In honor of the anniversary of the Air Force, the military will show unique aircraft for the first time. At the parade in honor of the anniversary of the Air Force, aircraft from the times of the Second World War will perform New, modern, maneuverable
The Russian Air Force is celebrating 105 years since its founding. Since 2015, the successor of the Air Force has been a new branch of the Armed Forces - the Aerospace Forces. This year, the main holiday of military aviation will be celebrated with a grandiose air festival, displays of unique historical aircraft and the latest models of aircraft.
Formation of the Air Force
On August 12, 1912, an order was issued according to which the State of the aeronautical unit of the General Staff was put into operation. This day is considered to be the beginning of the creation of Russian military aviation.
By the beginning of the First World War, the Russian air fleet already had 39 squadrons and more than 250 aircraft. In those years, the main function of aviation was reconnaissance. After the appearance of the famous Ilya Muromets bomber developed by Sikorsky, long-range aviation began to develop.
Today, the Air Force includes long-range, front-line, military transport and army aviation, which, in turn, include bomber, attack, fighter, reconnaissance, transport and special aviation.
In 2015, in accordance with the decree of the President of Russia, the Air Force was merged with the Aerospace Defense Forces and formed a new type of troops - the Aerospace Forces (VKS).
Now the latest Su-35, Su-30SM, Su-34 fighters, modernized MiG-31BM interceptors, Mi-35M attack helicopters, Yak-130 combat training aircraft are actively entering the Russian Aerospace Forces. In the coming years, the super-maneuverable MiG-35 and fifth-generation PAK FA fighters will be put into service.
Not just an air show
This year, in honor of the 105th anniversary of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense will hold a grandiose aviation festival "Forsage-2017". The event will take place on August 12 on the territory of the Patriot Military-Patriotic Park of Culture and Recreation.
The aviation festival will run for two and a half hours. More than 150 aircraft will fly over the skies over the Patriot Park - from restored veteran aircraft of the First and Second World Wars to fifth-generation PAK FA fighters.
Infographics: Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper
In particular, among the rare cars you can see the Yak-52, Yak-30, Yak-18, Douglas DS-3, Po-2, Il-2, MiG-3, MiG-15UTI. It is expected that the legendary training aircraft UT-2, which was once piloted by Valery Chkalov, will be involved in demonstration flights.
All types of modern aircraft and helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces will take part in the large-scale aviation show. These are A-50, An-148, Il-76, Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, Su-34, Su-35, Su-24, MiG-31 and others. The latest MiG-35 and PAK FA fighters will also fly over the Patriot.
Aerobatics teams traditionally take part in the parade: Swifts, Russian Knights, Falcons of Russia and Berkuts - the only air group in Russia on Mi-28N helicopters. The air show will traditionally end with a flight of several Su-25 attack aircraft, which will “draw” the Russian flag in the sky.
August 12 in Russia is the Day of the Aerospace Forces. Domestic military aviation - 105 years. The culmination of the holiday is a grand air show with the participation of more than 150 aircraft in Kubinka. On the ground and in the sky, the entire history of the air fleet - from the first aircraft to fifth-generation fighters. The main news of the day was announced by the Minister of Defense.
There are thousands of people in the stands at Patriot Park. All eyes are on the sky, where the Swifts replace the Russian Knights, and those - the Falcons of Russia. From the number of aces gathered in one place at one time, the head is spinning, even if it is not turned up.
On the occasion of the holiday, the Aerospace Forces raised their everything into the sky near Moscow - there are literally all types of aircraft and helicopters that they are armed with. In total, more than 150 cars participate in the festival!
Planes were sent here from 10 airfields - aerobatic teams from Kubinka, helicopters from Klin, latest generation fighters from Zhukovsky. And it's not just the amount of technology. In addition to the widely represented modern machines, flying rarities also took to the skies - restored aircraft of the Second and even First World Wars - Yaks, the first MiGs. Here is the "Douglas" - at the helm is the former commander-in-chief of the Air Force Pyotr Deinekin, this is 79 years old!
