Russia celebrates Russian Air Force day on August 12.
Russia celebrates Russian Air Force day on August 12. Today, the show-piece of the Russian Air Force is the new T-50 fifth-generation jet fighter. Production of the aircraft will begin in 2015. Photo: the Sukhoi PAK FA T-50 jet fighter
The history of the Russian Air Force dates back 100 years. Reconnaissance was initially its primary function however, the creation of the legendary Ilya Muromets bomber, designed by Igor Sikorsky, changed everything. Long-range aviation has been advancing ever since. Photo: Ilya Muromets, the world’s first four-engine aircraft.
The jet engine marked a new era in the history of military aviation. The design teams of Yakovlev, Lavochkin, Mikoyan, Tupolev, Ilyushin, Sukhoi, Antonov and many other companies rapidly developed a number of new jet bombers and fighters, which outperformed foreign-made aircraft in many respects. Photo: MiG-9, the first Soviet jet fighter
The first jet fighters, capable of supersonic speeds during level flight, were built in the early 1950s. Photo: MiG-19 (NATO reporting name: "Farmer"), the first Soviet jet fighter capable of supersonic speeds
Russian aircraft were first equipped with missiles in the 1960s. Photo: the Tu-160 strategic supersonic heavy bomber.
The Russian Air Force is still a force to be reckoned with. It includes bomber, attack, air defense fighter, reconnaissance, transportation and special operations units… Photo: the Tu-95 turboprop strategic bomber.
… air defense missile force … Photo: the S-400 Triumph air defense system
... radio-radar force, special units, administrative units and logistic facilities. Photo: A radar station.
Only the U.S. and Chinese air forces possess more aircraft than the Russian Air Force. Photo: the Su-27 and Su-24 jet fighters flying above Red Square during a rehearsal for a Victory Day Parade
And the Russian Air Force is second only to the U.S. Air Force in terms of combat potential (due to its multiple long-range aircraft). Photo: the MiG-29s of the Strizhi acrobatic team showing audiences what they are capable of during the MAKS-2009 International Aviation and Space Show in Zhukovsky near Moscow
As of early 2008, the Russian Air Force’s personnel totaled 183,000, with some 2,800 operational planes and helicopters. Photo: the Su-34 fighter-bomber
Photo: the “flying tank” of the Russian military, the Mi-28N helicopter
