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Ukrainian Air Force

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Ukrainian Air Force
Повітряні сили Збройних сил України
Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Force
Active1917–1921
1992–present
CountryUkraine
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size35,000 (2022)[1]
207 aircraft (2021)[2]
Part ofArmed Forces of Ukraine
HeadquartersVinnytsia
AnniversariesAir Force Day
(the first Sunday of August)[3]
Engagements
Commanders
CommanderLieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air ForceChief Master Sergeant Kostiantyn Stanislavchuk
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag
Aircraft flown
AttackSu-24M, Su-25
FighterMiG-29, Su-27, F-16
HelicopterMi-8T, Mi-17
ReconnaissanceAn-30, Su-24MR, Bayraktar TB2, Tu-141, Tu-143, RQ-11
TrainerAero L-39
TransportIl-76MD, An-24, An-26B, An-30, An-70, An-178

The Ukrainian Air Force (Ukrainian: Повітряні сили Збройних сил України, romanized: Povitryani syly Zbroynykh syl Ukrayiny, PS ZSU) is the air force of Ukraine and one of the eight branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU).[5] Its current form was created in 2004 by merging the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces into the Air Force.

When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, many aircraft were left in Ukrainian territory. After Ukrainian independence in 1991, the air force suffered from chronic under-investment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise inoperable.[6] However its domestic defense industry Ukroboronprom and its Antonov subsidiary are able to maintain its older aircraft.[7]

The Ukrainian Air Force participated in the war in Donbas.[4] Following the 2014 ceasefire, the air force was suspended from carrying out missions in the areas of Donbas.[8] Since February 2022, the Air Force has been engaged in constant combat operations in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The air force flies F-16 multirole jetfighters[9] and Soviet-made aircraft.[10]

Missions

[edit]

The role of the Air Force is to protect the air space of Ukraine. The objectives are: obtaining operational air superiority, delivering air strikes against enemy units and facilities, covering troops against enemy air strikes, providing air support to the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Marine Corps and the Navy in wartime operations and peacetime exercises, disrupting enemy military movements on the ground, air and sea, disrupting enemy communications, and providing air support by reconnaissance, airdrops, and troop and cargo transportation in both peace and war, in support of the Armed Forces, other uniformed forces, and wider mandates of the Government of Ukraine.

In peace-time, this is carried out by flying air-space control missions over the entire territory of Ukraine (603,700 square km), and by preventing air space intrusion along the aerial borders (totaling almost 7,000 km, including 5,600 km of land and 1,400 km of sea). Over 2,200 service personnel and civilian employees of the Air Force, employing 400 items of weapons and equipment, are summoned daily to perform defense duties.[11]

On average, the Ukrainian radar forces detect and track more than 1,000 targets daily. As a result, in 2006 two illegal crossings of the state border were prevented and 28 violations of Ukrainian air space were prevented. Due to such increased strengthening of air space control, the number of air space violations decreased by 35% compared to the previous year, even though the amount of air traffic increased by 30%.[11]

History

[edit]

1917–1945

[edit]
A Nieuport 17 of the Ukrainian Galician Army

Ukrainian military aviation started with the winter 1917 creation of the Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet, headed by former commander of the Kyiv Military District Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Pavlenko.[12] Previously, while in Russian service in World War I, Pavlenko was in charge of air security of the Russian Stavka.[13]

Sometime in 1918 the West Ukrainian People's Republic created its own aviation corps with the Ukrainian Galician Army headed by Petro Franko, a son of renowned Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko. In 1918 he organized an aviation school of the Ukrainian Galician Army Command Center which was active until 1920.[14][15]

The airplanes used by Ukraine in this period included Belgium-built SPAD S.VIIs. The Ukrainian Galician Army used Nieuport 17 biplanes. At the beginning of 1918, 188 aircraft of 26 models were listed in Ukrainian registers.[12]

During World War II, Ukrainian pilots took part in combat operations as part of the Soviet Air Force. Among these pilots, Ivan Kozhedub is notable for being the highest-scoring Allied ace with over 60 credited solo victories.[16]

Collapse of the USSR

[edit]

Air Forces

[edit]

On the basis of the ex-Soviet Air Forces formations in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force, as a service branch of the young Armed Forces, was established on 17 March 1992, in accordance with a Directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the AFU. The headquarters of the 24th Air Army of the Soviet Air Force in Vinnytsia served as the basis to create the Air Force headquarters. The newly created PSZSU nominally controlled at least three Frontal Aviation Armies (5th, 14th, and 17th), the Strategic 46th Air Army, the 8th Air Defence Army including the 28th, 49th, and 60th Air Defence Corps from the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO), two Military Transport divisions, at least nine Army Aviation regiments, and a large part of the Naval Aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, for a total of 49 regiments and 11 independent squadrons with more than 2,800 aircraft and helicopters.[17] The PSZSU also controlled the 106th Heavy Bomber Division, based at Pryluky. This division included twenty-seven Tu-95MS bombers, two obsolete Tu-95M, nineteen new Tu-160 bombers, and twenty Il-78 aerial tankers. The 160th Divison also had at least 564 Kh-22 and Kh-55 air-to-surface nuclear cruise missiles in their inventory.[18]

