History of Russian Air Force in Timeline

The Russian Air Force, a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces since 2015, traces its origins back to the Imperial Russian Air Service (1912-1917) and the Soviet Air Forces (1918-1991). It was formally reborn on May 7, 1992, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of the Ministry of Defence by Boris Yeltsin. It represents the continuation of air power traditions within the Russian Federation.

August 1912: Official establishment of the Russian Air Force

In August 1912, the Russian Air Force was officially established as part of the Imperial Russian Air Service, marking one of the earliest military aviation units globally.

1917: Reorganization after the Russian Revolution

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Imperial Russian Air Service was reorganized under the Soviet regime.

1918: Evolution into the Red Air Fleet

In 1918, the reorganized air service evolved into the Red Air Fleet, which later became part of the Soviet Air Forces (VVS).

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union Impacts Aircraft Production

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the cessation of production for many aircraft types, including the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3. The discontinuation of production for these aircraft created challenges for Russia, as they became exceptionally difficult to replace.

May 1992: Creation of the Russian Armed Forces

In May 1992, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin created the Ministry of Defence, marking the beginning of the reborn Russian armed forces.

1993: Announcement of Frontal Aviation Command establishment

In 1993, Deynekin announced the establishment of a Frontal Aviation Command in Moscow, under General-lieutenant of Aviation Nikolay Antoshkin.

1994: Announcement of Reserves and Cadres Training Command

In 1994, Deynekin announced that a Reserves and Cadres Training Command was to be established in Samara, under Colonel-General Leonid Stepanyuk.

1996: MiG-31 Pilots Hunger Strike at Yelizovo

In 1996, four MiG-31 pilots at Yelizovo in the Far East went on hunger strike to demand back pay which was several months overdue, and the problem was only resolved by diverting unit money intended for other tasks.

July 1997: Decree for merger of Air Defence Forces with Air Forces

On 16 July 1997, President Boris Yeltsin issued the decree merging the former Soviet Air Defence Forces with the Air Forces.

December 1998: Reduction in Air Force Servicemen

In December 1998, the number of servicemen in the Air Force was reduced to about 185,000 from the former combined number of 318,000, with 123,500 positions abolished. On 29 December 1998 Colonel General Anatoly Kornukov reported that the task had 'in principle been achieved'.

1998: Reorganization of Units and Formations

During 1998, a total of 580 units and formations were disbanded, 134 were reorganized, and over 600 were given a new jurisdiction as part of the merger process.

August 2002: Mi-26 helicopter shooting in Chechnya

On 19 August 2002, a Mi-26 helicopter was shot down in Chechnya, claiming 19 lives. This incident led to the transfer of Russian Ground Forces aviation assets to the VVS in December 2003.

December 2003: Transfer of Russian Ground Forces aviation assets to VVS

In December 2003, the aviation assets of the Russian Ground Forces, mostly helicopters, were transferred to the VVS.

2007: Pilot Training Flight Hours Listed

In 2007, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Military Balance listed pilots of tactical aviation flying 20–25 hours a year, 61st Air Army pilots (former Military Transport Aviation) flying 60 hours a year, and Army Aviation under VVS control flying 55 hours a year.

2007: Resumption of Long-Range Patrols

In 2007, the VVS resumed the Soviet-era practice of deploying its strategic bomber aircraft on long-range patrols, ending a 15-year unilateral suspension.

August 2008: Frontline forces structure information

The structure of frontline forces, and the forces of central subordination are approximated to be from August 2008.

2008: Losses During South Ossetian War and Announcement of Reforms

During the 2008 South Ossetian War, the VVS suffered losses of between four and seven aircraft due to Georgian anti-aircraft fire. The 2008 Russian military reforms were promptly announced following the war.

February 2009: Report on Unsafe MiG-29s

In February 2009, Kommersant reported that 200 of the 291 MiG-29s in service were unsafe and would have to be permanently grounded, removing about a third of Russia's total fighter force.

June 2009: Listing of VVS structure as of June 2009

A listing of the VVS structure is noted as being accurate as of June 2009.

