Russia's present-day air forces were formed from parts of the Soviet forces in the 1990s. Initially, the Air Forces were mostly used for intelligence purposes, but then their functions gradually broadened and now the Russian military's Air Forces guarantee the safety of the country's borders as well as engage in various international missions.
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Russian multi-purpose Su-27 fighter aircrafts during demonstration flights on open house day in the aviation regiment of the South-Eastern Military District in honor of the 105th anniversary of the Russian Air Force.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Timkiv
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Aviation mechanics preparing a Mi-35 helicopter for take-off during helicopter regiment exercises at the Chernigovka airfield in Russia's Primorsky region.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov
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Multi-purpose Su-30SM fighters from the pilot group "Russian Knights" and a MiG-29 from the Strizhy aerobatic team during the aerial portion of a military parade dedicated to the 73rd anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
© Sputnik / Alexander Vilf
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Employees from special-purpose units during joint tactical exercises with army aviation crews at the Korenovskiy airfield near Krasnodar, Russia.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Timkiv
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The strategic bomber-missile carrier Tu-95MS during the aerial portion of a military parade, dedicated to the 73rd anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Sergeev
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Trainee pilot during classes at the flight training complex of the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School named after Hero of the Soviet Union A. Serov.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Timkiv
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An IL-78 fuel tanker during Black Sea Fleet naval aviation tactical exercises in the Yeisk region.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Timkiv
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Mi-28 Night Hunter helicopters during the Russian stage of the Aviadarts-2016 international competition at the test site of the Aero-Space Forces of the Russian Federation near Feodosia.
© Sputnik / Evgeny Biyatov
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Servicewomen at festive events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the formation of the 6th Army Air Force and Air Defense.
© Sputnik / Alexander Galperin
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The public watches the final fly-by of the aircraft, drawing a Russian flag in the sky during general rehearsals by Air Force crews for the holiday "Common Sky" at the Zhukovsky airfield.
© Sputnik / Evgeny Biyatov
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Multi-purpose fighter Su-30SM during Black Sea Fleet naval aviation tactical exercises in the Yeisk region.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Timkiv
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Servicewomen from the aviation regiment of the South-Eastern Military District during the open house day in honor of the 105th anniversary of the Russian Air Force.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Timkiv
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In the cockpit of a helicopter at the festive events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the formation of the 6th Army Air Force and Air Defense.
© Sputnik / Alexander Galperin
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Multi-purpose fighters MiG-29 of the Strizhi aerobatic team performing a demonstration flight at the celebration of the 105th anniversary of the Aero-Space Forces of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg.
© Sputnik / Alexey Danichev
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A pilot in the cockpit of a Mi-28 helicopter during helicopter regiment exercises at the Chernigovka airfield in Russia's Primorsky region.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov
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