Ukrainian Naval Aviation

Ukrainian Naval Aviation
Морська Авіація
Founded April 5, 1992
Country Ukraine
Branch Navy
Type Aviation
Role Fleet reconnaissance, patrolling coasts for enemy ships and submarines
Size 2,500
Garrison/HQ Ochakiv Mykolaiv Oblast Ukraine
Commanders
Colonel Oleh Zahurskyi
Insignia
Ukrainian Navy Ensign
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Bomber Be-12
Patrol Ka-27
Trainer An-2
Transport An-12, An-24, An-26, Mi-8, Mi-14PL

The Ukrainian Naval Aviation (Ukrainian: Морська Авіація, Morska Aviatsiya) is a component of the Ukrainian Navy.

During the breakup of the Soviet Union, significant portions of the Soviet Naval Aviation were based in Ukraine, which were intended to support the Black Sea Fleet. These forces included the 2nd Guards Maritime Missile Aviation Division (Gvardeyskoye, Crimean Oblast), with three regiments of maritime attack Tu-22M2s (5th, 124th at Gvardeskoye, Crimean Oblast and the 943rd at Oktyabrskoye?), and the 30th independent Maritime Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (Saki-Novofedorovka, Crimean Oblast) of Tu-22Ps.[1]

In the second half of 1997, when Ukraine and Russia finally agreed on how to split the Black Fleet, Ukraine received 12 planes and 30 helicopters, including Su-33s and some Su-25UTG [2]

History

Ukrainian marines simulating casualty extraction on a Ukrainian Navy Mi-8

Ukraine inherited large naval aviation units from the Soviet Union. These included powerful weapons such as the Tupolev Tu-142 and Tupolev Tu-22M, however these were scrapped under the Budapest Memorandum. Fighter such as the Mig-29 were either decommissioned due to budgetary reasons or transferred to the air force. The remaining inventory included transport, attack, and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, as well as numerous transport aircraft. Ukraine's naval units, along with some aviation units participated in several deployments such as Operation Atlanta and Operation Ocean Shield.[3]

2014 Crimean crisis

During the Russian occupation of Crimea, Ukrainian naval aviation managed to get a number of its aircraft and helicopters airborne from its Novofedorivka airbase to fly to bases in mainland Ukraine on 5 March. This included one Kamov Ka-27PL and three Mil Mi-14PL maritime helicopters, and one Beriev Be-12 amphibian and two Antonov An-26 transports. More than a dozen aircraft and helicopters, which were undergoing maintenance, had to be left behind. The long-term sustainability of the Ukrainian Navy's surviving helicopters is uncertain after the pro-Russian administration in Crimea nationalised all state owned enterprises, including the Sevastopol Aviation Enterprise, which had provided long-term maintenance and overhaul of the service's helicopters.[4]

Organization

All the naval aircraft in service are controlled by the 10th Saky Naval Air Brigade, which includes both fixed and rotary wing squadrons.

One of the Kamov Ka-27 helicopters is stationed on the Hetman Sahaidachnyi (a Krivak III-class frigate). The frigate can however carry a maximum of two helicopters.

Aircraft inventory

Ukrainian Ka-27PS on USS Taylor (FFG 50), 2010
Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
Antonov An-2 Colt  Soviet Union Transport An-2 1 current status unknown.
Antonov An-24 Coke  Soviet Union Transport An-24 1 current status unknown.
Antonov An-26 Curl  Soviet Union Transport An-26 2 both moved to mainland Ukraine on March 5, 2014.[4]
Beriev Be-12 Mail  Soviet Union Amphibious anti-submarine / patrol aircraft. Be-12 4 one moved to mainland Ukraine on March 5, 2014.[4]
Kamov Ka-27 Helix  Soviet Union anti-submarine/SAR Helicopter Ka-27PL/PS 5 (active combat aircraft)[5] one moved to mainland Ukraine on March 5, 2014,[4] another was still embarked on the Hetman Sahaidachnyi frigate.
Kamov Ka-29  Soviet Union Assault transport helicopter Ka-29 4 (active combat aircraft)[5]
Mil Mi-8 Hip  Soviet Union Transport Helicopter Mi-8 8 current status unknown.
Mil Mi-14 Haze  Soviet Union Amphibious anti-submarine Helicopter Mi-14PL 4 (active combat aircraft)[5] three moved to mainland Ukraine on March 5, 2014[4]

References

  1. ↑ «Aviation and Time". 1996, № 5, page 35, and Michael Holm, Red Banner Black Sea Fleet, accessed December 2012.
  2. ↑ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
  3. ↑ "Frigate "Hetman Sahaydachniy" joins EU's operation "Atlanta"". Eu.for. 3 Jan 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Ripley, Tim. "Ukrainian navy decimated by Russian move into Crimea". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. IHS Jane's. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Ukraine's Diminishing Air Force, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (6 October 2015)
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