On the ground and in the sky, a historical reconstruction is being played out, which ends with our victory. After that, the attention of the audience switches to the heroes of our days. The pride of the Aerospace Forces - the Su-35S - winds up figures at supercritical angles of attack. And the most anticipated event, one of the most spectacular, is a demonstrative air battle between two fifth-generation T-50 fighters, or Su-57: just the day before it became known that this is the serial name that the super fighter will receive, which they plan to replace the good old Su-27 in the Russian Aerospace Forces .
The T-50 was presented to the general public six years ago, then it was, as they say, a development for the future - and now it has come: the Su-57 troops will begin to arrive from next year.
The holiday began with an almost always obligatory, and certainly inevitable, solemn part in the army. Construction of personnel, report, anthem. On this officialdom ended. The commander in chief's message is warm and sincere.
“I want to express my deep gratitude to your families: wives, children, relatives, loved ones for believing in you and us, for waiting for us from flights, from long business trips, supporting you and us to fulfill any task," said Viktor Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The spectators also seem to be imbued with this spirit. Wives and daughters are somewhere near their beloved men - even those who do not really see the action, but only hear. In general, it’s just a huge number of ladies among the spectators that is striking - and they also say that military aviation is not a woman’s business.
“How not feminine?! Tereshkova flew in flight? And the partisans? Our women, old ladies? My grandmother is a veteran!” - the guest of the holiday objects.
We receive weighty confirmation from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Before the start of the show, he visited the historical exposition, where, in particular, they sang "Smuglyanka" to him. And then, in an interview with Channel One, the minister announced some very unexpected news on a women's topic: soon military aircraft will be piloted by ladies.
“A huge number of girls who would like to become military pilots. We received hundreds of letters. We cannot but respond to this request. This year we will recruit the first group to the Krasnodar Military Aviation School. From October 1 this year, the first group of girls will start training as a military pilot. I hope that in five years they will decorate this holiday with their skill,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
Those who wish are literally here, a few minutes after the departure of the minister.
“It was great, it was cool. We are glad we were here. I want to become a military man, I want to fly and go to a flight school. It's so cool," she says.
“I myself want to become a fighter pilot, I strive for this,” the young man says.
Well, another pleasant surprise. It, which rarely happens this summer, was prepared for the audience by the weather. In the morning there was a warm sun and a clear sky over the Moscow region - flying and watching is a pleasure! Regardless of gender.
In honor of the 105th anniversary of the Russian Air Force, a grandiose air show will take place over the Patriot park near Moscow on August 12, the Russian Defense Ministry said. In terms of the number of aircraft involved, it will double the parades passing over Red Square on Victory Day.
Spectators will see almost all types of aircraft and helicopters in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces, as well as restored rarities, airplanes from the First and Second World Wars. More than 150 aircraft are involved in the two-hour show, the military department said.
The air procession will be opened by the "Tactical Wing" formation of Su-30, Su-35 fighters and Su-34 bombers. Behind them, four Mi-8 helicopters will carry huge flags of Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the USSR Air Force and the Russian Air Force. Next, the guests of the "Patriot" will see the Farman and Po-2 biplanes, which fought, respectively, in the beginning and middle of the 20th century. Maneuverable air combat will be shown by MiG-15 and Yak-30 jet fighters of the post-war period.
In the ranks of sports and combat training aircraft, it will be possible for the first time to see the SR-10 with a reverse swept wing. This very interesting machine is undergoing state tests and is being shown to the general public for the first time. Behind the four Yak-130s, another veteran will fly over the park, the Douglas DC-3, the main transport aircraft of World War II. In the USSR, it was produced under the name Li-2.
The places behind the modern An-12, Il-76 transport aircraft, the giant An-124 "Ruslan" and the "flying radar" A-50 in the parade procession are occupied by representatives of Long-Range Aviation: Tu-22M3 missile carriers, Tu-95 strategic bomber and, finally, Tu -160. The "White Swan" will be accompanied by an Il-78 tanker aircraft.
