Ukrainian Air Force

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The Ukrainian Air Force (Ukrainian: Повітряні Сили України, Povitryani Syly Ukrayiny) is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Command and headquarters are located in the city of Vinnytsia. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, a large number of aircraft were left on Ukrainian territory. Ever since, the Ukrainian air force has been downsizing and upgrading its forces. But in spite of these efforts, the main inventory of the air force consists of Soviet made aircraft. Currently 100,000 personnel and 330 aircraft are in service in the Ukrainian air force and air defense forces.[1] All ICBMs and strategic bombers have been taken out of service (some however were given to Russia).

Contents

[edit] Mission

Ukrainian Air Corps patch
Ukrainian Air Corps patch

The primary tasks of the Air Force of Ukraine are: winning operational air superiority, delivering air strikes against enemy units and facilities, covering troops against enemy air strikes, providing air support to the Land Force and the Navy, disrupting enemy military and state management, damaging and destroying enemy communication, and providing support by air in the form of reconnaissance, air drops, troops and cargo transportation.

The major mission of the Air Force is to protect the air space of Ukraine. During peace-time, this is carried out by flying air-space control missions over the entire territory of Ukraine (603,700 square km), and by preventing air space intrusion along the aerial borders (totaling almost 7, 000 km, including 5,600 km of land and 1,400 km of sea). Every single day, more than 2,200 service personnel and civilian employees of the Air Force, employing 400 items of weapons and equipment, are summoned to perform defense duties. On average, the Ukrainian radar forces detect and track more than 1,000 targets daily. As a result, in 2006 two illegal crossings of the state border were prevented and 28 violations of Ukrainian air space were prevented. Due to such increased strengthening of air space control, the number of air space violations decreased by 35% compared to the previous year, even though the amount of air traffic increased by 30%. [2]

[edit] History

Ukrainian Air Force
Повітряні Сили України
Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny

Emblem of Ukrainian Air Force
Founded 17 March 1992 -
Country Ukraine
Size 55,000 personnel
817 aircraft [3]
PS Command Vinnytsia
Commanders
Commander Lieutenant General Toropchyn [3]
Insignia
Air Force flag
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Attack Su-24, Su-25, Mi-24
Bomber Su-24MK/M
Fighter Su-27, MiG-29
Reconnaissance An-30, Su-24MR
Trainer L-39, Yak-52
Transport Il-76, Antonov An-124, An-12, An-24, An-26, An-32, An-30, An-72, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26, Mi-6

[edit] Collapse of the USSR

The Ukrainian Air Force was established on March 17, 1992, in accordance with a Directive of the General Staff Chief of the Armed Forces. The headquarters of the 24th Air Army of the Soviet Air Force in Vinnytsia served as the basis to create the Air Force Command. The new Air Force inherrited a number of Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' which were based at Pryluky but have now been returned to Russia or broken up. Ukraine also operated Tupolev Tu-22Ms and as well as Tupolev Tu-95s for a period after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but these have all been scrapped, apart from a handful displayed in museums.

[edit] Current Air Force

The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates that Ukraine's Air Force includes three Sukhoi Su-24 regiments, 7 regiments with Mikoyan MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-27, two regiments with Sukhoi Su-25, two regiments with 29 Su-24MR, three transport regiments, some support helicopter squadrons, one helicopter training regiment, and five air training regiments with 120 L-39 Albatros. They are grouped into the 5th and 14th Aviation Corps, the 35th Aviation Group, which is a multi-role rapid reaction formation, and a training aviation command. The IISS assesses the overall force size as 817 aircraft of all types and 49,100 personnel. Russian sources disagree and list three aviation groups (West, South, and Center).[4]

[edit] Developments and reforms

In 2006, a large number of aging weapons and equipment was decommissioned from combat service by the Air Force. This presented an opportunity to use the released funds to the modernization of various items of aviation and anti-aircraft artillery weapons and equipment, radio communication equipment, and flight maintenance equipment, as well as an improvement of Air Force personnel training.

