View source for Russian Air Force

{{Short description|Branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Russian Air Force
| native_name = {{lang|ru|Военно-воздушные силы России}}<br />{{Transliteration|ru|Voenno-vozdushnye sily Rossii}}
| image = Great emblem of the Russian Air Force.svg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Emblem of the VVS
| start_date = 1912<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/russia/2012/08/120803_russian_airforce_anno|title=100 лет ВВС России: взлет или упадок?|website=[[BBC News]] Russian|date=3 August 2012}}</ref><br />1992 (current form)
| country = [[Russia]]
| branch = 
| type = [[Air Force]]
| role = [[Aerial Warfare]]
| size = 
| command_structure = {{air force|Russia|aerospace forces}}
| garrison = [[Arbat District]], Moscow
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| nickname = 
| patron = 
| motto = 
| colours = 
| colours_label = 
| march = "[[Air March]]"
| mascot = 
| anniversaries = 12 August
| equipment = 
| equipment_label = 
| battles = {{bulletedlist|[[South Ossetia war (1991–1992)]]|[[War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)]]|[[First Chechen War]]|[[War of Dagestan]]|[[1999 East Timorese crisis]]|[[Second Chechen War]]|[[Russo-Georgian War]]|[[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Annexation of Crimea]]|[[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War|Syrian Civil War]]|[[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]}}
| decorations = 
| battle_honours = 
| battle_honours_label = 
| flying_hours = 
| website = {{Official URL}}
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1 = {{Flagicon image|Standard of the President of the Russian Federation.svg|size=20px}} [[President of Russia|President]] [[Vladimir Putin]]
| commander1_label = Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces
| commander2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Russia's Commander of the Aerospace Forces.svg|size=20px}} [[Colonel general]] [[Viktor Afzalov]]
| commander2_label = [[Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces]]
| commander3 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Russia's Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.svg|size=20px}} [[Lieutenant general]] [[Sergey Kobylash]]
| commander3_label = [[Commander of the Russian Air Force]]
| notable_commanders = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = [[File:Flag of the Russian Air Force.svg|150px]]
| identification_symbol_label = Flag
| identification_symbol_2 = [[File:Roundel of Russia.svg|70px]]
| identification_symbol_4 = [[File:Patch of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg|150px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = [[Military aircraft insignia|Roundel]]
| identification_symbol_3 = [[File:Roundel of Russia (1991–2010).svg|70px]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = Roundel (1992–2010)
| identification_symbol_4_label = Patch
| identification_symbol_5 = [[File:Middle emblem of the Russian Air Forces.svg|150px]]
| identification_symbol_5_label = Middle emblem
| identification_symbol_6 = [[File:Малая эмблема Военно-воздушных сил России.png|150px]]
| identification_symbol_6_label = Insignia
<!-- Aircraft -->| aircraft_attack = [[Su-24M]], [[Su-25#Su-25SM|Su-25SM]], [[Su-34]]
| aircraft_bomber = [[MiG-31#Variants|MiG-31K]], [[Tu-22M3]], [[Tu-95]], [[Tu-160]]
| aircraft_electronic = [[Beriev A-50|A-50/A-50U]], [[Ilyushin Il-18V|Il-22PP]], [[Il-80]]
| aircraft_fighter = [[MiG-29]], [[MiG-35]], [[Su-27]], [[Su-30]], [[Su-35]], [[Su-57]]
| aircraft_helicopter = [[Ka-60]], [[Ka-226]], [[Mi-8]], [[Mi-17]], [[Mi-26]], [[Mi-38]]
| aircraft_helicopter_attack = [[Mi-24|Mi-24/Mi-35M]], [[Mil Mi-28#Variants|Mi-28N]], [[Ka-50]], [[Kamov Ka-50#Ka-52 "Alligator"|Ka-52]]
| aircraft_helicopter_cargo = 
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole = 
| aircraft_helicopter_observation = 
| aircraft_helicopter_trainer = 
| aircraft_helicopter_utility = 
| aircraft_interceptor = [[MiG-31]]
| aircraft_patrol = 
| aircraft_recon = 
| aircraft_trainer = [[Diamond DA42|DA42]], [[L-39 Albatros]], [[Yak-130]], [[Kazan Ansat|Ansat]]
| aircraft_transport = [[Il-76]], [[Il-86]], [[Il-112]], [[An-22]], [[An-26]], [[An-124]], [[An-140]], [[An-148]]
| aircraft_tanker = [[Il-78]]
| aircraft_general = 
}}

The '''Russian Air Force''' ({{langx|ru|Военно-воздушные силы России, ВВС|Voenno-vozdushnye sily Rossii, '''VVS'''}}) is a branch of the [[Russian Aerospace Forces]], which was formed on 1 August 2015, with the merging of the Russian Air Force and the [[Russian Aerospace Defence Forces]].<ref name="Janes2015"/> After the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], the reborn Russian armed forces began to be created on 7 May 1992 following [[Boris Yeltsin]]'s creation of the [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|Ministry of Defence]]. However, the Russian Federation's air force can trace its lineage and traditions back to the [[Imperial Russian Air Service]] (1912–1917) and the [[Soviet Air Forces]] (1918–1991).<ref name="Janes2015"/>

== History ==
The Russian Air Force, officially established on 12 August 1912, as part of the [[Imperial Russian Air Service]], has a long and complex history. It began as one of the earliest military aviation units globally, although its early years saw slow development due to the constraints of [[World War I]]. After the [[Russian Revolution|Russian Revolution of 1917]], the air service was reorganised under the Soviet regime, evolving into the [[Red Air Fleet]] in 1918, which later became part of the [[Soviet Air Forces]] (VVS).{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

=== Early development and Soviet era ===


After the war, the Soviet Air Force focused on modernising its fleet, developing jet fighters like the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15]], which became famous during the [[Korean War]]. Throughout the [[Cold War]], the Soviet Air Force was a pivotal part of the [[Soviet Union|USSR]]’s military strategy, with long-range bombers like the [[Tupolev Tu-95|Tu-95]] and advanced fighters such as the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]] and [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]] becoming iconic symbols of Soviet air power.<ref>{{Citation |last=O’Neill |first=Mark |title=The Soviet Air Force, 1917–1991 |date=2002 |work=The Military History of the Soviet Union |pages=153–168 |editor-last=Higham |editor-first=Robin |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-137-12029-8_10 |access-date=29 September 2024 |place=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-137-12029-8_10 |isbn=978-1-137-12029-8 |editor2-last=Kagan |editor2-first=Frederick W.|url-access=subscription }}</ref>{{Further|Imperial Russian Air Service|
Soviet Air Forces}}
{{Air Forces of Russia and the Soviet Union}}
{{Russian military}}

===1991–2000===

In 1993 and 1994 Deynekin announced that a Frontal Aviation Command (Moscow, under General-lieutenant of Aviation Nikolay Antoshkin) and a Reserves and Cadres Training Command (Samara, under Colonel-General Leonid Stepanyuk) were to be established.<ref>JPRS Report, Central Eurasia, Military Affairs, JPRS-UMA-95-015, 5 April 1995, p. 103, 106.</ref> But little more was heard of these commands.

During the 1990s, the financial stringency was felt throughout the armed forces made its mark on the VVS as well.<ref>Austin & Muraviev, The Armed Forces of Russia in Asia, Tauris, 2000, p.235</ref> Pilots and other personnel could sometimes not get their wages for months, and on occasion resorted to desperate measures: four [[Mikoyan MiG-31|MiG-31]] pilots at [[Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport|Yelizovo]] in the Far East went on hunger strike in 1996 to demand back pay which was several months overdue, and the problem was only resolved by diverting unit money intended for other tasks.<ref>Jeroen Brinkman, 'Russian Air Force in Turmoil,' [[Air Forces Monthly]], No.105, December 1996, p.2, cited in Austin & Muraviev, 2000</ref> 

The former [[Soviet Air Defence Forces]] remained independent for several years under Russian control, only merging with the Air Forces in 1998. The decree merging the two forces was issued by President [[Boris Yeltsin]] on 16 July 1997. During 1998 altogether 580 units and formations were disbanded, 134 reorganised, and over 600 were given a new jurisdiction.<ref>General Heikki Nikunen, [http://www.sci.fi/~fta/ruaf-3-2.htm The Current State of the Russian Air Force] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015104503/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/ruaf-3-2.htm |date=15 October 2009 }}, last updated 2005</ref>

The number of servicemen in the Air Force was reduced to about 185,000 from the former combined number of 318,000. 123,500 positions were abolished, including almost 1,000 colonel positions. The resignation of 3000 other servicemen included 46 generals of which 15 were colonel generals. On 29 December 1998 Colonel General [[Anatoly Kornukov]], a former Air Defence Forces officer and new commander-in-chief of the merged force succeeding Deynekin, reported to the Russian defense minister that the task had 'in principle been achieved'.<ref>Piotr Butowski, 'Russia's new air force enters a tight maneuver,' Jane's Intelligence Review, May 1999, p.14</ref> 

===2001–2010===

In December 2003 the aviation assets of the [[Russian Ground Forces]]—mostly helicopters—were transferred to the VVS, following the shooting down of a [[Mil Mi-26|Mi-26]] helicopter in [[Chechnya]] on 19 August 2002 that claimed 19 lives. The former Army Aviation was in its previous form intended for the direct support of the Ground Forces, by providing their tactical air support, conducting tactical aerial reconnaissance, transporting airborne troops, providing fire support of their actions, [[electronic warfare]], setting of minefield barriers and other tasks. The former Army Aviation was subsequently managed by the Chief of the Department of Army Aviation.<ref>Piotr Butowski, 'Russia Rising,' [[Air Forces Monthly]], July 2007, p.83</ref> In 2010, it was announced that the 2003 decision to transfer Ground Force Aviation to the Air Force was reversed, with the transfer back to the Ground Forces to occur sometime in 2015 or 2016.<ref name="ReferenceA">Moscow Defense Brief #2, 2010 page 23</ref>

During the 2000s, the Air Force continued to suffer from a lack of resources for pilot training. In the 1990s Russian pilots achieved approximately 10% of the flight hours of the [[United States Air Force]]. The 2007 edition of the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] (IISS) Military Balance listed pilots of tactical aviation flying 20–25 hours a year, [[Military Transport Aviation|61st Air Army]] pilots (former Military Transport Aviation), 60 hours a year, and Army Aviation under VVS control 55 hours a year.<ref>Routledge/IISS, [[IISS]] Military Balance 2007, p.200</ref>