Then a helicopter group of 32 helicopters of all calibers will pass: from the miniature Mi-2 to the impressive Mi-26. Behind them, veterans will again appear in the sky: the legendary Il-2 attack aircraft and the MiG-3 fighter - on such a Soviet ace, three times Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Pokryshkin flew at the beginning of World War II.
And the realm of fighters will begin with small patches of attack aircraft and bombers. MiG-29SMT, Su-25, Su-24, MiG-31 will pass in fours, followed by the latest MiG-35 for the first time. Then the Su-27s, super-maneuverable Su-30Ss and multi-purpose Su-34s will fly by again in fours. After the world bestseller Su-35, fifth-generation fighters Su-57 (PAK FA) will show air combat.
In the final, the audience will see virtuoso aerobatics from Swifts, Russian Falcons and Russian Knights. The latter will also show air combat and solo aerobatics on the Su-30SM. The show will be completed by six Su-25s with smoke in the colors of the Russian flag and demonstration performances of Extra-300 - a sports aircraft with almost unlimited possibilities in aerial acrobatics.
On August 12, 1912, by decree of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II, the staff of the aeronautical unit of the Main Directorate of the General Staff was formed. This day is considered to be the beginning of the creation of Russian military aviation. Russian Air Force Day was established by decree of the President of the Russian Federation in 2006. In 2015, the Air Force became part of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
In honor of the 105th anniversary of the formation of Russian military aviation, the Forsage aviation festival will be held in the Moscow region, in which more than 150 aircraft will take part.
A large-scale celebration of the anniversary of the Russian Military Space Forces will be held in the Patriot Park at the Kubinka airfield. The air show will last two hours. During this time, military pilots will demonstrate to the audience all types of domestic military aviation aircraft from restored aircraft of the period of the First and Second World Wars - Farman, Piper Cub, Douglas DC-3, Il-2, MiG-3, S-47 - to the latest fighters - T-50, Su-35 and Su-30.
In addition, the Swifts, Russian Knights, Russian Falcons and Berkuts aviation groups will take to the skies. The pilots will demonstrate the skills of group and single aerobatics and air combat techniques. The smoke show will be shown by Su-25 aircraft.
- globallookpress.com
- Bai Xueqi/Xinhua
As part of the celebration, the audience will be able not only to see all the capabilities of the modern Aerospace Forces of Russia, but also try themselves in the role of military pilots. For visitors to the festival, training simulators and simulators will be installed, on which anyone can try their hand at operating aircraft.
At the end of the air event, the awarding of distinguished servicemen of the Russian Aerospace Forces will take place. They will receive state awards.
Flight through the centuries
Russian military aviation has a long and glorious history. Combat aircraft of Russia took part in the First World War. Despite the fact that the Russian industry at that time lagged behind the military industry of other countries and most of the aircraft were created at foreign factories, in 1915, domestic designers were able to create the world's first multi-engine bomber "Ilya Muromets" and a specialized fighter aircraft to accompany it.
- 4-engine heavy bomber "Ilya Muromets"
- Wikimedia Commons
Much attention was paid to the development of military aviation in Soviet times. In the prewar period, the balance of the Armed Forces of the USSR received many new models of military aircraft: Il-2 attack aircraft, MiG-3, Yak-1, LaGG-3 fighters. In the post-war period, the fourth generation fighters, the Su-29 and MiG-27, were created in the Soviet Union.
The Russian Aerospace Forces occupy an important place in the armed forces of our country. Russian combat aircraft are considered among the most powerful in the world. In terms of the number of aircraft, domestic airborne forces are second only to the United States. According to the 2015 rating compiled by Flight International magazine, Russia has 3,547 combat aircraft, while the United States has 13,717 military aircraft.
In the sky above the Motherland
Until 2015, the Russian Air Force was a separate branch of the country's armed forces. By decree of President Vladimir Putin, the Air Force became part of the Aerospace Forces (VKS) of Russia.
The structure of the Russian Aerospace Forces includes three types of troops: the Air Force, the Air and Missile Defense Forces, and the Space Forces.
