A feature of the Russian Air Force is that they must provide the ability to solve combat missions in almost the entire known range of physical, geographical and climatic conditions, day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions. Such a wide range of conditions of use predetermined the need to create a unique system of weapons for the Air Force.
In modern conditions, the Air Force is solving a whole range of tasks to ensure the country's security in peacetime and wartime.
In peacetime, the main ones are:
- carrying out combat duty by the established composition of the air defense and aviation forces;
- airspace control and protection of the state border in the airspace.
In wartime, the efforts of the Air Force will be aimed at:
- covering objects from enemy air strikes;
- the conquest and retention of air supremacy;
- defeat of land and sea groupings of the enemy;
- defeat of strategic and operational reserves;
- violation of enemy communications;
- disorganization of military and state administration;
- weakening of the military-economic potential of the enemy;
- Operational transportation of troops, equipment and materiel and the release of assault forces;
- conducting aerial reconnaissance.
Today, the Air Force includes aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops and radio-technical troops, which are branches of the Air Force, as well as special troops, rear services, support and protection units of military command and control bodies.
Obviously, the ability of the Air Force to carry out missions as intended largely depends on the quality and quantity of aviation equipment and weapons supplied to the troops.
Unfortunately, for various reasons, for a number of years, the supply of new aircraft to the Air Force was extremely insignificant. Currently, the situation has begun to change dramatically. If in 2007 the Air Force purchased one aircraft, in 2008 - two, then in 2009 - already more than 30. At the same time, for the first time since the beginning of the 90s. The Air Force received new MiG fighters - three dozen at once
MiG-29SMT and MiG-29UB. Two more new aircraft were delivered to the Air Force last year by the Sukhoi company: on December 19, to the Center for Combat Use and Retraining of Flight Personnel in Lipetsk from the factory airfield NAPO im. V. P. Chkalov, a pair of regular Su-34s flew over in Novosibirsk. These aircraft are not yet among the 32 new Su-34s, which are being built at NAPO under a five-year contract signed at the end of December 2008, and are completing a long-running previous order. In addition, in 2009, the first serial combat trainer of the new generation Yak-130 was built and handed over to the Air Force. Since 2009, it was decided to resume production of new Su-25SM aircraft in a two-seat version, called the Su-25UBM.
To replace the Mi-24V (P) helicopters, which form the basis of the attack helicopter fleet, the new generation Mi-28N "Night Hunter" and Ka-52 "Alligator" helicopters are being developed and have already begun to enter service. geographic and meteorological conditions. They have more powerful weapons that provide selective destruction of targets in a complex tactical situation. A feature of the Ka-52 helicopter is the ability to use it for solving special tasks - transmitting information about the tactical situation in the combat area, laser illumination of targets, as well as organizing communications and transmitting intelligence information. The Mi-28N helicopter was adopted by the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2009, and its deliveries began. The Ka-52 helicopter is at the stage of state joint testing (GSI). Based on the results of the preliminary conclusion of the State Tax Inspectorate, work is underway to build a pilot batch of Ka-52 helicopters. The first production vehicles of this type were delivered to the Center for Combat Use and Flight Personnel Retraining in Torzhok in March 2010. Serial deliveries of the Ka-52 helicopter are planned to begin in 2011.
It is planned to improve the flight personnel training system for the helicopter structures of the RF Armed Forces through the purchase of light training helicopters Ansat-U and Ka-60U. The Ansat-U helicopter completed all tests in 2008, and since 2009 has been serially supplied to the Air Force as a training vehicle. In 2009, preliminary tests of the Ka-60U helicopter continued. In 2010, it is planned to transfer it to state joint tests.
A significant achievement of the last year was the conclusion on August 18 of three state contracts for the supply of the Russian Air Force in the period 2010-2015. a total of 64 new Sukhoi combat aircraft. Among them are 48 multifunctional super-maneuverable Su-35S fighters (delivery period - from 2010 to 2015), 12 modernized Su-27SM and four two-seat Su-30M2 (delivery period - until the end of 2011). Total for 2008-2009 long-term contracts were signed for the supply of 130 combat aircraft.