In 2007 the VVS resumed the Soviet-era practice of deploying its strategic bomber aircraft on long-range patrols. This ended a 15-year unilateral suspension due to fuel costs and other economic difficulties after the collapse of the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6950986.stm |title=BBC NEWS, ', Russia restarts Cold War', 17 August 2007, patrols |work=[[BBC News]] |date=17 August 2007 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813132932/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6950986.stm |archive-date=13 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Patrols towards the [[North Pole]], the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and the [[Pacific Ocean]] were reinstated, bringing the planes often close to [[NATO]] territory, including in one instance flying over the [[Irish Sea]] between the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7376336.stm |title=BBC NEWS, RAF intercepted Russian planes, 30 April 2008 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=30 April 2008 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203113132/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7376336.stm |archive-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[Russo-Georgian War|2008 South Ossetian War]], the VVS suffered losses of between four and seven aircraft due to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]n anti-aircraft fire. The [[2008 Russian military reform]]s were promptly announced following the war, which according to Western experts were intended to address many inadequacies discovered as a result. The reforms commenced in early 2009, in which air armies were succeeded by commands, and most air regiments became air bases.<ref>Warfare.ru, [http://warfare.be/?lang=&catid=239&linkid=2238&linkname=Air-Force:--structure Air Force: structure] accessed May 2009</ref> ''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'' confirmed that the reorganization would be completed by December 2009 and would see a 40 percent reduction in aircrew numbers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/RUSS121609.xml&headline=Russian%20Military%20Aircrew%20Numbers%20Tumble |title=Russian Military Aircrew Numbers Tumble |publisher=Aviationweek.com |date=16 December 2009 |access-date=1 June 2011 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In February 2009, the Russian newspaper [[Kommersant]] reported that 200 of the 291 MiG-29s currently in service across all Russian air arms were unsafe and would have to be permanently grounded.<ref>[[Reuters]].com, [https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5152J020090206?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews One-third Russian fighter jets old and unsafe: report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215140919/http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5152J020090206?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews |date=15 February 2009}} Friday, 6 February 2009 5:40&nbsp; am EST</ref> This action would remove from service about a third of Russia's total fighter force, some 650 aircraft. On 5 June 2009, the Chief of the General Staff, [[Nikolay Yegorovich Makarov|Nikolai Makarov]] said of the VVS that "They can run bombing missions only in the daytime with the sun shining, but they miss their targets anyway".<ref name="cdi.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2009-110-28.cfm |title=Russian Military Weakness Increases Importance of Strategic Nuclear Forces |publisher=Cdi.org |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=1 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828013919/http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2009-110-28.cfm |archive-date=28 August 2011}}</ref> Maj. Gen. [[Pavel Androsov]] said that Russia's long-range bombers would be upgraded in 2009 to be able to hit within 20 meters of their targets.<ref name="upi.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/01/05/Russia-upgrades-bomber-ALCM-force-for-21st-century/UPI-39951231177215/ |title=Russia upgrades bomber-ALCM force for 21st century |publisher=Upi.com |date=5 January 2009 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021222151/http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2009/01/05/Russia-upgrades-bomber-ALCM-force-for-21st-century/UPI-39951231177215/ |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Also in September 2009, it was reported that an East European network of the [[Joint CIS Air Defense System]] was to be set up by Russia and [[Belarus]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asbarez.com/70628/ex-soviet-states-to-set-up-joint-air-defense-networks/ |title=18 September 2009 |publisher=Asbarez.com |date=10 February 1995 |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723110014/http://asbarez.com/70628/ex-soviet-states-to-set-up-joint-air-defense-networks/ |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

By August 2010, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the VVS [[Alexander Zelin]], the average flight hours of a pilot in Russian tactical aviation had reached 80 hours a year, while in army aviation and military transport aviation, it exceeded 100 hours a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://echo.msk.ru/programs/voensovet/702931-echo/ |title=Радиостанция "Эхо Москвы" / Передачи / Военный совет / Суббота, 14.08.2010: Александр Зелин |publisher=Echo.msk.ru |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613231029/http://echo.msk.ru/programs/voensovet/702931-echo/ |archive-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===2011–2020===
According to the instructions of the [[General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation|General Staff of the Armed Forces]] on 1 September 2011, the unmanned aircraft of the VVS and the personnel operating them moved under the command structure of the [[Russian Ground Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Александр Зелин |url=http://www.aex.ru/fdocs/2/2012/2/14/20789/ |title=Aviation EXplorer: С-400 начнет защищать границы России в 2012 году |publisher=Aex.ru |access-date=9 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503222938/http://www.aex.ru/fdocs/2/2012/2/14/20789/ |archive-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As of 2012, the VVS operated a total of 61 air bases, including 26 air bases with tactical aircraft, of which 14 are equipped with fighter aircraft. In terms of flight hours, pilots in the [[Western Military District]] averaged 125 hours over the 2012 training year. Pilots from the Kursk air base achieved an average of 150 hours, with transport aviation averaging 170 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/25568/|title="Максимальный налет летчика в Западном военном округе превысил 215 часов в год " в блоге "Армия и Флот" – Сделано у нас|work=Сделано у нас|date=26 November 2012 |access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813104448/http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/25568/|archive-date=13 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2014, during the early periods of Russia's [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation of Crimea]], the assets of the VVS in the [[Southern Military District]] were activated and flown to the peninsula for supporting the rest of the operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/russia-crimea/|title=In Crimea, Russia signals military resolve with new and revamped bases|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

On 1 August 2015, the Russian Air Force, along with the [[Russian Aerospace Defence Forces]] and the Air Defense Troops, were merged into a new branch of the armed forces, now officially called the [[Russian Aerospace Forces]].<ref name="Janes2015"/>

On 30 September 2015, the VVS launched a [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War|military intervention in Syria]], in [[Syria]]'s [[Homs]] region.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/world/europe/putin-military-syria.html|title=Russians Strike Targets in Syria, but Not ISIS Areas|first1=Helene Cooper, Michael R.|last1=Gordon|first2=Neil|last2=Macfarquhar|date=30 September 2015|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> On 24 November 2015, during a bombing mission, a [[Turkish Air Force]] [[F-16]] [[2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown|shot down]] a Russian [[Sukhoi Su-24]] that [[Turkey]] claimed had violated its airspace.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.ibtimes.com/what-fencer-su-24-what-know-about-russian-plane-shot-down-turkey-2197848| title =What Is A Fencer Su-24? What To Know About The Russian Plane Shot Down By Turkey| work =International Business Times| author =Lydia Tomkiw| date =24 November 2015| access-date =24 November 2015| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151125070750/http://www.ibtimes.com/what-fencer-su-24-what-know-about-russian-plane-shot-down-turkey-2197848| archive-date =25 November 2015| url-status =live}}</ref><ref name=TurkishGeneralStaffPressRelease>{{cite web|author=Press release |title=Hava sahası İletim |url=http://www.tsk.tr/3_basin_yayin_faaliyetleri/3_1_basin_aciklamalari/2015/ba_97.html |language=tr |trans-title=Transmission of Airspace |work=[[General Staff of the Republic of Turkey#Chief of the General Staff|Turkish Armed Forces Chief of Staff]] |date=24 November 2015 |access-date=24 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124152949/http://www.tsk.tr/3_basin_yayin_faaliyetleri/3_1_basin_aciklamalari/2015/ba_97.html |archive-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

In March 2020, the [[Human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War#Russia|indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets]] by the VVS in Syria has been described as "amounting to war crime" by a [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] report.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Borger|first=Julian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/russia-committed-war-crimes-in-syria-finds-un-report|title=Russia committed war crimes in Syria, finds UN report|date=2 March 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=3 March 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On 9 November 2020, a Russian [[Mil Mi-24]] attack helicopter was [[2020 Russian Mil Mi-24 shootdown|shot down]] mistakenly by the [[Armed Forces of Azerbaijan|Azerbaijani Armed Forces]] during the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war]] killing 2 crew members and injuring 1 more. Days later, after the signing of the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement|ceasefire agreement]], Russian peacekeepers were deployed to [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] with aviation to patrol its borders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/azerbaijan-front-line/russia-deploying-peacekeeping-forces-to-karabakh/2037997|title=Russia deploying peacekeeping forces to Karabakh|publisher=anadolu agency|date=16 November 2020}}</ref>

===2021–present===
Modernization plans and programs carried out since the 2010s are being continued into 2021 as a part of Russia's State Armament Program for 2018–2027.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/outlook/2021/01/11/russia-analyst-what-are-the-kremlins-priorities-for-2021/|title=Russia analyst: What are the Kremlin's priorities for 2021?|publisher=defensenews|date=22 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ponarseurasia.org/memo/russias-military-modernization-plans-2018-2027|title=Russia's Military Modernization Plans: 2018–2027|publisher=ponarseurasia|date=22 February 2021}}</ref>

====VVS role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine====
{{see also|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine#Air and naval engagements}}
On 24 February 2022, the VVS was deployed in support of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]]. The VVS had reportedly deployed about 300 combat aircraft within range of Ukraine.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Bronk |first=Justin |date=28 February 2022 |title=The Mysterious Case of the Missing Russian Air Force |url=https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/mysterious-case-missing-russian-air-force/ |access-date=25 March 2022 |website=rusi.org |language=en}}</ref> 

On 25 February 2022, Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed several aircraft and set a Russian airbase on fire in the [[Millerovo air base attack]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lonas |first=Lexi |date=25 February 2022 |title=Ukrainian forces target Russian airfield near border: report |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/russia/595815-ukrainian-forces-target-russian-airfield-near-border-report |access-date=27 March 2022 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |language=en}}</ref>

On 13 March 2022, Russian forces launched [[cruise missile]] attacks on [[Yavoriv military base attack|Yavoriv military base]] near the Polish border.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}}

As of 20 March 2022, it was claimed that VVS carried out at least 1403 airstrikes on [[Ukraine]] since the beginning of the invasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://defence-blog.com/russia-carries-out-1403-airstrikes-in-ukraine-since-start-of-invasion/|title=Russia carries out 1403 airstrikes in Ukraine since start of invasion|website=defence-blog.com|date=20 March 2022}}</ref>

The VVS has generally been noted by its relative absence from the invasion and has as of 25 March 2022 failed to subdue [[Ukrainian Ground Forces#Army Air Defence|Ukrainian air defenses]] or the [[Ukrainian Air Force]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vergun |first=David |date=21 March 2022 |title=Defense Official Says Ukrainians Continue Strong Resistance Against Russian Invaders |url=https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2973122/defense-official-says-ukrainians-continue-strong-resistance-against-russian-inv/ |access-date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[DoD]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> It has, as of 1 April 2022, also failed to achieve [[air supremacy]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lopez |first1=Todd C. |title=Defense Department Reports Airspace Above Ukraine Remains Contested |url=https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2957536/defense-department-reports-airspace-above-ukraine-remains-contested/ |publisher=[[DoD]] |access-date=25 March 2022 |date=7 March 2022}}</ref> Failure to achieve this has been attributed to the lack of [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|SEAD]] operations on the part of the VVS likely due to the lack of flying hours for Russian pilots as well as the lack of dedicated [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|SEAD]] units and [[precision-guided munition]]s within the VVS.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bronk |first1=Justin |title=Is the Russian Air Force Incapable of Complex Air Operations? |url=https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/rusi-defence-systems/russian-air-force-actually-incapable-complex-air-operations |website=[[RUSI]] |access-date=25 March 2022 |date=4 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |title=Russian Pilots Have No Choice But To Fly Straight Through Ukraine's Man-Portable Missiles |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/03/16/russian-pilots-have-no-choice-but-to-fly-straight-through-ukraines-man-portable-missiles/ |access-date=25 March 2022 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref> These weaknesses have been compounded by the mobility of Ukrainian air defenses with the extensive use of [[Man-portable air-defense system|MANPADS]] as well as [[NATO]] reportedly sharing [[Airborne early warning and control|early warning]] information with Ukrainian forces. According to the Ukrainian MoD, as of 16 March 2022, the VVS has also suffered at least 77 aircraft losses, however only 12 were verified by independent sources at the time.<ref name=":2" />