The Russian Air Force includes long-range, military transport and army aviation, as well as anti-aircraft, missile and radio engineering troops. In addition, the Russian air force has its own special forces that provide intelligence and communications, electronic warfare, rescue operations and protection against weapons of mass destruction.
The anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense forces include radio-technical troops and electronic warfare troops, fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft missile troops.
The tasks of the space forces include monitoring space objects, identifying and repelling possible threats in space, launching spacecraft and controlling military satellites.
The main tasks of the Russian Aerospace Forces in peacetime are the protection of the state border of the country in the airspace, notification of the leadership about the flights of foreign reconnaissance vehicles in the border zone.
The VKS is the air shield of the country's armed forces. And in the conditions of hostilities, military aircraft are the first to fly to protect the territories of the state from enemy air strikes, ensure the actions of the Ground Forces and the Navy, strike at enemy air, land and sea groupings, provide transportation and drop of troops and military equipment.
At the battle post
Since 2015, Russian military pilots, at the request of the Syrian authorities, have been performing tasks on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic as part of a military operation against the Islamic State* terrorist group.
New modern threats require the modernization of the military space forces of the country. According to open sources, the fleet of the Russian Aerospace Forces consists of more than 800 fighters (Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-35, MiG-29, MiG-31), about 150 strike aircraft (Su-24 and Su-34 ), 200 attack aircraft (Su-25), 150 training aircraft (Yak-130 and others), about 70 strategic bombers (Tu-95 and Tu-160), more than 40 Tu-22M3 long-range bombers.
In 2016, the Russian Armed Forces received 59 combat aircraft (12 MiG-29SMT, 2 Su-30M2, 17 Su-30SM, 16 Su-34, 12 Su-35S) and ten combat training Yak-130s.
New, modern, flexible
To date, the modernization of the air military fleet of Russia is in full swing. The Russian Aerospace Forces are receiving new Su-35 fighters, Mi-28 Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator helicopters. However, according to experts, the most breakthrough developments will be fighters created under the programs of the promising aviation complex of front-line and long-range aviation (PAK FA and PAK DA)
“The newest Russian aircraft of the fifth generation T-50, which has already received the official name Su-57, is a truly modern aircraft. It will be an inconspicuous, highly maneuverable, multi-role fighter. This is our analogue of the American F-22 Raptor, ”Dmitry Kornev, founder of the Military Russia portal, told RT.
- Aircraft T-50
- RIA News
- Vladimir Astapkovich
According to the expert, it is assumed that a series of 12 front-line aviation fighters will be launched by 2019.
Military expert Konstantin Sivkov, in an interview with RT, noted that the latest Russian Su-57 fighter is superior to the American counterpart in many respects.
“The Russian fighter is superior to the American F-22 Raptor in flight range, in terms of long-range missiles used: our machine has a missile with a range of about 380 km. Moreover, it is better than the Raptor in terms of air combat, and in terms of aerodynamics and hull configuration, our fighter is as inconspicuous as the American, ”added the RT interlocutor.
Experts told RT that Russia continues to improve the MiG-31 and MiG-31BM interceptor fighters, the Su-24M bomber. The assembly of the first serial Tu-160M2 strategic bomber has already begun, work is underway to create a light fighter and new types of helicopters.
- Su-30SM fighter escort of the Tu-160 missile-carrying bomber of the Russian Space Forces
- RIA News
- Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
In May 2017, Russia began developing a promising long-range aviation complex.
“It will be a real breakthrough and an exit to the current world level. The new aircraft being developed by the Tupolev company will be a flying wing aircraft, subsonic, modern, economical. This will be a platform for the use of long-range precision weapons. It is planned that he will work with other branches of the military, ”says Kornev.
The first flight of the PAK DA is scheduled for 2025-2026.
But these are far from all the novelties that will replenish the Russian Air Force in the future. Sivkov, in an interview with RT, spoke about the development by Russian aircraft designers of a fundamentally new aircraft.
“A new breakthrough will be the creation of the A-100 aircraft based on the Il-76-MD-90A. This is the development of the A-50 aircraft, which is now actively used by our military in Syria, but more advanced. The A-100 will have a much more powerful radio-technical complex, will be able to detect low-flying targets, and will be able to automatically target air targets (now this is all happening in manual mode),” the expert explained.
