Russian Aerospace Forces

Last updated
Russian Aerospace Forces
Воздушно-космические силы
Great emblem of the Russian Air-Cosmic Forces.svg
Emblem of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Founded1 August 2015;9 years ago (2015-08-01)
CountryRussia
Type Air and space force
Role
Size165,000 personnel (2020) [1]
Part of Russian Armed Forces
Headquarters Arbat District, Moscow
Colors
  •   Light Blue
  •   Dark Blue
  •   Gold
  •   Silver
March"Air March" (Russian: "Авиамарш") (official march-past of the Air Force)
"14 Minutes Until Launch" (Russian: "14 минут до старта") (official march of the Space Forces)
Anniversaries Air Force Day
(12 August)
Engagements
Website Official website
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces Colonel General Viktor Afzalov
First Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev
Insignia
Flag Flag of Russian Aerospace Forces.svg
Roundel Roundel of Russia.svg
Patch Patch of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg
Middle emblem Middle emblem of the Russian Air Forces.svg
Insignia Small emblem of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg
President Putin presenting the banner of the Aerospace Forces to Viktor Bondarev Presentation of the banner of Air-space forces 03.jpg
President Putin presenting the banner of the Aerospace Forces to Viktor Bondarev

The Russian Aerospace Forces (Russian: VKS) [2] or Russian Air and Space Forces [3] [a] comprise the aerial, space warfare, and missile defence branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. It was established on 1 August 2015 with the merging of the Russian Air Force (VVS) and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces (VVKO), as recommended by the Ministry of Defence to improve efficiency and logistical support. [4] The VKS is headquartered in Moscow. [5]

Contents

Organisation

Branches

With the merging of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, the Russian Aerospace Forces is a unified command consisting of the following branches: [6] [7]

Main Command of the Aerospace Forces(Главное командованиеВоздушно-космическими силами)
Command Staff
Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces
(Главнокомандующий Воздушно-космическими силами)
Army general / Colonel general
Chief of the Main Staff - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces
(Начальник Главного штаба — первый заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами)
Colonel general / Lieutenant general
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces
(Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами)
Colonel general / Lieutenant general
Chiefs of branches, deputy commanders:
Commander of the Air Force, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces

(Командующий Военно-воздушными силами — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами)

Colonel general / Lieutenant general

Commander of the Aerospace and Missile Defense Forces, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces

(Командующий Войсками противовоздушной и противоракетной обороны — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами)

Colonel general / Lieutenant general

Commander of the Space Forces, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces

(Командующий Космическими войсками — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами)

Colonel general / Lieutenant general

Functional deputy commanders:
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Military-Political Work (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по военно-политической работе)

Major general

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Logistics (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по материально-техническому обеспечению)

Major general

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Armaments (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по вооружению)

Major general

Leadership

As of 2024:
PositionNameStart dateEnd date
Commander of the Aerospace Forces Colonel General Viktor Bondarev 1 August 201526 September 2017
Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko (acting)26 September 201722 November 2017
Army General Sergei Surovikin 22 November 201722 August 2023
Colonel General Viktor Afzalov 20 August 2023 (acting)
20 October 2023
First Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces
(Chief of the Main Staff)
Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko1 September 2015July 2018
Lieutenant General Viktor Afzalov August 2018August 2023
Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev 20 August 2023
Deputy Commander of the Aerospace ForcesLieutenant General Sergey Dronov1 August 20152019
Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin 20192021?
Lieutenant General Andrey Dyomin [8] 2021
Deputy Commanders of the Aerospace Forces
Commander of the Air Force Colonel General Andrey Yudin1 September 2015July 2019
Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov July 201924 July 2024
Lieutenant General Sergey Kobylash 24 July 2024
Commander of the Aerospace and Missile Defense Forces Lieutenant General Viktor Gumyonny 1 September 20152018
Lieutenant General Yury Grekhov 20182021
Lieutenant General Andrey Dyomin 2021May 2023
Lieutenant General Andrei Semyonov May 2023
Commander of the Space Forces Colonel General Aleksandr Golovko 1 September 2015 [6]
Deputy Commander for Work with PersonnelMajor General Andrei Kazakevichunknownunknown
Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev20192023
Deputy Commander for LogisticsLieutenant General Vladimir Trishunkinunknownunknown
Lieutenant General Zabit Kheirbekovunknown
Deputy Commander for ArmamentsColonel Andrei Medvedkovunknownunknown
Major General Sergei Meshcheryakovunknown2021
Colonel General Yury Grekhov2021

Order of Battle

The Aerospace Forces are organised in air armies.

Air Forces High Command (Главное командование ВВС) (Moscow)

Air Defence and Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence Forces Command (Командованиевойск ПВО-ПРО) (Moscow)

Space Forces Command (Командование космических войск) (Krasnoznamensk, Moscow Oblast)

Ranks and rank insignia

Officer ranks
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg Russian Aerospace Forces [9]
Russia-Airforce-OF-9-2013.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-8-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-7-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-6-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-5-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-4-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-3-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-2-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-1c-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-1b-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OF-1a-2010.svg
Генера́л а́рмии
Generál ármii
Генера́л-полко́вник
Generál-polkóvnik
Генера́л-лейтена́нт
Generál-leytenánt
Генера́л-майо́р
Generál-mayór
Полко́вник
Polkóvnik
Подполко́вник
Podpolkóvnik
Майо́р
Majór
Kапита́н
Kapitán
Старший лейтена́нт
Stárshiy leytenánt
Лейтенант
Leytenant
Mла́дший лейтена́нт
Mládshiy leytenánt
Other ranks
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg Russian Aerospace Forces [9]
Russia-Airforce-OR-9b-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OR-9a-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OR-8-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OR-6-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OR-5-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OR-4-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OR-2-2010.svg Russia-Airforce-OR-1-2010.svg
Ста́рший пра́порщик
Stárshiy práporshchik
Пра́порщик
Práporshchyk
Старшина́
Starshyná
Ста́рший сержа́нт
Stárshiy serzhánt
Сержа́нт
Serzhánt
Мла́дший сержа́нт
Mládshiy serzhánt
Ефре́йтор
Efréĭtor
Рядово́й
Ryadovóy

See also

Notes

  1. Russian: Воздушно-космические силы, ВКС, romanized: Vozdushno-kosmicheskiye sily, VKS

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References

  1. "Russian Armed Forces: Military Modernization and Reforms" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. 20 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  2. "Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister". Archived from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
  3. "6 Dead in Fire at Russian Aerospace Defense Research Institute – State Media". The Moscow Times . 21 April 2022.
  4. Compare: Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine , tass.ru, 3 August 2015. - "'The formation of the Aerospace Forces by combining the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Force is the optimal option for improving the system of the country's aerospace defense,' Shoigu said. [...] 'Now the single command unites aviation, air defense and anti-missile defense troops, space forces and means of the armed forces' [...]."
  5. Шойгу объявил о создании нового вида ВС - Воздушно-космических сил Archived 2015-08-05 at the Wayback Machine , ria.ru/defense, 3 August 2015
  6. 1 2 Russia creates new Aerospace Force service branch Archived 2015-12-27 at the Wayback Machine , janes.com, 4 August 2015
  7. "Воздушно-космические силы". structure.mil.ru. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  8. "Демин Андрей Геннадьевич". structure.mil.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  9. 1 2 "Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 11 марта 2010 года № 293 "О военной форме одежды, знаках различия военнослужащих и ведомственных знаках отличия"". rg.ru (in Russian). Российской газеты. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2021.