In the first six months of the campaign, Russia's air war was largely a failure. An [[United States Intelligence Community|American intelligence]] analyst said that less than 40% of the 2,154 missiles fired by Russia hit their targets, such as the [[Highway H33 (Ukraine)|Zatoka bridge]] which sustained over eight air attacks before being disabled. The VVS reportedly flew over 20,000 sorties in the war, fewer than 3,000 of which entered Ukrainian airspace, possibly due to fear of Ukraine's sustained air defense.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russias-air-war-ukraine-total-failure-new-data-show-1709388 | title=Exclusive: Russia's air war in Ukraine is a total failure, new data show | website=[[Newsweek]] | date=25 May 2022 }}</ref>

The VVS has [[War crimes in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|struck civilian targets]] during the invasion prompting an [[International Criminal Court investigation in Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the Situation in Ukraine: "I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation." |url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=20220228-prosecutor-statement-ukraine |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=www.icc-cpi.int |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=War Crimes by Russia's Forces in Ukraine |url=https://www.state.gov/war-crimes-by-russias-forces-in-ukraine/ |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 March 2022 |title=US formally accuses Russia of war crimes in Ukraine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/23/russia-war-crimes-ukraine-us-blinken |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> Notably, during the [[Siege of Mariupol|battle of Mariupol]] it [[Mariupol hospital airstrike|struck a hospital]] as well as [[Mariupol theatre airstrike|a theatre]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 March 2022 |title=Russia attacks theatre sheltering civilians, Ukraine says |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60772331 |access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 March 2022 |title=Ukraine war: Three dead as maternity hospital hit by Russian air strike |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60675599 |access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref>

Some reports state Russian pilots in Ukraine flying older aircraft having to use civilian GPS units "taped to the dashboards".<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 May 2022 |title= Downed Russian fighter jets are being found with basic GPS 'taped to the dashboards,' UK defense minister says |work=[[Business Insider]] |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-su34-jets-basic-gps-receivers-taped-to-dashboards-uk-2022-5 |access-date=11 May 2022}}</ref>

On 19 September US Air Force General [[James B. Hecker]] said that Russia had lost 55 military aircraft due to being shot down by Ukrainian air defenses since the start of the invasion. He credits this success to the Ukrainian use of [[SA-11]] and [[SA-10]] air defense systems. As the US doesn't have these systems, getting new missiles from European allies is a "big ask" from [[Kyiv]]. Russian airplanes increased their operations due to the September [[2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive]]. This was due to several factors including changing front lines, former safe territory is now held by the enemy. Or because they were under pressure to provide closer ground support.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2022 |title= Ukraine has shot down 55 Russian warplanes, U.S. general says  |author=Paul McLeary |work=[[Politico]]|url= https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/19/ukraine-has-shot-down-55-russian-warplanes-00057569 |access-date=22 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2022 |title= Russia may have lost four combat jets in Ukraine in last 10 days, UK says  |work=[[Reuters]]|url= https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-may-have-lost-four-combat-jets-ukraine-last-10-days-uk-says-2022-09-19/ |access-date=22 September 2022}}</ref>

On 8 October 2022 the chief of the VVS [[Sergey Surovikin]] became the commander of all Russian forces invading Ukraine.<ref name="al">{{cite news |title=Russia names new commander of its forces engaged in Ukraine |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2022/10/08/Russia-names-new-commander-of-its-forces-engaged-in-Ukraine |agency=Alarabiya |date=8 October 2022}}</ref>

On 10 October 2022 the VVS re-commenced the bombardment of cities like [[Kyiv]] and especially [[energy infrastructure]] like electricity grid facilities. The large-scale coordinated attacks also hit [[Kharkiv]], [[Kryvyi Rih]], [[Lviv]], [[Dnipro]], [[Ternopil]], [[Kremenchuk]], [[Khmelnytskyi]], and [[Zhytomyr]]. The [[oblasts]] of Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zhytormyr, Kirovohrad were attacked on this day.<ref name="#B300">{{cite news |url=https://kyivindependent.com/national/ukraine-racked-by-intense-bombardment-of-cities-energy-infrastructure-and-central-kyiv-among-targets|title=Ukraine racked by the intense bombardment of cities, energy infrastructure and central Kyiv among targets |date=10 October 2022 }}</ref> When, by 17 October, these [[Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure (2022–present)|energy infrastructure attacks]] continued unabated the western media labeled the delivery system "kamikaze drones", and Ukrainian president [[Zelensky]] called this "terrorizing the civilian population".<ref name="#C300">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63280523|title=Ukraine war: Russia dive-bombs Kyiv with 'kamikaze' drones |work=[[BBC News]] |date=17 October 2022 }}</ref> By 23 October (not yet two weeks) 40% of Ukrainians were without electricity and/or water.<ref name="#D300">{{cite news |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/wide-scale-russian-attacks-target-ukraine-s-energy-grid-/6801665.html|title='Wide-Scale' Russian Attacks Target Ukraine's Energy Grid }}</ref>

Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian infrastructure again intensified with the deployment of the '''[[UMPK (bomb kit)|UMPK]]''' (unified gliding and correction module) bomb kits since early 2023, which allowed the Russian Air Force to convert dumb Soviet-era aerial bombs into a precise munition. UMPK bomb kits are being particularly used with general purpose [[FAB-250]], [[FAB-500]] and [[FAB-1500]] aerial bombs containing highly explosive warheads. These glide kits greatly increase range and also add an element of guidance, allowing Russian bombers, namely the [[Su-34]], to execute aerial attacks from safer distances without entering areas covered by Ukrainian air defense systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e4f0a90ddd7d4cd6b1d889704f6b2396|title=Russia develops guidance modules for air-dropped munitions|website=storymaps.arcgis.com|date=December 2023}}</ref> According to Ukrainian General Ivan Havryliuk, since start of 2024 year, Russian aviation dropped over 3,500 of these bombs on Ukrainian positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://defence-blog.com/russia-intensifies-air-assault-strikes-in-ukraine/|title=Russia intensifies air assault strikes in Ukraine|website=defence-blog.com|date=19 March 2024}}</ref>

;Wagner Group rebellion
{{see also|Wagner Group rebellion}}

During the conflict, the VVS lost one [[Il-22M]] [[Airborne Command Post]] and five helicopters (three [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]], one [[Mi-35|Mi-35M]], and one [[KA-52]]) as well as one damaged [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Oryx |title=Chef's Special - Documenting Equipment Losses During The 2023 Wagner Group Mutiny |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/06/chefs-special-documenting-equipment.html |access-date=4 July 2023 |website=Oryx}}</ref> Two of the destroyed Mi-8s as well as the damaged one were Russia's newest Mi-8MTPR-1 Electronic Warfare variants.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia deploys Mi-8 MTPR-1 Electronic Warfare helicopters to jam Ukrainian air defence |url=https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/october/8759-russia-deploys-mi-8-mtpr-1-electronic-warfare-helicopters-to-jam-ukrainian-air-defence.html |access-date=4 July 2023 |website=airrecognition.com}}</ref> Up to 29 crew were killed, assuming the aircraft were fully manned, but the VVS has not released casualties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian Air Force suffers significant losses in Wagner mutiny |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/russian-air-force-suffers-significant-losses-in-wagner-mutiny |access-date=4 July 2023 |website=Janes.com |date=26 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Wagner lost at least five vehicles during hostilities, but it is unclear how many can be attributed to VVS actions.<ref name=":3" /> Reports indicated that the [[Russian Armed Forces]] were failing to stop Wagner's momentum toward Moscow when a political [[Wagner Group rebellion#Resolution|resolution]] to the rebellion was announced.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gamio |first1=Lazaro |last2=Hernandez |first2=Marco |last3=Holder |first3=Josh |last4=Kurmanaev |first4=Anatoly |last5=Zhang |first5=Christine |date=25 June 2023 |title=How a Rebellion in Russia Unfolded Over 36 Hours |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/24/world/europe/prigozhin-putin-russia.html |access-date=4 July 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[United Kingdom|U.K.]] Defense Intelligence reported that the [[Il-22M]] was a particularly high value asset, being one in a fleet of only 12 special mission aircraft, and that its loss could have an impact on the ongoing [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loss of Ilyushin Il-22M Airborne Command Post Aircraft Impacts russian Air and Land Operations - Defense Express |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/news/loss_of_ilyushin_il_22m_airborne_command_post_aircraft_impacts_russian_air_and_land_operations-7157.html |access-date=4 July 2023 |website=en.defence-ua.com |language=en}}</ref>

;Operation Spider's Web
{{see also|Operation Spider's Web}}
On 1 June 2025, [[Security Service of Ukraine]] (SBU) struck at least two airfields, those being [[Olenya air base]], in the Arctic, and [[Belaya air base]] in Siberia, destroying rows of  [[Russian Long Range Aviation|Russian strategic and nuclear capable bombers]].<ref>"[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/01/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news5291/ Ukraine destroys Russian nuclear bombers in air base attacks]." ''The Telegraph.'' 1 June 2025.</ref> Ukrainian sources claimed further strikes at [[Dyagilevo air base|Diaghilev air base]] and [[Ivanovo Severny air base|Ivanovo air base]], claiming to have destroyed "more than" 40 Russian aircraft including the [[Beriev A-50|A-50]], [[Tu-95]] and [[Tu-22]]M3.<ref>"[https://kyivindependent.com/enemy-bombers-are-burning-en-masse-ukraines-sbu-drones-hit-more-than-40-russian-aircraft/ 'Russian bombers are burning en masse' — Ukraine's SBU drones hit 'more than 40' aircraft in mass attack, source claims]". ''[[The Kyiv Independent]]''. 1 June 2025.</ref> According to the ''[[Financial Times]]'', the damaged and destroyed aircraft made up around 20% of Russia’s operational long-range aviation fleet. Many of the aircraft types affected, such as the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, have not been produced since the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] in 1991, making them exceptionally difficult to replace.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stognei |first1=Anastasia |last2=Deprez |first2=Fabrice |last3=Miller |first3=Christopher |title='An epic failure': Russia reels from surprise Ukrainian attack on bomber fleet |url=https://www.ft.com/content/132e4327-11da-4412-b36b-7363604879e6 |access-date=3 June 2025 |work=Financial Times |date=3 June 2025}}</ref>

==Leadership==
{{main|Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force}}

Previously the highest military office until 1 August 2015.
{|class="wikitable"
! Commander-in-chief of the VVS
! Years
|-
| General [[Pyotr Deynekin]] || (19 August 1992 – 22 January 1998)
|-
| General [[Anatoly Kornukov]] || (22 January 1998 – 21 January 2002)
|-
| General [[Vladimir Sergeyevich Mikhaylov|Vladimir Mikhaylov]]|| (21 January 2002 – 9 May 2007)
|-
| Colonel General [[Aleksandr Zelin]]|| (9 May 2007 – 27 April 2012)
|-
| Colonel General [[Viktor Bondarev]]|| (6 May 2012 – 1 August 2015)
|}
{|class="wikitable"
! Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace<br />Forces and Commander of the VVS
! Years
|-
| Lieutenant General [[Andrey Yudin (general)|Andrey Yudin]]|| (1 August 2015 – August 2019)
|-
| Lieutenant General [[Sergey Dronov]]|| (August 2019 – July 2024)
|-
| Lieutenant General [[Sergey Kobylash]]|| (July 2024 – Present)
|}