Unmanned future
Military expert Vladimir Yazikov, in an interview with RT, said that the future of Russian military aviation lies with sixth-generation unmanned fighters.
- Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
“Unmanned fighter jets will even look different. They will all be tied into one network, they will independently aim at the target, it will be easy to break through any defense, there will be no risk to the pilot. Most importantly, they will be able to fly at the boundaries of the stratosphere and airspace. Such an aircraft will be difficult to notice, and it will already go into outer space. Pre-unmanned fighters will appear by 2036. I believe that the future of the Russian Aerospace Forces lies with such machines, ”the expert concluded.
* "Islamic State" (IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia.
On Saturday, August 12, the aviation festival Fast and the Furious-2017 will be held in the military-patriotic park of culture and recreation "Patriot".
A professional holiday celebrated by combat pilots of the air fleet of the Russian Federation, Air Force Day is now celebrated in accordance with the Decree of the President of Russia “On the Establishment of Air Force Day” No. 949 signed on August 29, 1997, annually on August 12.
Of course, the new Bolshevik government understood how important the development of aviation was for the country. Therefore, a complete change in the leadership and course of the country's development did not stop the construction of new aircraft factories already in the Soviet Union. In particular, by the beginning of World War II, five dozen aircraft were being produced in the USSR per day.
Moreover, after the start of the war, the production of aircraft was doubled, and already in the fall of 1941, a hundred new aircraft rolled off the assembly line every day.
The Great Patriotic War ended, but the country's air force continued to develop. Its power was constantly growing, but military pilots celebrated the Air Force Day itself only in their circles, at the national level this event does not yet exist
Usually on 12.08 mass festive events are held in all cities of the state. Crowds of people can be seen in squares and parks. Usually during the celebration, historical facts about aviation are raised. For example, the following:
In 1914, there were 263 aircraft in the imperial fleet. It is noteworthy that no country in the world at that time could boast of such indicators.
In October 1917, a revolution began, a change of power took place. The coup had a positive effect on the aviation industry, since the number of aircraft units increased to 700. It was clear to the Bolshevik authorities that the development of the air fleet, the construction of specialized factories in the USSR, was a necessary measure.
By the time the Second World War began, state production facilities could produce 50 aircraft per day. By the autumn of 1941, the figures had doubled, so that the conveyors produced 100 pieces of equipment daily.
Many families have veterans who remember those times. If your grandfather or elderly neighbor in the stairwell defended his homeland by fighting in the air, remember when Air Force Day is celebrated in 2017 and congratulate the hero who gave you a clear sky over your head.
After the end of hostilities, the development of the industry did not slow down. Her power increased steadily.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation plans to combine two events into a single whole, the 105th anniversary of the Aerospace Forces, which will begin on August 12, 2017, followed by the Army 2017 forum, which will be held from August 22 to 27.
In addition to the latest Su-35 and Su-30 fighters, as well as Su-34 front-line bombers, veterans of the aircraft industry Il-2, Po-2 and the military transport S-47 will take part in the events for the 105th anniversary. The end of the show will be a demonstration performance of the "Swifts"-aces in the most difficult aerobatic maneuvers in pairs, groups and singles. Six fighters will demonstrate aerobatics over the Gulf of Finland.
Those wishing to attend this air show must have identification documents with them.
At the moment, all participants of the festival are actively training, the pilots have started training flights, which are held near permanent airfields. Crews work out group flying during planned flights, lining up bearings with an interval and a distance of 20-40 meters.
There will be a display of ground military equipment.
On the holiday, a field kitchen will be open for everyone.
The entrance is free.
And from August 22 to 27, as mentioned above, the Ministry of Defense is holding the International Military-Technical Forum "Army 2017". Paid entrance.
This is the largest exhibition of military and special equipment, as well as weapons in Russia. This year this exhibition will be held in the format of a show, it will be called "Polite People". With the participation of modern ground military equipment, aircraft and helicopters, special forces units.