Russian Naval Aviation

Авиация Военно-морского флота
Aviatsiya Voenno-morskovo Flota
Russian Naval Aviation
Country  Russian Federation
Branch  Russian Navy
Type Naval aviation
Size 28,000 personnel (2014)[1]
Approx. 359+ aircraft[2][1]
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major-General Igor Kozhin
Notable
commanders		 Major-General Timur Apakidze
Insignia
Roundel

The Russian Naval Aviation (Russian: Авиация Военно-морского флота России, tr. Aviatsiya Voenno-morskovo Flota Rossii) is the air arm of the Russian Navy, having superseded the Soviet Naval Aviation. The Russian Navy is divided into four fleets and one flotilla: Northern Fleet, Pacific Ocean Fleet, Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet, and Caspian Flotilla.

The air forces of the most important fleets, the Northern and Pacific fleets, operate long range Tu-142 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft and Il-38 medium-range ASW aircraft. Formations operating supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers were transferred to the Russian Air Force's Long Range Aviation in 2011.[3] The relatively small fleets, the Baltic and Black Sea, currently have only tactical Su-24 bombers and ASW helicopters in service. The small Caspian Flotilla operates An-26 and Mi-8 transports, Ka-27PS rescue helicopters, as well as some Ka-29 and Mi-24 armed helicopters. In 2011, the Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Naval Aviation and Air Defense/Commander, Naval Air and Air Defense Forces is Major General Igor Kozhin.

A Sukhoi Su-33 from the 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment, on Admiral Kuznetsov's flight deck.

Structure and Organisation

Structure in 2007

This is the structure of the Russian Naval Aviation, as reproduced from the August 2007 issue of the Air Forces Monthly.[4]

Northern Fleet Air Force – HQ Severomorsk

Pacific Fleet Air Force – HQ Vladivostok

Baltic Fleet Air Force – HQ Kaliningrad

Black Sea Fleet Air Arm – HQ Sevastopol (status in 2010) [5][6]

Structure after 2008–2011 reforms

As a result of the 2008 Russian military reforms, the units of the Russian Naval Aviation were reorganized into 13 new Naval Air Bases. Each new naval air base consists of an HQ, support units and one or more aviation groups/wings (the former air bases). In a second stage, the air bases were merged into territorially integrated structures. Only the 279th Regiment retained its status. The planned transfer of Naval Aviation assets (Su-24, Su-27, Tu-22M3, MiG-31) to the Air Force has been delayed [7] due to their importance to the service, but was finally implemented by the end of 2011.

As of 2012, the only fixed wing strike and fighter aircraft of Russian Naval Aviation are the Su-33 fighters and Su-25UTG attack aircraft of the 279th Regiment (forming the Admiral Kuznetsov's carrier air wing), plus the Su-24 bombers based in the Crimea. This sole bomber unit remained part of Naval Aviation as an exception to satisfy treaty requirements governing Russian forces deployments on Ukrainian territory (these must be part of the Black Sea Fleet).[8] Buying brand new multirole Sukhoi Su-30SM for the Black Sea Fleet to replace Su-24 is in the planning stages.[9] Naval aviation also retains the anti-submarine aircraft of the forces (the Tu-142 and the Il-38) and the helicopter arm.

Naval air bases of the Russian Naval Aviation include:

Baltic Fleet air bases:

Black Sea Fleet air bases:

Northern Fleet air bases:

Pacific Fleet air bases:

Equipment

The Russian Naval Aviation maintains a large and varied fleet of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. The most numerous being the Kamov Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter that operates from various surface ships.

References

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