Since the merger between the VVS and the [[Russian Aerospace Defence Forces]] on 1 August 2015, the commander of the VVS as part of the new [[Russian Aerospace Forces]] is titled Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Commander of the VVS.<ref name="Janes2015">[http://www.janes.com/article/53416/russia-creates-new-aerospace-force-service-branch Russia creates new Aerospace Force service branch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227073639/http://www.janes.com/article/53416/russia-creates-new-aerospace-force-service-branch |date=27 December 2015 }}, janes.com, 4 August 2015</ref> Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin became the first holder of the position until he was succeeded by Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov in August 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://structure.mil.ru/management/details.htm?id=11203914@SD_Employee|script-title=ru:Юдин Андрей Вячеславович|publisher=Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation|language=ru|trans-title=Yudin Andrey Vyacheslavovich|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619214019/https://structure.mil.ru/management/details.htm?id=11203914@SD_Employee|archive-date=19 June 2018|url-status=live|access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref>

== Structure ==
{{update|section|date=June 2024}}
[[File:Russian Air Force.png|thumb|center|1000px|The organisation of the Russian Air Force in 2002<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baummil.org/RussianArmedForces.html |title=Russian Armed Forces |work=baummil.org |access-date=1 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024034/http://www.baummil.org/RussianArmedForces.html |archive-date=18 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]
{{main|List of military airbases in Russia}}

In 2009 the structure of the VVS was completely changed to a command-air base structure from the previous structure of air army-air division or corps-[[Aviation regiment (Soviet Union)|air regiment]]. The VVS was divided into four operational commands, the Aerospace Defense Operational Strategic Command (seemingly primarily made up of the former [[Special Purpose Command]]), the [[Military Transport Aviation]] Command, and the [[Russian Long Range Aviation|Long-Range Aviation]] Command.<ref>Dmitry Gorenburg, [http://russiamil.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/air-force-structure/ Air Force Structure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829060130/http://russiamil.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/air-force-structure/ |date=29 August 2011 }}, 7 February 2011</ref> This listing is a composite; the available new information covers frontline forces, and the forces of central subordination are as of approximately August 2008. Warfare.ru maintains what appears to be a reasonably up-to-date listing, and ''Combat Aircraft'' magazine in June 2010 listed their organization's estimate of the new order of battle.{{Update inline|date=April 2022}}

''This listing appears to be as of June 2009'':{{Update inline|date=April 2022}}

=== Regional air armies ===
Russian Air Force flights often use a callsign beginning with RFF: For example RFF1234.

* [[1st Special Purpose Air and Missile Defense Army]] ([[Moscow Military District]])
**4th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Dolgoprudnyi, [[Moscow Oblast]])
**5th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Petrovskoe, Moscow Oblast)
**6th Aerospace Defense Brigade ([[Rzhev]], [[Tver Oblast]]) (former 32nd Corps of PVO?)
**6963rd aviation base ([[Kursk Vostochny Airport]]) (Su-30,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kursk Airport · Aeroportovskaya Ulitsa, 99, Kursk, Kursk Oblast, Russia, 305545 |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kursk+Airport/@51.7556958,36.3021374,217m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x412f03c000000001:0xb433bae910f891dc!8m2!3d51.7494193!4d36.2825398 |website=Kursk Airport · Aeroportovskaya Ulitsa, 99, Kursk, Kursk Oblast, Russia, 305545 |language=en}}</ref> MiG-29SMT/UBT)
**6968th fighter aviation base ([[Borisovsky Khotilovo (air base)|Borisovsky Khotilovo]], [[Tver Oblast]]) (Su-27, MiG-31B, MiG-31BM, Su-24<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Borisovsky+Khotilovo+(air+base)/@57.6569537,34.0938738,188m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x46b9d9127719111d:0x47d61237980bfe61!2sBorisovsky+Khotilovo+(air+base)!8m2!3d57.6618788!4d34.1044337!3m4!1s0x46b9d9127719111d:0x47d61237980bfe61!8m2!3d57.6618788!4d34.1044337 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref>)
*[[6th Air and Air Defence Forces Army]] ([[Voronezh]]) ([[Leningrad Military District]])
**1st Aerospace Defense Brigade ([[Severomorsk]])
**2nd Aerospace Defense Brigade ([[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]])
**6961st aviation base ([[Petrozavodsk Airport]]) (Su-27)
**6964th aviation base ([[Monchegorsk (air base)|Monchegorsk Air Base]], [[Murmansk Oblast]]) (Su-24M, Su-24MR)
**6965th aviation base ([[Vyazma Airport]], [[Smolensk Oblast]]) (Mi-8TM, Mi-24V, Mi-28N)
**7000th aviation base ([[Voronezh Malshevo (air base)|Voronezh Malshevo Air Base]]) (Su-24M, Su-24MR, Su-34)
*[[14th Air and Air Defence Forces Army]] ([[Yekaterinburg]]) ([[Central Military District]])
**8th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Yekaterinburg)
**9th Aerospace Defense Brigade ([[Novosibirsk]])
**10th Aerospace Defense Brigade ([[Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai|Chita]])
**[[764th Fighter Aviation Regiment|6977th Aviation Base]] ([[Perm International Airport|Bolshoye Savino Airport]], [[Perm Krai]]) (MiG-31BM)
**6979th aviation base ([[Kansk (air base)|Kansk Air Base]], [[Krasnoyarsk Krai]]) (MiG-31BM)
**6980th aviation base ([[Chelyabinsk Shagol Airport]]) (Su-24M)
**6982nd aviation base ([[Domna (air base)|Domna Air Base]], [[Zabaykalsky Krai]]) (MiG-29, Su-30SM)
*[[11th Air and Air Defence Forces Army]] ([[Khabarovsk]]) ([[Eastern Military District]])
** 11th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Komsomolsk-na-Amur)
**12th Aerospace Defense Brigade ([[Vladivostok]])
** 6983rd aviation base ([[Komsomolsk-on-Amur Airport]], [[Khabarovsk Krai]]) (Su-27SM, Su-30M2, Su-35S, Su-34)
** 6988th aviation base ([[Komsomolsk-on-Amur Airport|Khurba]], Khabarovsk Krai) (Su-24M, Su-24M2, Su-24MR)
** 6989th aviation base ([[Vladivostok International Airport]]) (Su-27SM)
** 265th transport aviation base (Khabarovsk)
*[[4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army]] – (former [[4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army|4th]] and [[5th Air and Air Defence Forces Army|5th]] Armies of VVS and PVO) ([[Rostov-on-Don]]) ([[Southern Military District]])
** 7th Aerospace Defense Brigade ([[Rostov-on-Don]])
** 8th Aerospace Defense Brigade (Yekaterinburg)
** 6970th aviation base ([[Morozovsk]], [[Rostov Oblast]]) (Su-24M, Su-34)
** 6971st aviation base ([[Budyonnovsk]], [[Stavropol Krai]]) (Su-25SM, Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-24V, Mi-28N)
** 6972nd aviation base ([[Krymsk]], [[Krasnodar Krai]]) (Su-27, Mi-8, Mi-24P, Mi-28N, Ka-27)
** 6974th aviation base ([[Korenovsk]], Krasnodar Krai) (Mi-8MTV-5, Mi-24V, Mi-35M, Mi-28N)
** 999th aviation base ([[Kant (air base)|Kant Air Base]], [[Kyrgyzstan]]) (Su-25, Su-27, Mi-8T)
**229th transport aviation base ([[Rostov-on-Don]]) (Mi-26(T), Mi-8AMTSh(TM))

Helicopter regiments providing support to the Ground Forces include the 39th, 55th, granted Guards status after the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the [[112th Independent Helicopter Regiment|112th]], [[319th Independent Helicopter Regiment|319th]], 332nd, [[337th Independent Helicopter Regiment|337th]], 440th, and the [[487th Separate Helicopter Regiment|487th]]. There is also a helicopter regiment in the Navy, the [[830th Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment]].

=== [[Military Transport Aviation]] Command ===
Headquarters: Moscow
**6955th Aviation Base ([[Migalovo (air base)|Migalovo]] (Tver)) (Il-76MD)
**6956th Aviation Base ([[Orenburg]]) (Il-76MD)
**6958th Aviation Base ([[Taganrog]], [[Rostov Oblast]]) (Il-76MD)
**6985th Aviation Base ([[Pskov Airport]]) (Il-76MF)

===[[Russian Long Range Aviation|Long-Range Aviation]] ===
Headquarters Moscow
** 6950th Aviation Base ([[Engels-2 (air base)|Engels-2]], [[Saratov Oblast]]) (Tu-22 M3, Tu-95 MS6, Tu-160) former [[22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division]]
** 6952nd Aviation Base ([[Ukrainka (air base)|Ukrainka Air Base]], [[Amur Oblast]]) (Tu-95 MS16)
** 6953rd Aviation Base ([[Belaya (air base)|Belaya Air Base]], located at Sredni, [[Irkutsk Oblast]]) (Tu-22 M3)