June 2009: Statements on Air Force Capabilities and Bomber Upgrades

On 5 June 2009, the Chief of the General Staff, Nikolai Makarov, criticized the VVS's bombing capabilities. Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov said that Russia's long-range bombers would be upgraded in 2009.

September 2009: Establishment of Joint CIS Air Defense System

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.

December 2009: Completion of Reorganization

Aviation Week & Space Technology confirmed that the reorganization of the Russian Air Force would be completed by December 2009, which would see a 40 percent reduction in aircrew numbers.

2009: VVS Structure Changed to Command-Air Base

In 2009, the VVS underwent a complete structural change, shifting from an air army-air division or corps-air regiment structure to a command-air base structure. The VVS was then divided into four operational commands: the Aerospace Defense Operational Strategic Command, the Military Transport Aviation Command, and the Long-Range Aviation Command.

June 2010: Combat Aircraft Magazine's Organization Estimate

In June 2010, Combat Aircraft magazine published their estimated organization of the new order of battle for the VVS.

August 2010: Increase in Pilot Flight Hours

By August 2010, 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.

2010: Announcement of reversal of aviation assets transfer decision

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.

September 2011: Transfer of Unmanned Aircraft Command

According to the instructions of the 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.

2012: Air Base Operations and Flight Hours

As of 2012, the VVS operated 61 air bases, including 26 with tactical aircraft. Pilots in the Western Military District averaged 125 flight hours during the 2012 training year.

February 2014: Activation during Annexation of Crimea

In February 2014, during the early periods of Russia's 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.

2014: Share of Modern Armament at 35% During 2014

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the share of modern armament in the VVS (Russian Air Force) had reached about 35% during 2014.

2014: Unknown quantitative and qualitative composition of VVS as of 2014

As of 2014, the precise quantitative and qualitative composition of the VVS (Russian Air Force) remains unknown. Figures include serviceable and unserviceable aircraft, as well as those in storage or reserve.

August 2015: Formation of the Russian Aerospace Forces

In August 2015, the Russian Air Force merged with the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces to form the Russian Aerospace Forces.

August 2015: Merger into Russian Aerospace Forces

On 1 August 2015, the Russian Air Force was merged with the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces and the Air Defense Troops into a new branch called the Russian Aerospace Forces.

August 2015: End of Highest Military Office

On August 1, 2015, a certain military office ceased to be the highest military office, marking a change in the organizational structure or hierarchy.

August 2015: VVS Integration into Russian Aerospace Forces

On August 1, 2015, the VVS merged with the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces to form the Russian Aerospace Forces. As part of this change, the commander of the VVS became the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Commander of the VVS. Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin assumed this role.

September 2015: Military intervention in Syria

On 30 September 2015, the VVS launched a military intervention in Syria, specifically in the Homs region.

November 2015: Downing of Sukhoi Su-24 by Turkish Air Force

On 24 November 2015, during a bombing mission, a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 that Turkey claimed had violated its airspace.

2015: Estimated Aircraft Inventory in 2015

In 2015, FlightGlobal estimated the Russian Air Force's inventory to be approximately 3,947 aircraft.

2016: Share of Modern Armament at 66% by late 2016

By late 2016, the share of modern armament in the VVS had increased to 66%, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

2017: Share of Modern Armament at 72% by late 2017

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the share of modern armament in the VVS had reached 72% by late 2017.

2017: Deployment of Nebo-M Regiments in 2017

In 2017, the first two Nebo-M radar regiments were deployed to Saint Petersburg and Kareliya.

2018: Delivery of Nebo-UM to Voronezh in 2018

In 2018, first units of Nebo-UM were delivered to Voronezh.

2018: Deployment of Nebo-M Regiments in 2018

In 2018, two more Nebo-M radar regiments were deployed to Crimea and Penza.

August 2019: Sergey Dronov Succeeds Andrey Yudin

In August 2019, Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov succeeded Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Commander of the VVS.

