Russian Aerospace Forces

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]

Russian Aerospace Forces
Воздушно-космические силы
Emblem of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Founded1 August 2015; 9 years ago (2015-08-01)
CountryRussia
TypeAir and space force
Role
Size165,000 personnel (2020)[1]
Part ofRussian Armed Forces
HeadquartersArbat 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)
AnniversariesAir Force Day
(12 August)
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel General Viktor Afzalov
Deputy Commander-in-ChiefColonel General Sergey Dronov
Notable
commanders
Colonel General Viktor Bondarev
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Patch
Middle emblem
Insignia
President Putin presenting the banner of the Aerospace Forces to Viktor Bondarev

Organisation

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Branches

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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 командование Воздушно-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

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As of October 2022:
Position Name Start date End date
Commander of the Aerospace Forces Colonel General Viktor Bondarev 1 August 2015 26 September 2017
Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko (acting) 26 September 2017 22 November 2017
Army General Sergei Surovikin 22 November 2017
First Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces
(Chief of the General Staff)
Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko 1 September 2015 unknown[6]
Lieutenant General Viktor Afzalov unknown
Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov 1 August 2015 2019
Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin 2019 2021?
Lieutenant General Andrey Dyomin[8] 2021
Deputy Commanders of the Aerospace Forces
Commander of the Air Force Colonel General Andrey Yudin 1 September 2015 c. July 2019
Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov c. July 2019
Commander of the Aerospace and Missile Defense Forces Lieutenant General Viktor Gumyonny 1 September 2015 2018
Lieutenant General Yury Grekhov 2018 2021
Lieutenant General Andrey Dyomin 2021
Commander of the Space Forces Colonel General Aleksandr Golovko 1 September 2015[6]
Deputy Commander for Work with Personnel Major General Andrei Kazakevich unknown unknown
Lieutenant General Aleksandr Maksimtsev 2019
Deputy Commander for Logistics Lieutenant General Vladimir Trishunkin unknown unknown
Lieutenant General Zabit Kheirbekov unknown
Deputy Commander for Armaments Colonel Andrei Medvedkov unknown unknown
Major General Sergei Meshcheryakov unknown 2021
Colonel General Yury Grekhov 2021

Order of Battle

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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 (Командование войск ПВО-ПРО) (Moscow)

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

  • 15th Aerospace Forces Army (Special Purpose) (15-я армия Воздушно-космических сил (особого назначения)) (Krasnoznamensk)
  • 1st State Test Cosmodrome of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence "Plesetsk" (1-й Государственный испытательный космодром Министерства обороны Российской Федерации «Плесецк»)
  • Space Forces Arsenal (Арсенал космических войск) (Znamenka-1 village, Tambov Oblast)

Ranks and rank insignia

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Officer ranks
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Russian Aerospace Forces[9]
                     
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 group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Russian Aerospace Forces[9]
               
Ста́рший пра́порщик
Stárshiy práporshchik
Пра́порщик
Práporshchyk
Старшина́
Starshyná
Ста́рший сержа́нт
Stárshiy serzhánt
Сержа́нт
Serzhánt
Мла́дший сержа́нт
Mládshiy serzhánt
Ефре́йтор
Efréĭtor
Рядово́й
Ryadovóy

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Russian: Воздушно-космические силы, ВКС, romanizedVozdushno-kosmicheskiye sily, VKS

References

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  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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.
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