=== Forces of Central Subordination ===
*132nd Central Communications Center, [[Balashikha]], Zarya airport, [[Moscow Oblast]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1015743|script-title=ru:Части центрального подчинения|date=25 August 2008|work=Kommersant|access-date=16 February 2018|language=ru|trans-title=Parts of Central Subordination}}</ref>
*1st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment – Su-24 – [[Lebyazhye (air base)|Lebyazhye]] – absorbed by 6970th Aviation Base, 1 September 2009<ref>Michael Holm, [http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/shap/1gvapib.htm 1st Guards Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment], accessed October 2011</ref>
*[[764th Fighter Aviation Regiment]] – MiG-31, MiG-25PU – [[Bolshoye Savino Airport]] (Sokol)<ref>Piotr Butowsky. ''Force Report:Russian Air Force'', [[Air Forces Monthly]], July 2007.</ref>
*[[8th Special Purpose Aviation Division]] ([[Chkalovsky Airport]])<ref name=":0" />
**353rd Special Purpose Aviation Regiment— [[Chkalovsky Airport]] — Il-18, Il-76, Аn-12, Аn-72, Тu-134, Тu-154.
**354th Special Purpose Aviation Regiment— [[Chkalovsky Airport]] — Il-18, Il-76, Аn-12, Аn-72, Тu-134, Тu-154.
**206th Special Purpose Aviation Base — [[Chkalovsky Airport]] — Mi-8 helicopters.
**[[223rd Flight Unit]] – commercial transport – [[Chkalovsky Airport]] – [[Ilyushin Il-62|Il-62M]], [[Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76MD]], [[Tupolev Tu-134|Tu-134A-3]], [[Tupolev Tu-154B-2]]
*2457th Air Base of Long Range Radiolocation Detection Aircraft – [[Beriev A-50|A-50]], A-50М – [[Ivanovo Severny]]<ref name=":0" />
*[[929th State Flight Test Centre named for V. P. Chkalov]] ([[Akhtubinsk]])
**1338th Test Centre – [[Chkalovsky Airport]] – [[Ilyushin Il-22]], [[Ilyushin Il-80]], and [[Beriev A-50|Il-82]]
**High-altitude mountain Center for Air Materiel and Weapons Research – [[Nalchik]]
**368th Detached Composite Aviation Squadron (An-12)
**13th Aeronautic Test Facility – [[Volsk]] – air balloons
<!--**267-й центр подготовки летчиков-испытателей — [[Ахтубинск]]-->
**267th Center of Test Pilots Training – [[Akhtubinsk]]
*[[4th Centre for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel]] – [[Lipetsk Air Base]]
*968th Sevastopol Composite Training and Research Aviation Regiment, [[Lipetsk Air Base]], fighter jets [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29]], [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]], Su-27M, [[Sukhoi Su-30|Su-30]], bombers [[Sukhoi Su-24|Su-24M]], Su-24M2, [[Sukhoi Su-34|Su-34]], reconnaissance plane Su-24MP, jammer Su-24MP, strike-fighter [[Sukhoi Su-25|Su-25]], Su-25T, Su-25SM
*[[54th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment|3958th Guards Kerch Aviation Base]], [[Savasleyka (air base)|Savasleyka]], Nizhegorod Oblast, MiG-31.
*185th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – [[Astrakhan]]
** 116th Training center operational use — Аstrakhan — [[MiG-23]], [[MiG-29]]
** 42nd Training center operational use — Ashuluk — [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] and targets.
*344th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – [[Torzhok]] (ground forces helicopters) ([[:ru:344 Центр боевой подготовки и переучивания лётного состава армейской авиации]])
**696th Research and Instruction Helicopter Regiment (Torzhok) ([[Ka-50]], [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]], [[Mi-24]], [[Mi-26]], has used [[Mi-28]])
**92nd Research and Instruction Helicopter Squadron (Sokol-Vladimir (Ruwiki says Klin)) (Mi-8, Mi-24)
*924th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – [[Yegoryevsk]] Base UAV.
** 275th Separate research and UAV squadron instructors (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), [[Yegoryevsk]], Moscow Oblast. UAV Tu-143, [[Yakovlev Pchela]]-1T, IAI Searcher 2 .
*Russian State Scientific-Research Institute Centre for Cosmonaut Training – Zvezdnyi Goronok
* 70th Separate test and training Aviation Regiment Special Purpose — Chkalovski — [[Il-76]] and other.
*2881st Reserve Helicopter Base – [[Totskoye (air base)|Totskoye]] – [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-24]]P
*5th Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation Detachment – Voronezh ([[Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe|CFE]] and [[Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty|INF]] verification)
*185th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training – [[Astrakhan]]
*118th Independent Helicopter Squadron – [[Chebenki (air base)|Chebenki]] (Dmitriyevka), [[Orenburg Oblast]]
*4020th Base for Reserve Aircraft – Lipetsk
*4215th Base for Reserve Aircraft – [[Chebenki (air base)|Chebenki]]
*15th Army Aviation Brigade of the [[Western Military District]] at the airport [[Ostrov, Ostrovsky District, Pskov Oblast|Ostrov, Pskov Oblast]]

===Warehouses, Storage and Maintenance Depots, Aircraft Repair Plants===
{{See also|:ru:Список_авиационных_заводов_России}} (Russian: List of Aircraft Factories in Russia)
*Central Aviation Base of Rocket Armament and Ammunition, [[Sergiyev Posad]], [[Moscow Oblast]]
<!--*Авиационный склад ракетного вооружения и боеприпасов, Yoshkar-Ola.-->
*Aviation Warehouse of Rocket Armament and Ammunition, [[Yoshkar-Ola]]
<!--*База снабжения и хранения зенитного ракетного вооружения, Серпухов, Московская область.-->
*Supply and Storage Depot of Air Defense Rocket Armament, [[Serpukhov]], Moscow Oblast
<!--*База хранения и ремонта беспилотных летательных аппаратов, Ярославль (Туношна).-->
*Storage and Maintenance Depot of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, [[Yaroslavl]] ([[Tunoshna Airport|Tunoshna]])
<!--*502-й завод по ремонту военно-технического имущества, Фрязево (Ногинск-5), Московская область.-->
*502nd Military Equipment Maintenance Plant, Fryazevo ([[Noginsk]]-5)
<!--*1015-й завод по ремонту военно-технического имущества, Нижние Серги-3, Свердловская область.-->
*1015th Military Equipment Maintenance Plant, [[Nizhniye Sergi]]-3, [[Sverdlovsk Oblast]]
<!--*1019-й завод по ремонту военно-технического имущества, Онохой-2, Бурятия.-->
*1019th Military Equipment Maintenance Plant, [[Onokhoy]]-2, [[Republic of Buryatia|Buryat Republic]]
<!--*1253-я центральная ремонтная база радиолокационного вооружения, Samara-28.-->
*1253rd Central Radar Armament Maintenance Base, [[Samara, Russia|Samara]]-28
<!--*2227-я база ремонта и хранения вооружения, Трудовая, Moscow Oblast.-->
*2227th Armament Maintenance and Storage Base, [[Trudovaya]], Moscow Oblast
<!--*2503-я центральная ремонтная база автоматизированных систем управления, Янино-1, Leningrad Oblast.-->
*2503rd Central Base of Automated Control Systems Maintenance, [[Yanino-1]], [[Leningrad Oblast]]
<!--*2529-я центральная база ремонта вооружения, Khaborovsk (Хабаровск).-->
*2529th Central Base of Armament Maintenance, [[Khabarovsk]]
<!--*2633-я база ремонта и хранения вооружения, Люберцы, Московская область.-->
*2633rd Base of Armament Maintenance and Storage, [[Lyubertsy]], Moscow Oblast
<!--*3821-я база ремонта и хранения вооружений, Тосно, Ленинградская область.-->
*3821st Base of Armament Maintenance and Storage, [[Tosno]], Leningrad Oblast
<!--*20-й авиационный ремонтный завод (Aircraft Repair Factory[?}), Пушкин-3, Leningrad Oblast.-->
*20th Aircraft Overhaul Plant, Pushkin-3 (<small>not an inhabited locality, or name is misspelled</small>), Leningrad Oblast
<!--*150-й Aircraft Repair Factory, Люблино-Новое, Калининградская область.-->
*150th Aircraft Overhaul Plant, [[Lyublino, Kaliningrad Oblast|Lyublino]]-Novoye, [[Kaliningrad Oblast]]
<!--*419-й Aircraft Repair Factory, Горелово, Leningrad Oblast.-->
*419th Aircraft Overhaul Plant, [[Gorelovo (air base)|Gorelovo]], Leningrad Oblast
*695th Aircraft Overhaul Plant (Factory), [[Aramil]], Sverdlovsk Oblast
<!--*99-й завод авиационно-технологического оборудования, Остафьево (Щербинка), Moscow Oblast.-->
*99th Air-Technical Equipment Plant, Ostafyevo ([[Shcherbinka]]), Moscow Oblast
<!--*5212 Контрольно-испытательная база(стыковочная), Знаменск, Астраханская область-->
*5212nd Testing and Control (Docking?) Station, [[Znamensk, Astrakhan Oblast|Znamensk]], [[Astrakhan Oblast]]

===Training and Research Organisations===
* 2nd Central Scientific-Research Institute — [[Tver]]
* 13th State Scientific Research Institute "ERAT"  Luberchi, Moscow Oblast
* 30th Central Scientific-Research Institute (ЦНИИ АКТ) — Shelkovo, also includes research institutes in Noginsk.
* [[Gagarin Air Force Academy|Gagarin Military Air Academy]] (VVA) — [[Monino]]
* [[Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy]] — [[Moscow]]
* Zhukov Command Academy of Air Defense — [[Tver]] ( branch in the [[St. Petersburg]] )
* [[Yaroslavl Higher Military School of Anti-Aircraft Warfare|Yaroslavl Anti-aircraft Missile Defence Institute]]
* [[Chelyabinsk Red Banner Military Aviation Institute of Navigators]]
** 604th Training Aviation Regiment — [[Chelyabinsk Shagol Airport]]
* [[Voronezh Central Military Aviation Engineering University]] (VCMAEU)
**Both the Irkutsk Military Aviation Engineering Institute and the Tambov Military Aviation Engineering Institute were disbanded in 2009 and transferred to VCMAEU.
* Krasnodar Military Aviation Institute (L-39Cs); by 2016, the [[Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation Pilots College]] Named for Hero of the Soviet Union A.K. Serov<ref>Nikolay Surkov and Aleksey Ramm, "Подготовку летчиков пустят на поток (Flight Crew Training to Be Stepped Up)," Izvestiya
Online, 2 October 2017. https://iz.ru/645337/nikolai-surkov-aleksei-ramm/letchikov-budut-gotovit-tysiachami via OEWatch, Vol.7, Issue 10, November 2017. See also http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/division/schools/kvolty.htm.</ref>
** 704th Training Aviation Regiment — [[Котельниково (аэродром)|Котельниково]] — [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39]]
** 627th Training Aviation Regiment — [[Тихорецк (аэродром)|Тихорецк]] — [[Л-39]]
** 797th Training Aviation Regiment — [[Кущевская (аэродром)|Кущевская]] — [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39]], [[Su-25]], [[Su-27]], [[MiG-29]]
*[[Syzran Higher Military Aviation School|Syzran Military Aviation Institute]] (Mi-2, Mi-8T and Mi-24V, [[Kazan Ansat|Ansat]], [[Kamov Ka-226|Ka-226]]T<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/30685/|title="Фотофакт. Новые вертолёты Ансат-У и Ка-226 для ВВС России " в блоге "Фотофакты" – Сделано у нас|work=Сделано у нас|date=20 March 2013 |access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221200746/http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/30685/|archive-date=21 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
** 131st Training Aviation Regiment — [[Saratov-Sokol]] — [[Mil Mi-2|Mi-2]], [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]]
** 484th Training Helicopter Regiment — [[Syzran]] airfield — [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-24]]
** 626th Training Helicopter Regiment — [[Пугачев (аэродром)|Pugachev]] — [[Mil Mi-2|Mi-2]], Mi-8, Mi-24
** Branch in [[Kirov, Kirov Oblast]]
* 783rd Training Centre ([[Armavir, Russia|Armavir]]) (MiG-29, L-39C)
** 713th Training Aviation Regiment — [[Armavir (air base)|Armavir]] — [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39]], [[MiG-29]]
**[[761st Training Aviation Regiment]] — [[Khanskaya (air base)|Khanskaya]] — [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39]]
* 786th Training Centre ([[Borisoglebsk (air base)|Borisoglebsk]]):
** 160th Training Aviation Regiment — [[Borisoglebsk (air base)|Borisoglebsk]] — [[Su-27]]
** 644th Training Aviation Regiment — [[Michurinsk (air base)|Michurinsk]] — [[Aero L-39 Albatros|L-39]], [[Su-24]], [[Su-25]], [[MiG-29]]
* 705th Training Aviation Center for Training Flight Crews and Long-Range military transport aircraft – [[Balashov (air base)|Balashov]]:
**606th Training Aviation Regiment – Balashov
**666th Training Aviation Regiment – [[Rtishchevo (air base)|Rtishchevo]]
* Center for anti-aircraft missile troops, Uchhoz (Gatchina-3), the Leningrad Region. Chief – Colonel Alexander Dobrovolsky.
* 357th Training Center, Belgorod. Chief – Colonel Viktor Baranov.
* 834th Centre for Signal Corps Radio and ensure Novgorod. Chief – Colonel Vasily Fedosov.
* 874th training center (settlement) of radio engineering troops, Vladimir. Chief – Colonel Yuri Balaban.
* 902nd Training Center (settlement) of anti-aircraft missile troops Kosterevo-1, [[Vladimir Oblast]].

