer. Since then, dogfights have become more and more common.

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

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

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

Armadas of long-range bombers were considered the main strike tool in the post-war period. It was in those years that jet aircraft appeared, which in many ways changed the very idea of ​​\u200b\u200bmilitary aviation. Huge "flying fortresses" became just a convenient target for Soviet high-speed and well-armed MiGs.

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

This meant that the bombers also had to become jet-powered, which soon happened. During these years, aircraft became more and more complex. If during the Second World War only one aircraft technician was engaged 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 strikes against ground targets, as well as air combat, came to the fore. Such was the American F-4 Phantom, which became to some extent a source of inspiration for the Soviet designers who developed the MiG-23. At the same time, the conflict in Vietnam has once again shown that bombardments alone, even the most intense ones, are not enough to win: combat aviation without the help of ground forces can only force the surrender of a morally broken enemy, prepared in advance for defeat.

In the 70-80s of the last century, fourth-generation fighters appeared in the sky. They differed from their predecessors not only in flight characteristics, but also in the composition of weapons. The use of high-precision weapons once again changed the face of the air war: there was a transition from massive air strikes to "pinpoint" ones.

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

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

The purpose of military aviation

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

1. Carrying out all types of aerial reconnaissance;
2. Artillery fire adjustment;
3. Destruction of land, sea, air and space targets, small and large, stationary and mobile, area and point;
4. Mining of areas of the area;
5. Protection of airspace and ground forces;
6. Transportation and landing of troops;
7. Delivery of various military cargoes and equipment;
8. Evacuation of the wounded and sick;
9. Carrying out promotional campaigns;
10. Examination of the area, detection of radiation, chemical and bacteriological contamination.

Thus, military aviation can be of great benefit, of course, if it is used correctly.

Military aviation technology

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

Aircraft

The breadth of the spectrum of tasks solved with the help of aviation makes it necessary to include several different types of aircraft in the Air Force. Each of them has its own purpose.

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

Combat aircraft

This type of aviation includes:

1. 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 guns;
2. Bombers. They can be front-line or strategic. They are mainly used for strikes against ground targets. Armament - air-to-surface missiles (including unguided ones), free-fall, glide and guided bombs, as well as torpedoes (for anti-submarine aircraft);
3. Stormtroopers. They are mainly used for direct support of troops on the battlefield;
4. Fighter-bombers are aircraft capable of attacking ground targets and conducting dogfights. All modern fighters to some extent are such.

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

Reconnaissance and air surveillance aircraft

In principle, "ordinary" 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, the Soviet An-30.

Super high-speed reconnaissance aircraft SR-71 Blackbird

This category also includes early warning aircraft - the Russian A-50 (created on the basis of the Il-76), the American E-3 Sentry. Such machines are capable of conducting deep radio reconnaissance, however, they are not distinguished by stealth, since they are a source of powerful electromagnetic radiation. Significantly more "modestly" behave such intelligence officers as the Il-20, which are mainly engaged in radio interception.

Transport aircraft

This type of aircraft is used to transport troops and equipment. Some models of vehicles that are part of transport aviation are adapted for landing - both conventional and non-parachute, carried out from extremely low altitudes.

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

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

training aircraft

Becoming a military pilot is quite difficult. The most difficult thing is to get real skills that cannot be replaced by virtual flights on a simulator or a deep study of theory. Training aviation is used to solve this problem. Such aircraft can be either specialized vehicles or combat aircraft variants.

For example, the Su-27UB, although it is 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 a light attack aircraft to strike at ground targets. Usually this happens "out of poverty", in the absence of full-fledged combat aircraft.

Helicopters

Although rotorcraft were used to a limited extent already during the Second World War, after the end of hostilities, interest in "helicopters" decreased markedly. It soon became clear that this was a mistake, and today helicopters are used in the armies of various countries of the world.

Transport helicopters

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

V-22 Osprey - 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 U.S. military operates the UH-60 Blackhawk, the CH-47 Chinook, and the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor.

attack helicopters

The first rotorcraft, designed specifically to engage ground targets and provide direct fire support for own troops, appeared in the United States in the 60s. It was a UH-1 Cobra helicopter, some modifications of which are 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 was made possible thanks to new types of guided aircraft missiles, such as the American TOW and Hellfire, as well as the Soviet "Phalanx", "Ataka" and "Whirlwinds". 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 attacking ground targets, but also transporting paratroopers

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

Reconnaissance helicopters

In the Soviet, and then Russian army aviation, reconnaissance tasks were usually assigned not to specialized, but to conventional combat or transport helicopters. The US took a different path and developed the OH-58 Kiowa. The equipment placed on board this machine allows you to confidently detect and recognize various targets at a great distance. The weak side of the helicopter is its poor security, which sometimes led to losses.

