| Belarusian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | 15 June 1992 - present |
| Country | Belarus |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-25, Mi-24 |
| Bomber | Su-24 |
| Fighter | MiG-29, Su-27 |
| Trainer | L-39 |
| Transport | An-12, An-24, An-26, Il-76, Mi-8, Tu-134 |
The Belarussian Air Force is the air force of the Armed Forces of Belarus, formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Byelorussian SSR.
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In accordance with an edict of the President of Belarus in 2001, the Air Force, and Air Defense troops were created as one of the arms of the Armed Forces of Belarus. The VVS and Air Defense forces are intended to protect population centres such as cities and regions, as well as the administrative, industrial, economic interests of the Republic. They are also intended to defend troops from the impacts of enemy air attacks, and also against the attacks of hostile troops, as well as fire support and the guarantee of combat operations of ground forces.
In peacetime, VVS and Air Defense forces are on standby to protect the state boundary in the air and also control of Belarussian airspace.
The Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Belarus are organized into six major flying regiments, including two interceptor, three strike, and a reconnaissance regiments. The air force consists of more than 22,000 personnel, though this number is being reduced. Prior to August 2010, there were 6 primary airbases: Machulishi (50th Mixed Airbase), Lida (206th Assault Base), Baranovichi (61st Fighter Base), Ross (116th Bomber-Recon), Pruzany (181st Combat Helicopter Base), and Bereza (927th Fighter Base). [1]. There are 4 active airbases: Machulishi, Lida, Pruzany, and Baranovichi now (December 2011)[2][3]. The Air Force is responsible for all military aviation, as the Army maintains no aircraft of its own.
The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force.
On 5 May 1942 on the basis of the Air Forces of the Western Front the 1st Air Army was created.[4] By General Staff order of 10 January 1949 the Army became the 26th Air Army (ГШ ВС СССР № ОРГ 120026). In 1980, the 26th Air Army was redesignated the Air Forces of the Belorussian Military District (ГШ ВС СССР 1980 года № 314/1/00170). On 1 May 1988, in accordance with the Ministry of Defence of the USSR's Decree № 0018, the Air Forces of the District were again renamed the 26th Air Army. On 15 June 1992, by decree № 05 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, the 26th Air Army headquarters became the command of the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
On 20 April 2009, two MiG-29 aircraft were performing an exercise when they both collided. One managed to land safely, while the other crashed.
A Su-27UBM aircraft crashed on the second day of the Air Show 2009 in Radom killing both pilots.
On 30 November 2011, a Mi-24 helicopter crashed in a small forest near the village of Novye Zasimovichi.[5] According to eyewitnesses, thick fog fell the previous evening.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[6] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter/Bomber/CAS Aircraft | ||||||
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 | Soviet Union | fighter | MiG-29 | 38 | At least 5 MiG-29.13 have been upgraded to MiG-29BM. One crashed. | |
| Sukhoi Su-27 | Soviet Union | fighter | Su-27P
Su-27UBM1 |
14
3 |
"Su-27P: standard version but without air-to-ground weapons control system and wiring. Often designated Su-27 without -P." [7] All 4 Su-27UB's have been upgraded to Su-27UBM1. One Su-27UBM1 crashed in an accident during 2009 Radom Air Show in Radom (Poland) on the 30th of August 2009.[8] |
|
| Sukhoi Su-24 | Soviet Union | strike | Su-24M
Su-24MR |
29
6 |
||
| Sukhoi Su-25 | Soviet Union | close air support | Su-25
Su-25UB |
40
6 |
||
| Transport and Liaison Aircraft | ||||||
| Antonov An-12 | Soviet Union | transport | An-12BP | 6 | ||
| Antonov An-24 | Soviet Union | transport | An-24 | 1 | ||
| Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | transport | An-26RT | 6 | ||
| Ilyushin Il-76 | Soviet Union | transport | Il-76MD | 4 | ||
| Tupolev Tu-134 | Soviet Union | VIP transport | Tu-134A | 1 | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| Aero L-39 | Czechoslovakia | trainer | L-39C | 10 | ||
| Attack Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | attack | Mi-24V Mi-24P |
14 12 |
One lost in crash on 30 November 2011. | |
| Transport and Utility Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | transport/attack | Mi-8 | 129 | At least 2 Mi-8MT have been upgraded to Mi-8MTKO. | |
| Mil Mi-6 | Soviet Union | transport | Mi-6 | 15 | ||
| Mil Mi-26 | Soviet Union | transport | Mi-26 | 14 | ||
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