===Medical and athletic facilities===
* State Research Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine, Moscow. Chief – Major-General Igor Ushakov.
* 5th Central Military Research Aviation Hospital, Krasnogorsk-3, Moscow Region.
* 7th Central Military Research Aviation Hospital, Moscow.
* Spa Air Force, Chemitokvadzhe, Krasnodar Krai. Chief – Colonel Theodore Barantsev.
* Central Sports Club VVS Samara. Chief – Colonel Dmitry Shlyahtin.
* 361st Center of Psychophysiological Training of personnel, Agha, Krasnodar region.
* 709th Center of Psychophysiological Training of personnel, Anapa (now Dzhubga), Krasnodar region.
* 464th Training Center for Physical Culture and Sports, Ufa, Bashkortostan.

The [[list of Soviet Air Force bases]] shows a number that are still active with the Russian Air Force.

With the Air Force now fusing into one joint service branch the personnel from the [[Russian Aerospace Defence Forces]] and their respective facilities, the following now report to the Aerospace Forces HQ:

*[[Russian Space Command|Space Command]] ({{langx|ru|Космическое командование (KK)}}):
**153rd [[Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre|Main Trial Centre for Testing and Control of Space Means named after G.S. Titov]] at [[Krasnoznamensk, Moscow Oblast|Krasnoznamensk]] ({{langx|ru|Главный испытательный центр испытаний и управления космическими средствами имени Германа Титова}})
**820th [[Main Centre for Missile Attack Warning]] (SPRN) ({{langx|ru|центр предупреждения о ракетном нападении (цпрн)}}) in [[Solnechnogorsk]]
**821st [[Main Space Intelligence Centre|Main Space Surveillance Centre]] (SKKP) ({{langx|ru|центр контроля космического пространства (цккп)}}) in [[Noginsk]]-9, Moscow Oblast

Early warning of missile attack:
:[[Voronezh radar]] at [[Lekhtusi Radar Station|Lekhtusi]], [[Armavir Radar Station|Armavir]], [[Pionersky Radar Station|Kaliningrad]], [[Mishelevka Radar Station|Mileshevka]], [[Ust-Kem Radar Station|Yeniseysk]], [[Barnaul Radar Station|Barnaul]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://warfiles.ru/show-77079-gerasimov-prioritet-v-2015-godu-razvitie-strategicheskih-yadernyh-sil.html|title=Герасимов: Приоритет в 2015 году — развитие стратегических ядерных сил|work=warfiles.ru|access-date=7 March 2016|date=29 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110213221/http://warfiles.ru/show-77079-gerasimov-prioritet-v-2015-godu-razvitie-strategicheskih-yadernyh-sil.html|archive-date=10 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
:[[Daryal radar]] at [[Pechora Radar Station|Pechora]]
:[[Hantsavichy Radar Station|Volga radar]] at [[Hantsavichy Radar Station|Hantsavichy]]
:[[Dnestr radar|Dnepr radar]] at [[Balkhash Radar Station|Balkhash]], [[Mishelevka Radar Station|Irkutsk]] and [[Olenegorsk Radar Station|Olenegorsk]]
:[[Oko]] early warning satellites

Space surveillance:
:[[Okno]] in Tajikistan
:[[Krona space object recognition station|Krona]] in Zelenchukskaya and Nakhodka
:[[RT-70]] in [[Yevpatoria RT-70 radio telescope|Yevpatoria]] (since [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|its annexation by the Russian Federation]], [[Crimea]]'s status, and thus that of the city of Yevpatoria which is located on Crimea, is [[Political status of Crimea|under dispute between Russia and Ukraine]]; Ukraine and the majority of the international community considers Crimea and Yevpatoria an integral part of Ukraine, while Russia, on the other hand, considers Crimea and Yevpatoria an integral part of Russia<ref>[http://europe.newsweek.com/ukraine-reports-russian-military-activity-crimea-border-armored-column-488283 UKRAINE REPORTS RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTIVITY ON CRIMEA BORDER] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018030959/http://europe.newsweek.com/ukraine-reports-russian-military-activity-crimea-border-armored-column-488283 |date=18 October 2016 }}, [[Newsweek]] (8 August 2016)<br />{{cite news |last=Gutterman |first=Steve |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140318 |title=Putin signs Crimea treaty, will not seize other Ukraine regions |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=18 March 2014 |access-date=26 March 2014 |newspaper=[[Reuters]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709064506/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/18/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140318 |archive-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=live}}<br />[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis timeline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715040406/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 |date=15 July 2014 }}, [[BBC News]]<br />[http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml UN General Assembly adopts resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304200543/http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml |date=4 March 2018 }}, [[China Central Television]] (28 March 2014)</ref>) and [[Galenki RT-70 radio telescope|Galenki]] (together with Roscosmos)

Missile defense:
:[[A-135 anti-ballistic missile system]]
:[[Don-2N radar]]
:[[A-235 anti-ballistic missile system]] (future; after 2020)
Satellite systems:
:[[Spaceprogramm Liana|Liana]] space reconnaissance and target designation system (3 electronic reconnaissance satellites 14F145 "Lotus-C1")<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://russianforces.org/blog/2018/10/cosmos-2458_-_new_lotus-s1_ele.shtml|title=Cosmos-2528 – new Lotus-S1 electronic reconnaissance satellite|journal=Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces|date=25 October 2018|access-date=15 August 2020|last1=Podvig|first1=Pavel}}</ref>
*Air and Space Defence Command ({{langx|ru|Командование противовоздушной и противоракетной обороны (К ПВО И ПРО)}}):
**9th Missile Defence Division ([[A-135 anti-ballistic missile system]]) in [[Pushkino, Moscow Oblast|Pushkino]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2.dk/new/pvo/9okpro.htm|title=9th independent Anti-Missile Defense Corps|website=www.ww2.dk|access-date=18 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529085631/http://www.ww2.dk/new/pvo/9okpro.htm|archive-date=29 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
**4th Missile Defence Brigade in [[Dolgoprudny]]
**5th Missile Defence Brigade in [[Vidny|Vidnoye]]
**6th Missile Defence Brigade in [[Rzhev]]
*[[Plesetsk Cosmodrome|State Testing Plesetsk Cosmodrome]] ({{langx|ru|Государственный испытательный космодром «Плесецк» (ГИК «Плесецк»)}})
**[[Kura Missile Test Range|Kura Test Range]]

===Squadrons===
As of 2014:<ref name="IISS2014_p186"/>
*8 × '''Bomber''' squadrons (4 operating Tu-22M3/MR; 3 operating Tu-95MS; 1 operating [[Tu-160]])
*37 × '''Fighter''' squadrons (8 operating MiG-29; 3 operating MiG-29SMT; 11 operating MiG-31/MiG-31BM; 10 operating Su-27; 4 operating Su-27SM1/Su-30M2; 1 operating Su-27SM3/Su-30M2)
*27 × '''Attack''' squadrons (11 operating the Su-24M/Su-24M2; 13 operating Su-25/Su-25SM; 3 operating Su-34)
*10 × '''Attack & Reconnaissance''' squadrons (1 operating Su-24M/MR; 8 operating Su-24MR; 1 operating Mig-25RB)
*1 × '''AEW&C''' squadron (1 operating A-50/A50-U)
*1 × '''Tanker''' squadron (1 operating Il-78/Il-78M)

==Equipment==
{{Main|List of active Russian military aircraft}}

The precise quantitative and qualitative composition of the VVS is unknown and figures include both serviceable and unserviceable aircraft as well as those placed into storage or sitting in reserve. ''[[FlightGlobal]]'' estimated that there were about 3,947 aircraft in inventory in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/major-powers-our-top-10-of-military-aviation-streng-419734/|title=Major powers: Our Top 10 of military aviation strength|date=4 December 2015|access-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230219/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/major-powers-our-top-10-of-military-aviation-streng-419734/|archive-date=25 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the share of modern armament in the VVS had reached about 35% during 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1660936|title=ТАСС: Армия и ОПК – Шойгу: оснащенность Российской армии современным оружием и техникой за год выросла на 7%|work=ТАСС|access-date=3 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305190713/http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/1660936|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150716/1132598887.html|title=Восемь МБР приняты на вооружение в интересах РВСН во втором квартале|work=РИА Новости|access-date=7 March 2016|date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009215251/https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150716/1132598887.html|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The figure was raised to 66% by late 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1222/161038788/detail.shtml|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / Выступление министра обороны РФ генерала армии Сергея Шойгу на расширенном заседании Коллегии Минобороны|website=www.armstrade.org|access-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009210744/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2016/1222/161038788/detail.shtml|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and to 72% by late 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12149743@egNews|title=Remarks by Chief of General Staff of the Russian Federation General of the Army Valery Gerasimov at the Russian Defense Ministry's board session (November 7, 2017): Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation|website=eng.mil.ru|access-date=9 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109191754/http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12149743@egNews|archive-date=9 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Air Force received in 2023 more than 100 new and repaired aircraft and 150 helicopters.<ref>{{cite web | title=Армия в 2023 году получила 3,5 тысячи отечественных беспилотников | website=РИА Новости | date=26 January 2024 | url=https://ria.ru/20240126/bespilotniki-1923651702.html | language=ru | access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref>

Estimates provided by the IISS show that VVS combat pilots average 60 to 100 flight hours per year and pilots flying transport aircraft average 120 flight hours per year.<ref name="IISS2014_p186">[[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]: The Military Balance 2014, p.186</ref>