Armed Forces of Ukraine
Main branches
Law enforcement
Related services
Intelligence
History of the Ukrainian Military

After combining all its flying assets into the Air Force (though ground-based elements of the PVO remained separate as the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces until 2004), Ukraine gradually began downsizing the size of the PSZSU in order to comply with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) terms.[17] Faced with difficulties maintaining a strategic bomber fleet, Ukraine was forced to scrap part of their bomber fleet under the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program and return some aircraft and all nuclear cruise missiles to Russia in exchange for settling debts for oil and natural gas imported from the Russian Federation.[17][18][19]

Air Defence Forces

[edit]

In 1992 the newly independent Ukrainian State took over control over the three Air Defence corps stationed in Ukraine and retained the Air Defence Forces of Ukraine as a separate armed service, equal in status to the Ground Forces, Air Forces and the Navy. The 28th Corps was transferred to the now-Ukrainian 8th Separate Army of Air Defence.[20]

1991–2014

[edit]

Since its independence in 1991, Ukraine launched a three-stage reform program to reform its Armed Forces. During the first stage which ran from 1991 to 2006 the ZSU shrank in size and capabilities.[21] Corruption, already endemic in the political and economy system of the country began spreading into the ZSU, resulting in an increase of draft dodging cases and bases falling into a state of decay. Under the government of Viktor Yanukovych from 2010−2014, an armed conflict with Russian Federation was considered unthinkable, resulting in further budget cuts.[22] By 2014, the Air Force was suffering from chronic under-investment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise becoming inoperable.[6]

In 1993, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) estimated that the PSZSU had 171,000 personnel with 900 combat capable aircraft plus 440 in storage; 87 reconnaissance, 47 electronic countermeasure, 274 transport, 560 training fixed-wing aircraft, and 142 helicopters.[23]

Between 1994 and 2003 the entire fleet of 60 Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 with the exception of a few aircraft preserved for display in local museums, were scrapped alongside 423 Kh-22 cruise missiles. By 1995−96, the MiG-23, MiG-25, and Su-15 interceptors were withdrawn from service.[17]

While Ukraine was less than keen on returning its fleet of strategic bombers to Russia, "since they could be used in roles other than nuclear attack", the PSZSU was soon unable to maintain the fleet operational with Russia refusing to sell spare parts, forcing the Ukrainian goverment to start negotiating the possible sale of the aircraft back to Russia, but as talks dragged on, their condition seriously deteriorated.[18] Starting in November 1998, some of the older aircraft began to be scrapped with American funding (with a few examples preserved as local museum exhibitions) and in October 1999, Ukraine finally agreed to return eight Tu-160s, three Tu-95MS's (out of nineteen Tu-160s and 23 Tu-95MS), and 575 Kh-55MS nuclear cruise missiles to settle debts for oil and natural gas imported from the Russian Federation.[17][18][19]

During the second stage of reforming the ZSU, which ran from 2006 to 2014, Ukraine was supposed to (at least on paper) move from the old Soviet model of fielding large forces into a smaller fully trained and equipped professional force, taking advantage of new technologies such as digitalization, precision-guided munitions and sensors, and command and control infrastructure. However by 2014, it became clear that such plans were beyond the capabilities of the Ukrainian state to fund and implement, resulting in the PSZSU (and other branches of the Armed Forces) being unprepared for the War in Donbas.[21]

A Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 in July 2011

By 2010, the Air Force was reduced to 45,240 personnel (down from 96,000 in 2002) while the combat aircraft was reduced seven brigades with eighty MiG-29, thirty-six Su-24M, thirty-six Su-25, and thirty-six Su-27, while two reconnaissance squadrons operated thirty-three Su-24MRs. Three transport brigades had three An-24s twenty-one An-30s, two Tu-134s, and Il-76s. The helicopter fleet included four Mi-9s, thirty-one Mi-8s, and three Mi-2s. While only thirty-nine L-39s were available for training compared to 300 operational in 2002.[24]

Some upgrade programs were carried to overhaul and upgrade the PSZSU fleet of fighters and fighter-bombers. In 2008, 12 Su-25s were upgraded to the Su-25M1K standard. In 2011, the Air Force received its first four upgraded MiG-29MU1s with assistance from Rockwell Collins. From 2012 onwards, the MiGremont company started working on upgrading Su-27 to the Su-27M1 standard. However lack of funds limited the process of overhauling and upgrading aircraft: during the Russian invasion of Crimea, the vast majority of the MiG-29 fleet were still unmodified MiG-29S and MiG-29UBs and poor condition. By 2020, only 11 Su-27s were upgraded to the M1 standard in total. While some L-39Cs were upgraded to the L-39M1 standard, most of the L-39Cs fleet only received their periodical overhauls: as of early 2019, the PSZSU only had 16 operational L-39Cs and one L-39M1 out of 46.[25][26]