Of the Russian models, the Ka-52 has the most advanced reconnaissance equipment, which makes it possible to use this machine as a kind of "gunner".

UAV

Over the past decades, the importance of unmanned aerial vehicles has grown significantly. Drones allow you to conduct reconnaissance and even inflict surprise strikes 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 the development of aviation in the foreseeable future. Such machines will, in particular, be used as assistants for the most modern tanks and fifth-generation fighters. Over time, they can completely replace manned combat aircraft.

Promising Russian UAV "Hunter"

air defense

To solve air defense tasks, both conventional front-line fighters and specialized interceptors can be involved. Particular attention was paid to such aviation in the USSR, since American strategic bombers were considered the No. 1 threat for a long time.

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

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

In recent decades, aviation technology has not been developing at such a fast pace as it was before. Fighters such as the F-15, F-16, F / A-18 and Su-27 still dominate the air forces of 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, the main thing is that the tactics and strategy for the use of aviation are being reviewed, which in the future may become mostly unmanned. One thing is clear - whatever the technical composition of the Air Force, aircraft and helicopters will remain one of the most powerful means of achieving victory in any military conflict.

Main Structure Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Air Force Structure Aviation

Aviation

Air Force Aviation (Av VVS) according to its purpose and tasks to be solved, it is divided into long-range, military transport, operational-tactical and army aviation, which include: bomber, attack, fighter, reconnaissance, transport and special aviation.

Organizationally, the Air Force aviation consists of air bases that are part of the Air Force formations, as well as other units and organizations directly subordinate to the Air Force Commander-in-Chief.

Long Range Aviation (YES) is a means of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic) and operational tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

The formations and units of the DA are armed with strategic and long-range bombers, tanker aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft. Operating primarily in strategic depth, DA formations and units perform the following main tasks: destroying air bases (airfields), ground-based missile systems, aircraft carriers and other surface ships, objects from enemy reserves, military-industrial facilities, administrative and political centers, energy objects and hydraulic structures, naval bases and ports, command posts of formations of the armed forces and operational air defense control centers in the theater of operations, land communications facilities, landing units and convoys; mining from the air. Part of the DA forces may be involved in conducting aerial reconnaissance and performing special tasks.

Long-range aviation is a component of strategic nuclear forces.

DA formations and units are based taking into account its operational-strategic purpose and tasks from Novgorod in the west of the country to Anadyr and Ussuriysk in the east, from Tiksi in the north to Blagoveshchensk in the south of the country.

The basis of the aircraft fleet is made up of Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers, Tu-22M3 long-range missile carrier-bombers, Il-78 tanker aircraft and Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft.

The main armament of the aircraft: long-range aviation cruise missiles and operational-tactical missiles in nuclear and conventional equipment, as well as aviation bombs of various purposes and calibers.

A practical demonstration of the spatial indicators of the combat capabilities of the DA command is air patrol flights of Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft in the area of ​​the island of Iceland and the waters of the Norwegian Sea; to the North Pole and to the area of ​​the Aleutian Islands; along the east coast of South America.

Regardless of the organizational structure in which long-range aviation exists and will exist, the combat strength, the characteristics of the aircraft and weapons in service, the main task of long-range aviation on the scale of the Air Force should be considered both nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence of potential adversaries. In the event of a war, the DA will carry out tasks to reduce the military and economic potential of the enemy, destroy important military facilities, and disrupt state and military control.

An analysis of modern views on the purpose of the aircraft, the tasks assigned to it, and the predicted conditions for their fulfillment show that, at present and in the future, long-range aviation continues to be the main strike force of the Air Force.

The main directions of development of long-range aviation:

• maintaining and building up operational capabilities to fulfill the assigned tasks as part of the strategic deterrence forces and general-purpose forces through the modernization of Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22MZ bombers with service life extension;
• creation of a promising long-range aviation complex (PAK DA).

Military transport aviation (VTA) is a means of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is designed to solve strategic (operational-strategic), operational and operational-tactical tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

The military transport aircraft Il-76MD, An-26, An-22, An-124, An-12PP, transport helicopters Mi-8MTV are in service with the formations and units of the VTA. The main tasks of formations and units of the VTA are: landing of units (subunits) of the Airborne Troops from the composition of operational (operational-tactical) airborne assault forces; delivery of weapons, ammunition and materiel to troops operating behind enemy lines; ensuring the maneuver of aviation formations and units; transportation of troops, weapons, ammunition and materiel; evacuation of the wounded and sick, participation in peacekeeping operations. Includes air bases, units and subunits of special forces.

Part of the VTA forces may be involved in the performance of special tasks.