2019: Delivery of Nebo-M Regiment to Volga Region in 2019

In 2019, a Nebo-M radar regiment was delivered to the Volga region.

March 2020: Allegations of War Crimes in Syria

In March 2020, the indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets by the VVS in Syria was described as "amounting to war crime" by a United Nations Human Rights Council report.

November 2020: Downing of Mil Mi-24 Helicopter and Deployment of Peacekeepers

On 9 November 2020, a Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter was shot down mistakenly by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Days later, Russian peacekeepers were deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh with aviation to patrol its borders.

2020: Delivery of Nebo-UM to Rostov-on-Don in 2020

In 2020, Nebo-UM units were delivered to Rostov-on-Don.

2020: Deployment of Nebo-M Regiments in 2020

In 2020, two Nebo-M radar regiments were deployed to the Far East and Naryan Mar.

2021: Continuation of Modernization Plans

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.

February 2022: Deployment in Support of Invasion of Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, the VVS was deployed in support of the invasion of Ukraine. The VVS had reportedly deployed about 300 combat aircraft within range of Ukraine.

February 2022: Destruction of Aircraft in Millerovo Air Base Attack

On 25 February 2022, Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed several aircraft and set a Russian airbase on fire in the Millerovo air base attack.

March 2022: Airstrikes on Ukraine

As of 20 March 2022, it was claimed that VVS carried out at least 1403 airstrikes on Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion.

March 2022: Failures in Subduing Air Defenses and Air Force

As of 25 March 2022, the VVS had failed to subdue Ukrainian air defenses or the Ukrainian Air Force during the invasion of Ukraine.

March 2022: Cruise Missile Attacks on Yavoriv Military Base

On 13 March 2022, Russian forces launched cruise missile attacks on Yavoriv military base near the Polish border.

April 2022: Failure to Achieve Air Supremacy

As of 1 April 2022, the VVS had also failed to achieve air supremacy in Ukraine, attributed to various factors including lack of SEAD operations and precision-guided munitions.

September 2022: Losses Due to Ukrainian Air Defenses and Increased Operations

In September 2022 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. Russian airplanes increased their operations due to the September 2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive.

October 2022: Bombardment of Ukrainian Cities and Energy Infrastructure

On 10 October 2022, the VVS re-commenced the bombardment of cities like Kyiv and especially energy infrastructure like electricity grid facilities. By 23 October 40% of Ukrainians were without electricity and/or water.

October 2022: Sergey Surovikin Becomes Commander of Russian Forces in Ukraine

On 8 October 2022, the chief of the VVS Sergey Surovikin became the commander of all Russian forces invading Ukraine.

2022: Guards Status granted to the 55th Helicopter Regiment

In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 55th Helicopter Regiment was granted Guards status.

2023: Aircraft and Helicopter Deliveries in 2023

In 2023, the Russian Air Force received more than 100 new and repaired aircraft and 150 helicopters, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

2023: Use of UMPK bomb kits intensified

In early 2023, the Russian Air Force intensified airstrikes against Ukrainian infrastructure by deploying UMPK (unified gliding and correction module) bomb kits. These kits allowed the conversion of Soviet-era aerial bombs into precision munitions. UMPK bomb kits were utilized with FAB-250, FAB-500, and FAB-1500 aerial bombs. This increased range and added guidance, enabling Russian bombers like the Su-34 to execute attacks from safer distances.

2024: Extensive Use of UMPK bombs by Russian Aviation

Since the start of 2024, Russian aviation has reportedly dropped over 3,500 UMPK bombs on Ukrainian positions, according to Ukrainian General Ivan Havryliuk, indicating a significant escalation in the use of these precision-guided munitions.

June 2025: Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Airfields

On June 1, 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck Olenya air base in the Arctic and Belaya air base in Siberia, destroying Russian strategic and nuclear-capable bombers. Further strikes were claimed at Diaghilev air base and Ivanovo air base, with Ukrainian sources claiming the destruction of over 40 Russian aircraft, including the A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3. These losses reportedly constituted around 20% of Russia’s operational long-range aviation fleet.