The automated systems of collection, processing and transmission of radio information have been adopted as a component part of the Automated Command and Control System for aviation and air defense. Operational service testing of the circular surveillance radar station has also been completed. Prototypes of high-precision weapons systems, electronic warfare devices, and navigation equipment have been created and developed for state testing.

The AN-24 and AN-26 aircraft, as well as the anti-aircraft artillery systems S-300 and “Buk M1”, have been continually modernized, and their service life has been extended. An organizational basis and technological means for modernizing MiG-29, Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, L-39 has been produced. Given sufficient funding from the Verkhovna Rada, the Defense Industrial Complex of Ukraine, in cooperation with foreign companies and manufacturers, is capable of fully renewing the aircraft arsenal of the Ukrainian armed forces.

The structural reorganization of the Air Force had set as goals for itself the sufficiently reducing the total number of command and control levels, and increasing the efficiency of command and control processes. The reorganization of command and control elements of the air force is still underway. The first step of this organization was to transition from the existing air commands to the Command and Control (C2) and warning center systems.

A Ukrainian Air Force base. (All Su-27s)
A Ukrainian Air Force base. (All Su-27s)

This will not only help eliminate duplications at the command and control levels, but will also contribute to an increased centralization of the command and control system, the multi-functionality of the command and control elements, and effectiveness of response to the change of air conditions. 2006 saw the definition of the functions and tasks, organization and work of the C2 and Warning Center as well as the mechanism of interaction with the establishment of the Air Operations Center and Joint Operational Command. During the command and staff exercise one of the Air Force Commands has in effect performed control of “C2 and Warning Center – formation (unit)” level.

[edit] Future Plans

All Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23s have been out of service for some time. In 2005, the UAF was planning to restructure in an effort to improve efficiency. Moreover, Ukraine is planning to put more advanced jet aircraft into service in upcoming years. Even upgraded aircraft will be able to fly no longer than up to the year 2015. This means that from approximately 2012, Ukraine will have to either take bold steps to create a new combat aircraft or purchase a large number of existing combat aircraft.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Training

Training activities have taken on a qualitatively new character due to their complexity, including the simultaneous employment of all branches of the Air Force aviation, anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops in close teamwork with units of other armed services of the Armed Forces. Operational and combat training has included the following activities:

  • aviation units have performed more than 6,000 tasks in combat scenarios (including more than 1,500 air battles and interceptions, 629 firing at land-based targets, 530 bombings, 21 launches of air missiles, 454 tasks in aerial surveillance, 454 airborne landings, 740 airlifts, 575 flight shifts for a total of 10,553 flying hours);
  • five tactical flying missions in a squadron, 14 in a pair and 5 in a flight organization have been carried out to perform the assigned combat tasks, and 54 pilots have been trained to perform specific tasks in difficult meteorological conditions;
  • the number of flight crews being trained to defend the air space of the country and counter-terrorism air operations has almost doubled from 46 in 2005 to 90 in 2006; the units of anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops carried out 50 maneuvers involving redeployment, with each operator tracking 70 and 140 real and simulated targets, respectively.

In early September of 2007, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted the most large-scale training of its aircraft to date. As the Defense Minister of Ukraine, Anatoliy Hrytsenko stated, "The most large-scale, during the whole 16 years of the Ukrainian independence, training of fighting aircraft, which defends our air space, was carried out during September 4-5". According to him, they fulfilled 45 battle launches of “air-air” missiles, out of them 22 during the day and 23- at night. 35 pilots confirmed their high skills during the training. Hrytsenko stressed that 100% of air targets were hit. [5] [6]

[edit] Joint Training

The joint training of the Air Force of Ukraine and the air force of the Russian Federation in the practical control of their air defense Stand-by Forces has become more systematic. Moreover, interoperability has been achieved between the forces of Ukraine and the command and control elements of the Air defense of the Russian Federation during the detecting, tracking, and neutralizing of air targets during simulated terrorist attacks.

[edit] Air Defense Forces

The Air Defense Force is a relatively new service within the Armed Forces, established in 2004-2005, through the merging of the Air Force and the Air Defense Force. It allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to adopt the tri-service structure, common to most modern armies.