The main directions for the development of military transport aviation: maintaining and building up the capabilities to ensure the deployment of the Armed Forces in various theaters of operations, airborne landings, transportation of troops and materiel by air through the purchase of new Il-76MD-90A and An-70, Il-112V aircraft and modernization of the Il-76 MD and An-124 aircraft.

Operational-tactical aviation designed to solve operational (operational-tactical) and tactical tasks in operations (combat actions) of groupings of troops (forces) in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

Army Aviation (AA) designed to solve operational-tactical and tactical tasks in the course of army operations (combat actions).

Bomber Aviation (BA) armed with strategic, long-range and operational-tactical bombers, is the main strike weapon of the Air Force and is designed to destroy enemy groupings of troops, aviation, naval forces, destroy its important military, military-industrial, energy facilities, communication centers, conduct air reconnaissance and mining from the air, mainly in the strategic and operational depths.

Assault Aviation (ShA), armed with attack aircraft, is a means of aviation support for troops (forces) and is designed to destroy troops, ground (sea) objects, as well as enemy aircraft (helicopters) at airfields (sites) based, conducting aerial reconnaissance and mining from the air mainly at the forefront, in tactical and operational-tactical depth.

Fighter Aviation (IA), armed with fighter planes, is designed to destroy enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the air and ground (sea) targets of the enemy.

Reconnaissance aviation (RzA), armed with reconnaissance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, is designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance of objects, the enemy, terrain, weather, air and ground radiation and chemical conditions.

Transport aviation (TrA), being armed with transport aircraft, is intended for landing airborne assaults, transporting troops, weapons, military and special equipment and other materiel by air, ensuring maneuver and combat operations of troops (forces), and performing special tasks.

Formations, units, subunits of bomber, attack, fighter, reconnaissance and transport aviation can also be involved in solving other tasks.

Special Aviation (SpA), armed with aircraft and helicopters, is designed to perform special tasks. Special aviation units and subunits are directly or operationally subordinate to the commander of an Air Force formation and are involved in: conducting radar reconnaissance and guiding aviation to air and ground (sea) targets; setting of electronic interference and aerosol curtains; search and rescue of flight crews and passengers; refueling aircraft in the air; evacuation of the wounded and sick; providing management and communications; conducting aerial radiation, chemical, biological, engineering reconnaissance and performing other tasks.

The modern Air Force of the Russian Federation is traditionally the most mobile and maneuverable branch of the Armed Forces. The equipment and other means in service with the Air Force are intended, first of all, to repel aggression in the aerospace sphere and protect the administrative and industrial and economic centers of the country, groupings of troops and important objects from enemy attacks; to ensure the actions of the Ground Forces and the Navy; strikes against enemy groupings in the sky, on land and at sea, as well as against its administrative-political and military-economic centers.

The existing Air Forces, in terms of their organizational and staffing structure, date back to 2008, when the country began to form a new look for the Russian Armed Forces. Then the Air Force and Air Defense Commands were formed, subordinate to the newly created operational-strategic commands: Western, Southern, Central and Eastern. The Air Force High Command was assigned the tasks of planning and organizing combat training, the long-term development of the Air Force, as well as training the leadership of the control bodies. In 2009-2010, a transition was made to a two-level air force command and control system, as a result of which the number of formations was reduced from 8 to 6, and air defense formations were reorganized into 11 aerospace defense brigades. Air regiments were consolidated into air bases with a total of about 70, including 25 air bases for tactical (front-line) aviation, of which 14 are purely fighter.

In 2014, the reform of the Air Force structure continued: the air defense forces and assets were concentrated in air defense divisions, and the formation of aviation divisions and regiments began in aviation. An air force and air defense army is being created as part of the joint strategic command "North".

The most fundamental transformation is expected in 2015: the creation of a new type - the Aerospace Forces based on the integration of the forces and means of the Air Force (aviation and air defense) and the Aerospace Defense Forces (space forces, air defense and missile defense).

Simultaneously with the reorganization, an active renewal of the aircraft fleet is taking place. The planes and helicopters of previous generations were replaced by their new modifications, as well as promising machines with wider combat capabilities and flight performance. Current development work was continued and new development work was started on advanced aviation systems. Active development of unmanned aircraft began.