===Radars===

The VVS operates several Nebo-M radars, that combine meter, decimeter, and centimeter range. First two Nebo-M regiments were deployed in 2017 to Saint Petersburg and Kareliya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/2021/05/24/russias-nebo-m-radars-can-detect-u-s-f-22-and-f-35-jets-developer-says.html|title=Russia's Nebo-M Radars Can Detect U.S. F-22 and F-35 Jets: Developer Says|first=Linda|last=Kay|date=24 May 2021|website=defenseworld.net}}</ref> In 2018, further two regiments were deployed to Crimea<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iz.ru/727584/2018-04-03/sistema-rls-nebo-m |title=Система РЛС "Небо-М" |work=Известия |language=ru |publisher=Iz.ru |date=3 April 2018 |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref> and Penza.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5156954 |title=Новая радиолокационная станция "Небо-М" поступила на вооружение войск в Поволжье |publisher=Tass.ru |date=25 April 2018 |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=<!-- Данные о сайте: лого, телефон, адрес, название --> |url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/106459/ |title="Новая радиолокационная станция "Небо-М" поступила на вооружение войск в Поволжье" в блоге "Армия и Флот" – Сделано у нас |publisher=Sdelanounas.ru |date=25 April 2018 |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref> In 2019, a regiment was delivered to Volga region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/?search=%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%BE-%D0%9C |title=Все статьи с тэгом "Небо-М" – Сделано у нас |publisher=Sdelanounas.ru |date= |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref> In 2020, two regiments were deployed to the Far East and Naryan Mar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vpk.name/news/230209_chto_mozhet_s-300_v_poedinke_s_istrebitelem_f-35.html|title=Что может С-300 в поединке с истребителем F-35|website=ВПК.name|date=8 October 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bastion-opk.ru/2020/04/26/27-04-2020/ |title=PHOTO REPORT: MOBILE SECTOR RADAR COMPLEX MS RLC AT THE ARMY-2018 FORUM |publisher=Bastion-opk.ru |date=27 April 2020 |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211222416/http://bastion-opk.ru/2020/04/26/27-04-2020/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Additionally, the VVS operates radars that work in meter range only. Such systems are Nebo-UM (first units were delivered in 2018 to Voronezh<ref>{{cite web |url=https://alert5.com/2018/11/28/nebo-um-enters-service-in-voronezh-russia/ |title=Nebo-UM enters service in Voronezh, Russia |publisher=Alert5.com |date=28 November 2018 |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref> and in 2020 to Rostov-on-Don<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1235105 |title=Latest radar station goes on combat alert in Russia's south – Military & Defense |publisher=TASS |date= |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref>) as well as Rezonans-NE radars that have been constructed in the Arctic in Zapolyarniy, Indiga, Shoyna and Nova Zemlya, with another in Gremikha under construction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2020/08/russias-border-norway-comes-new-radar |title=On Russia's border to Norway comes a new radar |work=The Barents Observer |date=24 August 2020 |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontierindia.com/russian-3rd-rezonans-n-radar-to-be-ready-by-june/|title=Russian 3rd Rezonans-N radar to be ready by June|date=14 April 2021 |website=frontierindia.com}}</ref>

==Ranks and insignia==
{{Main|Air Force ranks and insignia of the Russian Federation}}

The VVS inherited the ranks of the [[Soviet Union]], although the insignia and uniform were slightly altered and the old [[Tsarist autocracy|Tsarist]] crown and [[double-headed eagle]] were re-introduced. The VVS uses the same rank structure as the [[Russian Ground Forces]].

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OF/Russia}}
|}
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Air Forces/OR/Russia}}
|}

{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Aircraft procurement==

Production of the [[Aircraft industry of Russia|Russian aerospace industry]] for the [[Russian Armed Forces]], '''by year of manufacture'' (first flight):

{|class="wikitable nowrap"
|+ Fixed-wing aircraft
|-
! Type
! Prev.
! 2010
! 2011
! 2012
! 2013
! 2014
! 2015
! 2016
! 2017
! 2018
! 2019
! 2020
! 2021
! 2022
! Total
! Total ordered
|-
| [[Antonov An-140|An-140-100]]
| 
| 
| 
| 2
| 3
| 2
| 
|
| 1<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviacor.ru/content/view/256/37/|title=24.05.2016 "Авиакор" передал очередной самолет Ан-140 Министерству обороны РФ|website=aviacor.ru|date=24 May 2016|access-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229045422/http://www.aviacor.ru/content/view/256/37/|archive-date=29 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flot.com/2017/%D0%A2%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%A4%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%829/|title=Тихоокеанский флот получил новый транспортно-пассажирский самолет|website=flot.com|date=15 February 2017|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
| 
| 
| 
|
| '''9'''
| 
|-
| [[Antonov An-148|An-148-100E]]
| 
| 
| 
| 2
| 2
| 4
| 
| 3
| 2
| 3
| 
| 
|
|
| '''15'''
| 15
|-
| [[Beriev A-100|A-100]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 1<ref name="A-100">{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4740350|title=Российский самолет радиолокационного дозора А-100 совершил первый полет|publisher=[[TASS]]|date=18 November 2017|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
| 
| 
| 
|
|
| '''1'''
| 
|-
| [[Diamond DA42]]T
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 35<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/ural-news/4841195|title=Минобороны до конца 2019 года закупит 35 учебно-тренировочных самолетов производства УЗГА|publisher=[[TASS]]|date=25 December 2017|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ilyushin Il-76|Il-76MD-90A]]
| 
| 
| 
| 1
| 
|
|
| 1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviastar-sp.ru/press_center/company_news/2708/|title=Серийный Ил-76МД-90А, изготовленный в АО "Авиастар-СП", успешно совершил первый полёт|website=aviastar-sp.ru|date=15 December 2015|access-date=15 August 2020|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125030727/https://www.aviastar-sp.ru/press_center/company_news/2708/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|
| '''6'''<ref name="Il-76MD-90A">{{cite journal|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4357839?from=main_8|title=Минобороны переоценило транспортные самолеты|journal=Коммерсантъ|publisher=[[Kommersant]]|date=28 May 2020|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
| 27<ref name="Il-76MD-90A"/>
|-
| [[Let L-410 Turbolet|L-410UVP]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
| 
| 3<ref name="L410Dec2017">{{cite web|url=http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2017/1225/162044784/detail.shtml|title=Минобороны имеет твердый контракт на 35 учебно-тренировочных самолетов производства УЗГА|website=armstrade.org|date=25 December 2017|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>
| 
| 
|
|
| 
| 18<ref name="L410Dec2017"/>
|-
| [[Mikoyan MiG-29K|MiG-29KR/KUBR]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 2/2
| 8/2
| 10/0
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|
| '''20/4'''
| 24
|-
| [[Mikoyan MiG-29M|MiG29SMT/UBT]]
| 28/6
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 3/2
| 11/0
| 
| 
| 
|
| 
|
| '''42/8'''
| 50
|-
| [[Mikoyan MiG-35|MiG-35S/UB]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 
| 
| 
|
| 1S/1UB
| 3S/1UB <ref name="bmpd.livejournal.com">{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4240466.html|title = Поставки боевых самолетов в Вооруженные Силы России в 2020 году|date = 20 January 2021}}</ref>
|2
|
| '''8'''
| 
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27SM3]]
| 
| 4
| 8
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 4
| 6
| 
| 
|
|
| '''22'''
| 
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-30|Su-30M2]]
|
| 2
| 2
|
| 3
| 8
| 3
| 2
|
|
| 
|
|
|
| '''20'''
| 20
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-30|Su-30SM]]
|
|
|
| 2
| 14
| 21
| 27
| 21
| 17
| 14
| 
|
| 4
|
| '''120'''
| 
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-34|Su-34]]
| 3
| 4
| 6
| 10
| 14
| 18
| 18
| 16
| 16
| 12
| 8
| 4 <ref name="bmpd.livejournal.com"/>
| 6 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4444191.html|title = ВКС России получили первые в 2021 году фронтовые бомбардировщики Су-34|date = 8 December 2021}}</ref>
|
| '''135'''
| 157
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-35|Su-35S]]
|
|
|
| 2
| 8
| 24
| 12
| 12
| 10
| 10
| 10 <ref name="bmpd.livejournal.com"/>
| 10 <ref name="bmpd.livejournal.com"/>
| 3<ref>{{cite web|author=Readability |url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4448085.html |title=ВКС России получили первые в 2021 году истребители Су-35С – bmpd — LiveJournal |publisher=Bmpd.livejournal.com |date=14 December 2021 |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref>
|
| '''103'''
| 128
|-
| [[Sukhoi Su-57|Su-57]]
|
|
|
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 1
| 2
| 2<ref name="avia.pro">{{cite web|url=https://avia.pro/news/v-novosibirske-zamecheny-dva-novyh-istrebitelya-su-57|title=В Новосибирске замечены два новых истребителя Су-57|website=avia.pro|date=28 May 2022}}</ref>
| '''5'''<ref name="tass.ru">{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/10352497|title = Первый серийный истребитель Су-57 поступил в авиаполк Южного военного округа}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1390973 |title=Russian Army receives S-400, S-350 anti-aircraft missile systems — top brass – Military & Defense |publisher=TASS |date= |accessdate=14 February 2022}}</ref>
| 78
|-
| [[Tupolev Tu-154|Tu-154M]]
| 
| 
| 
| 2
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|
| '''2'''
| 
|-
| [[Tupolev Tu-204|Tu-214R/ON/PU-SBUS]]
| 1/0/0
|
| 0/1/0
| 
| 0/1/0
| 1/0/0
| 
|
| 0/0/2<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/5308264|title=Минобороны передан второй самолет – пункт управления Ту-214 ПУ-СБУС|publisher=[[TASS]]|date=20 June 2018|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
|
| 
|
|
|
| '''2/2/2'''
| 6
|-
| [[Yakovlev Yak-130|Yak-130]]
| 3
| 6
| 3
| 15
| 18
| 20
| 14
| 10
| 6
| 14
| 
| 4 <ref name="bmpd.livejournal.com"/>
| 2 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soldat.ru/news/1540.html |title=Поставки самолётов в Вооружённые Силы России в 2021 году. Часть 1 |publisher=Soldat.ru |date= |accessdate=21 February 2022}}</ref>
|
| '''115'''
| 138
|-
| '''Total'''
| 41
| 16
| 20
| 36
| 67
| 109
| 89
| 76
| 56
| 57
| 20
| 23
| 19
|
| '''629'''
| 
|-
| colspan="15" | <small>Sources:</small> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/25527/|title=Итоги 2012 года в картинках: ВВС — часть 1 (самолёты)|website=sdelanounas.ru|date=3 January 2013|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/25482/|title=Итоги 2012 года в картинках: гражданская авиация|website=sdelanounas.ru|date=31 December 2012|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/45585/|title=Итоги 2013 года в картинках: гражданская авиация|website=sdelanounas.ru|date=5 January 2014|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/1129578.html|title=Поставки военных самолетов Министерству обороны России в 2014 году|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=11 January 2015|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/2358587.html|title=Поставки боевых самолетов в Вооруженные Силы России в 2016 году|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=4 January 2017|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3036294.html|title=Поставки боевых самолетов в Вооруженные Силы России в 2017 году|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=5 January 2018|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3492645.html|title=Поставки боевых самолетов в Вооруженные Силы России в 2018 году|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=13 January 2019|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref>
|}
{| class="wikitable nowrap"
|+ Helicopters
! Type
! Prev.
! 2010
! 2011
! 2012
! 2013
! 2014
! 2015
! 2016
! 2017
! 2018
! 2019
! 2020
! Total
! Total ordered
|-
| [[Kazan Ansat|Ansat-U]]
| 6
| 2
| 5
| 6
| 6
| 6
| 6
| 3
| 10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12155580@egNews|title=В Саратовскую учебную авиабазу поступила партия новых вертолетов Ансат-У|publisher=[[Ministry of Defense (Russia)|Russian Defense Ministry]]|date=19 December 2017|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
| 
| 
| 
| '''50'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2020/135665.article|title=World Air Forces 2020|publisher=Flightglobal Insight|year=2020|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>
| 
|-
| [[Kamov Ka-31|Ka-31]]
| 
| 
| 
| 1–2
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 1–2
| 
|-
|[[Kamov Ka-50|Ka-52]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/3421686 |title=146 вертолетов Ка-52 поступят в войска до 2020 года |access-date=5 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005214/http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/3421686 |archive-date=7 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| 3
| 4
| 12
| 21
| 
| 
| 
| 14
| 12<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/552601|title=В 2017 году Минобороны получит 12 боевых вертолетов Ка-52 "Аллигатор"|website=interfax.ru|date=7 March 2017|access-date=27 June 2019}}</ref>
| 
| 
| 
| 66
| 
|-
| [[Kamov Ka-226|Ka-226]]
| 
| 
| 
| 10–11
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 10–11
| 
|-
| [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8]]/[[Mil Mi-17|Mi-17]]
| 
| 
| 
| 10
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
| [[Mil Mi-26|Mi-26T]]
| 
| 
| 4
| 7
| 4
| 4
| 
| 1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12147157@egNews|title=Завершена приемка большого транспортного вертолета Ми-26Т для авиасоединения ВВО в Хабаровском крае|website=[[Ministry of Defense (Russia)|Russian Defense Ministry]]|date=17 October 2017|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
| 3
| 
| 
| 
| 23
| 
|-
| [[Mil Mi-28|Mi-28N/UB/NM]]
| 13/0/0
| 11/0/0
| 12/0/0
| 15-18/0/0
| 14/1/0
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 3/4/2<ref name="TASS January 2019">{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6044477|title="Вертолеты России" передали военным четыре новых Ми-35М и два "Ночных охотника"|publisher=[[TASS]]|date=26 January 2019|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="RIA March 2019">{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20190307/1551631316.html|title=Минобороны получило семь новых боевых вертолетов|website=ria.ru|date=3 March 2020|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://regnum.ru/news/it/2652899.html|title=ВКС России получили два новейших боевых вертолета Ми-28НМ|website=regnum.ru|date=23 June 2019|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>
| 
| 66–69
| 
|-
| [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-24/Mi-35M]]
| 
| 
| 6
| 10–29
| 28
| 16
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 4/6<ref name="TASS January 2019"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/defense/1085565|title=Army aviation brigade in Urals gets four Mi-24P attack helicopters|website=[[TASS]]|date=28 October 2019|access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref>
| 
| 70–89
| 
|-
| '''Total'''
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 250–274
| 
|-
| colspan="15" | <small>Sources:</small> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/28241/|title=Итоги 2012 года в картинках: ВВС — часть 2 (вертолёты)|website=sdelanounas.ru|date=2 February 2013|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/491764.html|title=Производство вертолетов на КВЗ, КумАПП и ААК "Прогресс" в 2012 году|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=3 April 2019|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/884607.html|title=Итоги работы "Роствертола" в 2013 году|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=12 June 2014|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/1336812.html|title=Итоги деятельности ОАО "Роствертол" в 2014 году|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=12 June 2015|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>
|}