In the current 2010, it is planned to purchase more than 70 aircraft and helicopters for the needs of the Air Force.
In addition to purchasing new aviation equipment, the Air Force continues to modernize the formation technology and develop new promising models.
In the coming years, the Air Force will be armed with a promising front-line aviation complex. Compared to fighters of previous generations, the PAK FA has a number of unique features, combining the functions of an attack aircraft and a fighter. The fifth generation aircraft is equipped with a fundamentally new avionics complex that integrates the "electronic pilot" function, and a promising airborne radar station with an active phased antenna array. This greatly reduces the workload on the pilot and allows him to concentrate on performing tactical tasks. The onboard equipment of the new aircraft allows real-time data exchange with both ground control systems and within the aviation group. The first flight of this aircraft took place on January 29, 2010. The first stage of testing has now been completed. In their process, the stability and controllability of the aircraft, the operation of the engine and main systems were assessed, and the range of speeds and altitudes of the fighter's tests was significantly expanded.
It is planned to assemble a modernized military transport aircraft, only outwardly similar to the well-deserved "truck" Il-76 - "product 476", which is practically a new aircraft.
To meet the needs of the Air Force for the re-equipment of military vehicles for new aviation equipment, it is planned to complete the development and begin the procurement of light and medium military transport aircraft. For this purpose, a new generation Il-112V light military transport aircraft is being developed, which, in comparison with its predecessor, will have expanded capabilities for the transportation and landing of light weapons and military equipment. The first flight of the head Il-112V may take place in January-February 2011. To replace the An-12 aircraft, a promising medium military-technical cooperation is being worked out, the interest in the development of which was also shown by the Air Force of the Republic of India.
It is planned to continue further joint work with Ukraine on the creation and testing of the An-70 operational-tactical military transport aircraft.
An effective policy for the development and procurement of new aviation equipment will not only ensure the re-equipment of the Air Force aviation, but will also give the necessary impetus for the development of basic competitive technologies, including aircraft construction and the creation of aircraft engines, will lead to the creation of new structural materials, the introduction of advanced technologies, the development of machine park and technological equipment of industrial enterprises in the interests of the development of the most important sectors of the Russian economy.
Last year, the main efforts of the Air Force command were focused on shaping the forward-looking appearance of the Air Force, increasing its combat effectiveness and combat readiness, as well as ensuring that the parameters of the number of military personnel established for peacetime are reached.
In the future, the main goal of building the Air Force is to create a qualitatively new type of service for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It should become the basis of the state's aerospace defense system and be able, in cooperation with other types of the RF Armed Forces, to ensure the containment of potential aggressors in peacetime, and in the military - to repel armed aggression with all available arsenal of weapons.
The development of the arms (troops) of the Air Force - aviation, anti-aircraft missile and radio-technical troops - is planned to be carried out in the direction of improving the quality, the level of their provision and staffing, re-equipping with new and modernized models of weapons, military and special equipment, increasing the level of training and combat training crews and combat crews, the quality of combat and operational training of military units and air force formations.
In long-range aviation, the main emphasis will be placed on ensuring a given level of constant combat readiness of aviation strategic nuclear forces, as well as improving the forms and methods of operational and combat use.
In military transport aviation - to maintain the capabilities to ensure the inter-theater maneuver of troops (forces) and airborne assault landing.
In front-line aviation - to maintain and build up the combat capabilities of the existing aviation fleet to perform basic tasks in peacetime and wartime, as well as the creation and development of modern and promising multifunctional aviation complexes in combat units.
In the army aviation, the main directions for the development of helicopters will be to ensure round-the-clock combat use, increase the effectiveness of destruction of ground targets, improve flight performance, increase survival, navigation accuracy, and increase the noise immunity of communications equipment.
In the current and foreseeable future conditions of the development of the military-political situation, the Air Force will play a decisive role in ensuring the military security of the Russian Federation both in peacetime and in wartime. The Air Force High Command will make every possible effort to strengthen the country's defense capability.