The modern air fleet of the Russian Air Force is second only to the US Air Force in its numbers. True, its exact quantitative composition has not been officially published, but on the basis of open sources, quite adequate calculations can be made. As for the renewal of the fleet, according to the representative of the press service and information department of the Russian Ministry of Defense for the Air Force. Klimov, the Russian Air Force in 2015 alone, in accordance with the state defense order, will receive more than 150 new aircraft and helicopters. These include the latest aircraft Su-30SM, Su-30M2, MiG-29 SMT, Su-34, Su-35S, Yak-130, Il-76MD-90A, as well as helicopters Ka-52, Mi -28 N, Mi-8 AMTSh/MTV-5-1, Mi-8 MTPR, Mi-35 M, Mi-26, Ka-226 and Ansat-U. It is also known from the words of the former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Colonel-General A. Zelin, that as of November 2010, the total number of Air Force personnel was about 170 thousand people (including 40 thousand officers).

All aviation of the Russian Air Force as a branch of service is divided into:

• Long-range (strategic) aviation,
• Operational-tactical (front-line) aviation,
• military transport aviation,
• Army aviation.

In addition, the Air Force includes such types of troops as anti-aircraft missile troops, radio engineering troops, special troops, as well as rear units and institutions (all of them will not be considered in this material).

In turn, aviation by birth is divided into:

• bomber aircraft,
• assault aircraft,
• fighter aircraft,
• reconnaissance aircraft,
• transport aviation,
• special aviation.

Further, all types of aircraft in the Air Force of the Russian Federation, as well as promising machines, are considered. The first part of the article covers long-range (strategic) and operational-tactical (front-line) aviation, the second part - military transport, reconnaissance, special and army aviation.

Long-range (strategic) aviation

Long-range aviation is the means of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Russia and is designed to solve strategic, operational-strategic and operational tasks in theaters of military operations (strategic directions). Long-range aviation is also a component of the triad of strategic nuclear forces.

The main tasks performed in peacetime are deterrence (including nuclear) of potential adversaries; in the event of a war - the maximum reduction in the military-economic potential of the enemy by destroying his important military facilities and violating state and military control.

The main promising areas for the development of long-range aviation are the maintenance and enhancement of operational capabilities to fulfill the assigned tasks as part of the strategic deterrence forces and general-purpose forces through the modernization of aircraft with the extension of their service life, the purchase of new aircraft (Tu-160 M), as well as the creation of a promising long-range aviation complex PAK-DA.

The main weapons of long-range aircraft are guided missiles, both in nuclear and conventional equipment:

• Kh-55SM long-range strategic cruise missiles;
• aeroballistic hypersonic missiles X-15 C;
• operational-tactical cruise missiles X-22.

As well as free-falling bombs of various calibers, including those in nuclear weapons, one-time bomb clusters, and sea mines.

In the future, it is planned to introduce high-precision cruise missiles of the new generation X-555 and X-101 with a significantly increased range and accuracy into the armament of long-range aviation aircraft.

The basis of the modern fleet of long-range aviation of the Russian Air Force is bombers-missile carriers:

• strategic missile carriers Tu-160-16 units. Until 2020, it is possible to supply about 50 modernized Tu-160 M2 machines.
• Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers - 38 units, and about 60 more are in storage. Since 2013, these aircraft have been upgraded to the level of Tu-95 MSM in order to extend their service life.
• Tu-22M3 long-range missile bombers - about 40 units, and another 109 in reserve. Since 2012, 30 aircraft have been upgraded to the level of Tu-22 M3 M.

The long-range aviation also includes Il-78 tanker aircraft and Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft.

Tu‑160

Work on a new multi-mode strategic intercontinental bomber began in the USSR in 1967. Having tried a variety of layout options, the designers eventually came up with the design of an integral low-wing wing with variable sweep with four engines installed in pairs in engine nacelles under the fuselage.

In 1984, the Tu-160 was put into mass production at the Kazan Aviation Plant. At the time of the collapse of the USSR, 35 aircraft were produced (of which 8 prototypes), by 1994, KAPO transferred six more Tu-160 bombers to the Russian Air Force, which were stationed near Engels in the Saratov region. In 2009, 3 new aircraft were built and put into service, by 2015 their number is 16 units.

In 2002, the Ministry of Defense entered into an agreement with KAPO for the modernization of the Tu-160 in order to gradually repair and modernize all bombers of this type in service. According to the latest data, by 2020, 10 Tu-160M ​​modification aircraft will be put into service with the Russian Air Force. conventional bomb weapons. In view of the need to replenish the fleet of long-range aviation in April 2015, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu instructed to consider the issue of resuming the production of Tu-160 M. In May of the same year, Supreme Commander V. V. Putin officially instructed to resume production of improved Tu-160 M2.

Tu‑95MS

The creation of the aircraft was started by the design bureau headed by Andrey Tupolev in the distant 1950s. At the end of 1951, the developed project was approved, and then the layout built by that time was approved and approved. The construction of the first two aircraft began at the Moscow Aviation Plant No. 156, and already in the fall of 1952, the prototype made its first flight.