==Future of the Russian Air Force==
{{Update section|date=December 2025}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Aircraft
! Origin
! Class
! Role
! Status
! Notes
|-
| [[Beriev A-100]] || Russia || Jet || AWACS|| 2 prototypes || Replacement for A-50<ref name="A-100"/>
|-
| [[Ilyushin Il-78|Ilyushin Il-78MD-90A]] || Russia || Jet || Tanker || 1 prototype || Replacement for Il-78<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4901363|title=Новейший топливозаправщик Ил-78М-90А совершил первый полет|publisher=[[TASS]]|date=25 January 2018|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> 10 ordered, production starting in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/russian-defense-ministry-signs-contract-to-ge-1117489.html|title=Russian Defense Ministry Signs Contract To Get 10 Modern Tanker Planes - Deputy Minister|website=UrduPoint}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ilyushin Il-112|Ilyushin Il-212]] || Russia || Jet|| Transport || 2 prototypes || Replacement for An-26 & An-72
|-
| [[Ilyushin Il-106 PAK VTA]] || Russia || Jet || Transport || In development || Future super-heavy transport airplane<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2016/2/11/4995/|title=Russia to Build World's Biggest and Fastest Air Freighter|publisher=ruaviation.com|access-date=11 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726153541/https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2016/2/11/4995/|archive-date=26 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25712/russia-is-looking-back-to-the-future-to-replace-its-giant-an-124-cargo-aircraft | title=Russia Wants to Replace its Giant An-124 Airlifters with Updated Decades-Old Design | date=30 December 2018 | access-date=30 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230211208/http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25712/russia-is-looking-back-to-the-future-to-replace-its-giant-an-124-cargo-aircraft | archive-date=30 December 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kamov Ka-60|Kamov Ka-60/62]] || Russia || Rotorcraft || Transport || 2 prototypes || Certification of the Ka-62 expected to begin until the end of 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.russianhelicopters.aero/ru/press/news/perelet_ka62_ostrov_russiy/|title=Новейший российский вертолет совершил первый перелет на остров Русский|website=russianhelicopters.aero|date=6 September 2018|access-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109165449/https://www.russianhelicopters.aero/ru/press/news/perelet_ka62_ostrov_russiy/|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mikoyan MiG-41]] || Russia || Jet || Interceptor || In study || New long-range interceptor, to replace the MiG-31 after 2025<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.com/defense/1017603|title=Russia's MiG aircraft corporation working on fifth-generation fighter jet|date=17 August 2018|publisher=[[TASS]]|access-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911231008/http://tass.com/defense/1017603|archive-date=11 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mil Mi-38]]T || Russia || Rotorcraft || Transport || 4 prototypes || Serial production expected after 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.russianhelicopters.aero/ru/kvz/news/5437.html|title=Состоялся первый полет нового вертолета Ми-38 с российскими двигателями ТВ7–117В|access-date=24 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051532/http://www.russianhelicopters.aero/ru/kvz/news/5437.html|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B|Sukhoi Okhotnik]]|| Russia || Jet || Stealth UCAV || 2 prototypes || Stealth UCAV, encompassing some technologies of the Su-57<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6054472|title=Источник: системы БПЛА "Охотник" испытывают на Су-57|website=[[TASS]]|date=29 January 2019|access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tupolev PAK DA]] || Russia || Jet || Stealth bomber || In development || Future stealth strategic bomber, first flight expected in mid-2020s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tass.com/defense/1018255|title=Russia completes work on conceptual design of next-generation strategic bomber|date=22 August 2018|publisher=[[TASS]]|access-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225421/http://tass.com/defense/1018255|archive-date=11 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tupolev Tu-160]]M2 || Russia || Jet || Bomber || 4 delivered<ref>{{cite web | last=Nikolov | first=Boyko | title=Putin joins Kazan to unveil four deeply upgraded Tu-160M bombers | website=Bulgarian Military Industry Review | date=21 February 2024 | url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2024/02/21/putin-joins-kazan-to-unveil-four-deeply-upgraded-tu-160m-bombers/ | access-date=14 September 2024}}</ref> || 10 on order<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=0&nid=472105|title=Интерфакс-Агентство Военных Новостей|website=www.militarynews.ru|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726104236/http://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=0&nid=472105|archive-date=26 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Yakovlev Yak-152]] || Russia || Propeller || Trainer || 4 prototypes || 150 on order for GVP 2018–2027<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.ria.ru/economy/20160217/1375951471.html?rubric=archive|title=Испытания учебно-тренировочного самолета Як-152 завершатся в июле|work=РИА Новости|access-date=7 March 2016|date=17 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20160607/1443847270.html|title=Минобороны заказало 150 легких тренировочных самолетов Як-152|date=7 July 2016|publisher=ria.ru|access-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143356/https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20160607/1443847270.html|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

<gallery widths=180>
File:Sukhoi T-50 Maksimov.jpg|[[Sukhoi Su-57]]
File:Tupolev Tu-22M3 at Ryazan Dyagilevo.jpg|[[Tupolev Tu-22M]]
File:MTS Il214 maks2009.jpg|[[Ilyushin Il-276]]
File:Ilyushin Il-112.png|Ilyushin Il-112
File:Russian Air Force Ka-60.jpg|[[Kamov Ka-60]]
File:38013 MI38 Mil Design Bureau ZIA UUBW (33470419182).jpg|[[Mi-38]]
File:Yakovlev Yak-130 2.jpg|[[Yakovlev Yak-130]]
File:Яковлев Як-152.jpg|[[Yak-152]]
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Awards and emblems of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation]]
*[[Orders, decorations, and medals of Russia]]
*[[Honorary titles of Russia]]
*[[List of Russian aviators]]
*[[Air Intelligence of Russia]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Sources ==
*Higham, Robin (editor). ''Russian Aviation and Air Power in the Twentieth Century''. Routledge, 1998. {{ISBN|0-7146-4784-5}}
*Palmer, Scott W. ''Dictatorship of the Air: Aviation Culture and the Fate of Modern Russia''. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. {{ISBN|0-521-85957-3}}

== Further reading ==
Further sources include:
*Piotr Butowsky. Force Report: Russian Air Force, Air Forces Monthly, August 2007 issue
*Pyotr Butowski, Air Power Analysis: Russian Federation, Part 2, International Air Power Review, Airtime Publishing, No.13, Summer 2004 (also Part 1 in a previous issue)
*Yefim Gordon, Dmitriy Komissarov, Russian Air Power, 2009 and 2011
*[[Kommersant]]-Vlast, [http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1014594 State of Russia's Air Forces 2008] No.33 (786) 25 August 2008 {{in lang|ru}}
*{{cite journal|script-title=ru:Что такое современная армия России|trans-title=What is the modern army of Russia|language=ru|journal=Vlast|issue=610|publisher=[[Kommersant]]|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=548978|date=21 February 2005|volume=7|access-date=20 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114072034/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=548978|archive-date=14 November 2007}}
*Aleksandr Stukalin, Mikail Lukin, 'Vys Rossiyskaya Armiya', Kommersant-Vlast, Moscow, Russia, (14 May 2002)

==External links==
{{Commons category|Air force of Russia}}
*[http://eng.mil.ru/en/structure/forces/air.htm Russian Air Force Official site] (English)
*[[Kommersant]]-Vlast, [http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1014594 State of Russia's Air Forces 2008] No.33 (786) 25 August 2008 {{in lang|ru}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051226070822/http://www.scramble.nl/ru.htm VVS Order of Battle] (scramble.nl)
*[http://www.foxbat.ru/maks/makc.htm Photos Russian Air Force]
*[http://www.jetdiscovery.com/wiki/ Russian Military Aviation]

{{Armed Forces of the Russian Federation}}
{{Russian Air Force}}
{{Air Forces of the countries former Soviet Union}}
{{Asian topic
 |title  = Air Forces in Asia
 |suffix = _Air_Force
 |countries_only=yes |UK_only=yes
}}
{{Air forces in Europe}}
{{Air forces}}
{{Moscow Victory Parade}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Russian Air Force| ]]
[[Category:Military of Russia]]
[[Category:Russian military aviation]]