The Air Defense of Ukraine performs key tasks in the protection of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders and air space. It has clearly defined functions in both peacetime and wartime, is intended to prevent any enemy air and missile strikes, to defend the most important administrative, political and industrial centers, to aid in the concentration of Army and Navy units, to intercept enemy aircraft and other military objects, and to protect against enemy air and cruise missile strikes.

[edit] Structure

An incomplete structure of the Ukrainian air force. Ukraine has approximately 50 Air bases

  • 137th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade[8]
  • 55th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade[8]
  • 208th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade[7]
  • 40th Radar Brigade[8]
  • 96th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade - Kiev [7]
  • 108th Anti-Aircraft Artillery regiment [7]
  • 302th Anti-Aircraft Artillery regiment [7]
  • 223th Anti-Aircraft Artillery regiment [7]
  • 540th Anti-Aircraft Artillery regiment - Lviv [7]

[edit] Gallery of images

Ukrainian Su-27

A line of Ukrainian MiG-29s during inspection

Ukrainian MiG-29

Ukrainian MiG-29UB

Ukrainian Su-25

Ukrainian Su-25

Former Ukrainian Tu-22М3

Ukrainian transport helicopter Mi-26

Ukrainian Falcons MiG-29

Ukrainian Reconnaissance aircraft An-30

An-70, Ukrainian Air Force transport

Ukrainian Mil Mi-24

[edit] Aircraft Inventory

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Please update the article to reflect recent events / newly available information, and remove this template when finished.
Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[9] Notes
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union fighter Total
MiG-29
MiG-29S
MiG-29A
Mig-29M
MiG-29UB		 217 [10]
Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union fighter Total
Su-27
Su-27S
Su-27C
Su-27P
Su-27UB		 80
Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union attack Total
Su-24
Su-24M
Su-24MK
Su-24MR
Su-24MP		 250
Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union attack Total
Su-25
Su-25T
Su-25UB
Su-25BM		 78
Ilyushin Il-76 Candid Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union transport
Il-76
Il-76MD		 160 [10]
Ilyushin Il-78 Midas Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union aerial refueling Il-78
Il-78M		 18 [10]
Antonov An-12 Cub Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union transport An-12 18 [10]
Antonov An-24 Coke Flag of Ukraine Ukraine transport An-24
An-24P		 13
Antonov An-26 Curl Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine		 transport An-26
An-26B[11]		 28
Antonov An-30 Clank Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union reconnaissance An-30 12
Antonov An-32 Flag of Ukraine Ukraine transport An-32 4
Antonov An-72 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine		 transport An-72 26
Antonov An-70 Flag of Russia Russia
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine		 transport An-70 7
Antonov An-124 Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine		 transport An-124 3 [12]
Tupolev Tu-134 Crusty Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union transport Tu-134 5 used for VIP flights
Mil Mi-24 Hind Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union attack helicopter Mi-24 245 [13]
Mil Mi-8 Hip Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union transport helicopter Mi-8 140 [10]
Mil Mi-17 Hip-H Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union transport helicopter Mi-17 100[citation needed]
Mil Mi-26 Halo Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union transport helicopter Mi-26 25 [10]
Mil Mi-6 hook Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union transport helicopter Mi-6 14
Aero L-39 Albatros Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia training L-39 350 [10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Air Forces Monthly, December 2007 issue, p.64.
  2. ^ Book_WP_2006_ENG_nver.indd
  3. ^ a b Trendafilovski, Vladimir (March 2006). "Ukrainian Reforms". AirForces Monthly (#216): pp. 32-39. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m http://www8.brinkster.com/vad777/sng/ukraine/ukraine_vvs_chasti.htm
  5. ^ Book_WP_2006_ENG_nver.indd
  6. ^ UNIAN - Ukrainian Air Force carried out the most large-scale training of fighting aircraft
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Вооруженные силы Украины
  8. ^ a b c untitled
  9. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Ukraine - Air Force Equipment
  11. ^ (Ukrainian) Cadets jump from from An-26B
  12. ^ Ukraine Weapons
  13. ^ Air Forces Monthly, December 2007 issue, p.18.
General Sources

[edit] External links

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