In 1956, the aircraft, which received the official designation Tu-95, began to arrive in the long-range aviation unit. Subsequently, various modifications were developed, including carriers of anti-ship missiles.

In the late 1970s, a completely new modification of the bomber was created, which received the designation Tu-95MS. The new aircraft in 1981 was put into serial production at the Kuibyshev Aviation Plant, which continued until 1992 (about 100 aircraft were produced).

Now, the 37th Air Army of Strategic Aviation has been formed as part of the Air Force of the Russian Federation, consisting of two divisions, which includes two regiments on the Tu-95 MS-16 (Amur and Saratov regions) - a total of 38 aircraft. About 60 more units are in storage.

Due to the obsolescence of equipment, since 2013, the modernization of aircraft in service to the level of Tu-95 MSM began, the service life of which will last until 2025. They will be equipped with new electronics, a sighting and navigation system, a satellite navigation system, and it will be possible to carry new Kh-101 strategic cruise missiles.

Tu‑22M3

The Tu-22 M3 long-range supersonic bomber with variable wing geometry is designed to conduct combat operations in the operational zones of land and sea theaters of war day and night in simple and adverse weather conditions. It is capable of delivering Kh-22 cruise missile strikes against naval targets, Kh-15 supersonic aeroballistic missiles against land targets, as well as precision bombing. Named "Backfire" in the west.

In total, 268 Tu-22 M3 bombers were built at the Kazan Aviation Production Association until 1993.

Currently, about 40 Tu-22M3 units are in service, and another 109 are in reserve. By 2020, it is planned to upgrade about 30 vehicles at KAPO to the level of Tu-22 M3 M (the modification was put into service in 2014). They will install new electronics, expand the range of weapons through the introduction of the latest precision-guided munitions, and extend their service life to 40 years.

Promising developments

PAK YES

In 2008, R&D funding was opened in Russia to create a promising long-range aviation complex PAK DA. The program provides for the development of a fifth-generation long-range bomber to replace aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force. The fact that the Russian Air Force formulated the tactical and technical requirements for the PAK DA program and preparations for the participation of design bureaus in the development competition was announced back in 2007. According to I. Shevchuk, Director General of JSC Tupolev, the contract under the PAK DA program was won by Tupolev Design Bureau. In 2011, it was reported that a preliminary design of the avionics integration complex of a promising complex had been developed, and the long-range aviation command of the Russian Air Force issued a tactical and technical assignment for the creation of a promising bomber. It was announced plans to build 100 vehicles, which they expect to be put into service before 2027.

Most likely, advanced hypersonic missiles, long-range cruise missiles of the Kh-101 type, short-range precision missiles and guided bombs, as well as free-fall bombs, will most likely be used as weapons. It was stated that some of the missiles had already been developed by the Tactical Missiles Corporation. It is possible that the aircraft will also be used as an air carrier for an operational-strategic reconnaissance and strike complex. It is possible that for self-defense, in addition to the electronic warfare complex, the bomber will be armed with air-to-air missiles.

Operational-tactical (front-line) aviation

Operational-tactical (front-line) aviation is designed to solve operational, operational-tactical and tactical tasks in operations (combat actions) of groupings of troops (forces) in theaters of military operations (strategic directions).

Bomber aviation, which is part of front-line aviation, is the main strike weapon of the Air Force, mainly in operational and operational-tactical depths.

Assault aviation is intended primarily for aviation support of troops, destruction of manpower and objects mainly on the front line, in the tactical and immediate operational depth of the enemy. In addition, it can also fight enemy aircraft in the air.

The main promising areas for the development of bombers and attack aircraft of tactical aviation are maintaining and building up capabilities in the framework of solving operational, operational-tactical and tactical tasks during combat operations in theaters by supplying new ones (Su-34) and upgrading existing ones (Su-25SM ) aircraft.

Bombers and attack aircraft of front-line aviation are armed with air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles, various types of unguided missiles, aerial bombs, including corrected bombs, cluster bombs, and aircraft cannons.

Fighter aviation is represented by multi-role and front-line fighters, as well as fighter-interceptors. Its purpose is to destroy enemy aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the air, as well as ground and sea targets.

The task of air defense fighter aircraft is to cover the most important directions and individual objects from an enemy air attack by destroying his aircraft at maximum ranges with the help of interceptors. Air defense aviation is also armed with combat helicopters, special and transport aircraft and helicopters.

The main promising areas for the development of fighter aviation are maintaining and increasing the capabilities to fulfill the tasks set by modernizing existing aircraft, purchasing new aircraft (Su-30, Su-35), as well as creating a promising PAK-FA aviation complex, which has been tested since 2010 of the year and, possibly, a promising long-range interceptor.

The main weapons of fighter aviation are air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles of various ranges, as well as free-fall and corrected bombs, unguided rockets, cluster bombs, and aircraft guns. Advanced missile weapons are being developed.

The modern aircraft fleet of attack and front-line bomber aviation includes the following types of aircraft:

• attack aircraft Su-25-200 units, including Su-25UB, about 100 more are in storage. Despite the fact that these aircraft were put into service in the USSR, their combat potential, taking into account modernization, remains quite high. By 2020, it is planned to upgrade about 80 attack aircraft to the level of the Su-25SM.
• front-line bombers Su-24M - 21 units. These Soviet-made aircraft are already outdated and are being actively put out of action. In 2020, it is planned to dispose of all the Su-24M in service.
• fighter-bombers Su-34-69 units. The latest multi-purpose aircraft that replace obsolete Su-24M bombers in the units. The total number of ordered Su-34s is 124 units, which will go into service in the near future.

Su-25

Su-25 is an armored subsonic attack aircraft designed for close support of ground forces over the battlefield. It is capable of destroying point and area targets on the ground day and night under any weather conditions. We can say that this is the best aircraft of its class in the world, tested in real combat operations. In the army, the Su-25 received the unofficial nickname "Rook", in the west - the designation "Frogfoot".

Serial production was carried out at aircraft factories in Tbilisi and Ulan-Ude (1320 aircraft of all modifications were produced for the entire time, including for export).

The vehicles were produced in various modifications, including the combat training Su-25UB and the carrier-based Su-25UTD for the Navy. Currently, the Russian Air Force has about 200 Su-25 aircraft of various modifications, which are in service with 6 combat and several training aviation regiments. About 100 more old cars are in storage.

In 2009, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the resumption of purchases of Su-25 attack aircraft for the Air Force. At the same time, a program was adopted to upgrade 80 vehicles to the level of the Su-25SM. The latest electronics are installed on them, including the sighting system, multifunctional indicators, new electronic warfare equipment, and the Spear outboard radar. The new Su-25UBM aircraft, which will have equipment similar to the Su-25 SM, has been adopted as a combat training aircraft.

Su-24M

The Su-24M variable-sweep wing front-line bomber is designed to deliver missile and bomb strikes in the operational and operational-tactical depths of the enemy day and night in simple and adverse weather conditions, including at low altitudes, with targeted destruction of ground and surface targets with guided and unguided munitions. In the west received the designation "Fencer"

Serial production was carried out at NAPO named after Chkalov in Novosibirsk (with the participation of KNAAPO) until 1993, about 1200 machines of various modifications were built, including for export.

At the turn of the century, due to the obsolescence of aviation equipment in Russia, a program was launched to modernize front-line bombers to the level of the Su-24 M2. In 2007, the first two Su-24 M2s were transferred to the Lipetsk Combat Operations Center. The delivery of other vehicles to the Russian Air Force was completed in 2009.

Currently, the Russian Air Force has 21 Su-24M aircraft of several modifications, but as the newest Su-34s and Su-24s enter service, they are removed from service and disposed of (by 2015, 103 aircraft were disposed of). By 2020, they should be completely withdrawn from the Air Force.

Su-34

The Su-34 multifunctional fighter-bomber is the latest aircraft of this class in the Russian Air Force and belongs to the 4+ generation of aircraft. At the same time, it is positioned as a front-line bomber, as it should replace obsolete Su-24M aircraft in the troops. It is intended for delivering high-precision missile and bomb strikes, including using nuclear weapons, against ground (surface) targets at any time of the day in any weather conditions . In the west it has the designation "Fullback".

By the middle of 2015, 69 Su-34 aircraft (including 8 prototypes) out of 124 ordered were delivered to combat units.

In the future, the Russian Air Force plans to supply approximately 150-200 new aircraft and by 2020 completely replace the obsolete Su-24s with them. Thus, now the Su-34 is the main strike aircraft of our Air Force, capable of using the entire range of high-precision air-to-surface weapons.

The modern aircraft fleet of fighter aviation consists of the following types of aircraft:

• MiG-29 front-line fighters of various modifications - 184 units. In addition to modifications of the MiG-29 S, MiG-29 M and MiG-29UB, the latest versions of the MiG-29 SMT and MiG-29UBT were put into service (28 and 6 units as of 2013). At the same time, there are no plans to upgrade old-built aircraft. On the basis of the MiG-29, a promising multi-role fighter MiG-35 was created, but the signing of a contract for its production was postponed in favor of the MiG-29 SMT.
• Su-27 front-line fighters of various modifications - 360 units, including 52 Su-27UB. Since 2010, there has been a re-equipment with new modifications of the Su-27SM and Su-27SM3, of which 82 units have been delivered.
• Su-35 S front-line fighters - 34 units. According to the contract, by 2015 it is planned to complete the delivery of a series of 48 aircraft of this type.
• Su-30 multirole fighters of various modifications - 51 units, including 16 Su-30 M2 and 32 Su-30 SM. At the same time, the delivery of the second series of Su-30SM is currently underway, until 2016 30 units should be delivered.
• fighter-interceptors MiG-31 of several modifications - 252 units. It is known that since 2014 the MiG-31BS aircraft have been upgraded to the MiG-31 BSM level, another 60 MiG-31 B aircraft are planned to be upgraded to the MiG-31 BM level by 2020.

MiG‑29

The fourth-generation light front-line fighter MiG-29 was developed back in the USSR and has been mass-produced since 1983. In fact, it was one of the best fighters of its class in the world and, having a very successful design, was repeatedly modernized and, in the form of the latest modifications in the Russian Air Force, entered the 21st century as a multi-purpose one. It was originally intended to gain air superiority at tactical depth. Known in the west as "Fulcrum".

By the time of the collapse of the USSR, factories in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod had produced about 1,400 vehicles of various options. Now the MiG-29 in various versions is in service with the armies of more than two dozen countries of the near and far abroad, where he managed to take part in local wars and armed conflicts.

Now the Russian Air Force is armed with 184 MiG-29 fighters of the following modifications:

• MiG-29 S - had an increased combat load compared to the MiG-29, was equipped with new weapons;
• MiG-29M - a multi-role fighter of the "4+" generation, had an increased range and combat load, was equipped with new weapons;
• MiG-29UB - two-seat combat training version without radar;
• MiG-29 SMT is the latest upgraded version with the ability to use high-precision air-to-surface weapons, increased flight range, the latest electronics (first flight in 1997, put into service in 2004, 28 units were delivered by 2013), weapons are placed on six underwing and one ventral external suspension units, there is a built-in 30 mm gun;
• MiG-29UBT - combat training version of the MiG-29 SMT (supplied 6 units).

For the most part, all MiG-29 aircraft of the old production were physically obsolete and it was decided not to repair or modernize them, but to purchase new equipment instead - MiG-29 SMT (in 2014 a contract was signed for the supply of 16 aircraft) and MiG-29UBT, and also promising MiG-35 fighters.

MiG‑35

The new Russian multirole fighter of the 4++ generation MiG-35 is a deep modernization of the MiG-29M series aircraft developed by the MiG Design Bureau. By design, it is maximally unified with early production aircraft, but at the same time it has an increased combat load and flight range, reduced radar visibility, is equipped with an active phased array radar, the latest electronics, an on-board electronic warfare system, has an open avionics architecture, and the ability to refuel in the air. The two-seat modification is designated MiG‑35 D.

The MiG-35 is designed to gain air supremacy and intercept enemy air attack assets, strike ground (surface) targets with high-precision weapons without entering the air defense zone day and night in any weather conditions, as well as conduct aerial reconnaissance using airborne assets.

The issue of equipping the Russian Air Force with MiG-35 aircraft remains open until the contract with the Ministry of Defense is signed.

Su-27

The Su-27 front-line fighter is a fourth-generation aircraft developed in the USSR at the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the early 1980s. It was intended to gain air superiority and was at one time one of the best fighters in its class. The latest modifications of the Su-27 continue to be in service with the Russian Air Force, in addition, as a result of the deep modernization of the Su-27, new types of 4+ generation fighters have been developed. Along with the light front-line fighter of the fourth generation, the MiG-29 was one of the best aircraft in its class in the world. According to Western classification, it has the name "Flanker".

At present, the Air Force combat units include 226 Su-27 and 52 Su-27UB fighters of the old production. Since 2010, the rearmament to the upgraded version of the Su-27SM began (first flight in 2002). Now 70 such machines have been delivered to the troops. In addition, fighters of the Su-27SM3 modification (12 units were produced) are supplied, which differ from the previous version in the AL-31 F-M1 engines (afterburner thrust 13,500 kgf), a reinforced airframe structure and additional weapon suspension points.

Su-30

The heavy two-seat multi-role fighter Su-30 of the 4+ generation was created at the Sukhoi Design Bureau on the basis of the Su-27UB combat training aircraft through a deep modernization. The main purpose is to control group combat operations of fighters in solving the tasks of gaining air supremacy, to ensure the combat operations of other branches of aviation, to cover ground troops and objects, to destroy airborne assault forces, as well as to conduct aerial reconnaissance and destroy ground (surface) targets. The features of the Su-30 were the long range and duration of flights and the effective control of a group of fighters. The aircraft's western designation is "Flanker-C".

The Russian Air Force currently has 3 Su-30s, 16 Su-30 M2s (all manufactured by KNAAPO) and 32 Su-30 SMs (manufactured by the Irkut plant). The last two modifications are supplied in accordance with contracts dated 2012, when two batches of 30 Su-30SM units (until 2016) and 16 Su-30M2 units were ordered.

Su-35

The Su-35 multipurpose super-maneuverable fighter belongs to the 4++ generation and is equipped with thrust vector control engines. Developed at the Sukhoi Design Bureau, this aircraft is close in its characteristics to fifth-generation fighters. The Su-35 is designed to gain air supremacy and intercept enemy air attack weapons, strike ground (surface) targets with precision weapons without entering the air defense zone day and night in all weather conditions.

conditions, as well as conducting aerial reconnaissance using airborne means. In the west, it has the designation "Flanker-E +".

In 2009, a contract was signed to supply the Russian Air Force with 48 of the latest production Su-35C fighters in the period 2012-2015, of which 34 units are already in service. It is planned to conclude another contract for the supply of these aircraft in 2015-2020.

MiG‑31

The MiG-31 long-range supersonic all-weather fighter-interceptor was developed in the USSR at the Mikoyan Design Bureau in the 1970s. At that time it was the first aircraft of the fourth generation. It was designed to intercept and destroy air targets at all altitudes - from the lowest to the highest, day and night, in any weather conditions, in a difficult jamming environment. In fact, the main task of the MiG-31 was to intercept cruise missiles in the entire range of altitudes and speeds, as well as low-flying satellites. The fastest combat aircraft. The modern MiG-31 BM has an airborne radar with unique characteristics not yet available to other foreign aircraft. According to Western classification, it has the designation "Foxhound".

The MiG-31 fighter-interceptors (252 units) now in service with the Russian Air Force have several modifications:

• MiG-31 B - serial modification with aerial refueling system (put into service in 1990)
• MiG-31 BS is a variant of the basic MiG-31, upgraded to the level of the MiG-31 B, but without aerial refueling.
• The MiG-31 BM is a modernized version with the Zaslon-M radar (developed in 1998), which has a range increased to 320 km, equipped with the latest electronic systems, including satellite navigation, capable of using air-to-surface guided missiles. Until 2020, it is planned to upgrade 60 MiG-31Bs to the level of the MiG-31BM. The second stage of state testing of the aircraft was completed in 2012.
• MiG‑31 BSM is an upgraded version of the MiG‑31 BS with the Zaslon-M radar and related electronics. Modernization of combat aircraft has been underway since 2014.

Thus, the Russian Air Force will have 60 MiG-31 BM and 30-40 MiG-31 BSM aircraft in service, and approximately 150 older aircraft will be decommissioned. It is possible that in the future there will be a new interceptor, known under the code name MiG-41.

Promising developments

PAK-FA

A promising front-line aviation complex - PAK FA - includes a fifth-generation multi-role fighter developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau under the designation T-50. In terms of the totality of characteristics, it will have to surpass all foreign counterparts and in the near future, after being put into service, it will become the main aircraft of the front-line fighter aviation of the Russian Air Force.

PAK FA is designed to gain air supremacy and intercept enemy air attack weapons in all altitude ranges, as well as strike ground (surface) targets with high-precision weapons without entering the air defense zone day and night in any weather conditions, can be used for air reconnaissance using onboard equipment. The aircraft fully meets all the requirements for fifth-generation fighters: stealth, supersonic cruising speed, high maneuverability with high g-forces, advanced electronics, multifunctionality.

According to plans, serial production of the T-50 aircraft for the Russian Air Force should begin in 2016, and by 2020 the first aviation units equipped with it will appear in Russia. It is also known that production for export is also possible. In particular, an export modification is being created jointly with India, which received the designation FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft).

PAK-DP (MiG‑41)

Some sources report that at present, the MiG Design Bureau, together with the Design Bureau of the Sokol aircraft plant (Nizhny Novgorod), are developing a long-range high-speed fighter-interceptor with the code name "promising long-range interception aviation complex" - PAK DP, also known as the MiG-41. It was stated that the development was started in 2013 on the basis of the MiG-31 fighter by order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Perhaps this refers to the deep modernization of the MiG-31, which was worked out earlier, but was not implemented. It was also reported that a promising interceptor is planned to be developed as part of the arms program until 2020 and put into service until 2028.

In 2014, information appeared in the media that the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, V. Bondarev, said that now only research work is underway, and in 2017 it is planned to begin development work to create a promising long-range interception aviation complex.

(continued in the next issue)

Summary table of the quantitative composition of aircraft
Air Force of the Russian Federation (2014–2015)*