Collection, processing and transmission of radio information was automated as part of the Automated Command and Control System for aviation and air defense. Operational service testing of the circular surveillance radar station was also completed. Prototypes of high-precision weapons systems, electronic warfare devices, and navigation equipment were created and developed for state testing.[27]

Role in the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine

[edit]
See also: Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and War in Donbas (2014–2022)

Following the Revolution of Dignity and subsequent March 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and the following violence and insurgency in east Ukraine, Ukraine tried to increase its defence spending and capabilities - with returning equipment to service being a key part of the spending drive.[6]

During the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea the air force did not fight but lost several aircraft to Russia; most were returned to Ukraine.[28] The air force took part in the conflict against the 2014 insurgency in Donbas.[4] During this conflict it lost several planes and helicopters. The US embassy in Kyiv reported that Ukraine lost 19 planes and helicopters between 22 April - 22 July 2014.[29] According to an unverified October 2015 report by Swiss technology company RUAG the Air Force had lost nearly half of its (combat) aircraft (since early 2014).[30] RUAG believed that 222 of the Air Force's 400 aircraft had been lost.[30]

Since 12 July 2014 the Ukrainian Air Force has been put on full combat alert.[4] Around this date the Air Forces started restoring its former military airfields in Voznesensk (Mykolaiv Oblast), and Velykyi Buialyk and Artsyz (both in Odesa Oblast).[31]

Ukraine inherited a large inventory of aircraft from the Soviet Union, these were mostly decommissioned and stored as the nation had little use or funding to keep a large fleet active. In 2014, the air force announced that it would be bringing back 68 aircraft that had been in reserve since the collapse of the Soviet Union, including the Tupolev Tu-141 reconnaissance drone.[6][32][unreliable source?][33] In April 2014 two MiG-29 aircraft were restored.[34] In August a decommissioned An-26 transport aircraft was also restored to active service by a volunteer group.[35] In January 2015 the air force received another 4 newly restored airplanes, two MiG-29s and two Su-27s, as well as two Mi-8 and Mi-2 helicopters.[36][37]

A Ukrainian Tu-143

As a result of the war in Donbas the government of Ukraine realized the importance of drone surveillance in locating enemy troops, and recommissioned 68 Soviet era Tu-141 drones to be repaired. Analysts pointed out that despite being designed in 1979 the Tu-141 has a powerful camera, it likely uses similar airborne radar and infrared sensor as the Soviet-era Su-24 which would make it prone to jamming by Russian forces as they use the same equipment.[38]

A crowd funding project for a "people's drone" aimed to purchase an American or Israeli drone. However, Ukrainian designers and engineers were able to build their own model based on the commercially available DJI Phantom 2 drone.[39]

In October 2014, students from Ivano-Frankivsk designed their own drone to be used in the war in Donbas. The drone could broadcast live pictures, unlike the Tu-141 which relies on film that must be recovered. The drone was built from off the shelf components and funded by volunteers. The drone was also stated to have an operational ceiling of 7,000 meters, a range of 25 kilometers, and cost about US$4,000 to build.[40][41]

In 2015, Ukroboronprom received a ₴2.5 million (approximately $2.77 million, that year) order to refit several Mil Mi-24 helicopter gunships, part of which included fitting them with night vision capabilities. The Mi-24 proved to be highly vulnerable to Russian separatist attacks during the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine. With the exception of captured aircraft in Crimean airbases the Mi-24 had the highest loss rate of all aircraft in Ukraine's inventory, with 5 being shot down and 4 damaged during the conflict.[42]

Developments towards restoration

[edit]

Starting in 1993 the United States National Guard worked with the Ukrainian Air Force as part of a NATO sponsored program. The Ukrainian Air Force worked with the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing and pilots exercised together, including in 2011 and 2018.[43] In 2014, various aircraft were repaired and transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force.[44][45][46][47] On 5 August 2014 an order No. 499 was issued allocating finances to modernize all Su-27 to the Su-27B1M, Su-27P1M, Su-27S1M, and on 3 October 2014 Kanatove Air Base in the Kirovograd Oblast was brought back to life.[citation needed] There were plans to begin licensed production of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter in Lviv. However, these plans have stalled since 2014.[48] As of August 2023, according to Forbes, Ukraine lost 69 aircraft since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, but they have been receiving equipment and funding from other countries.[49][50]

Role in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

[edit]
Main articles: 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and List of aircraft losses during the Russo-Ukrainian War

On Thursday, 24 February 2022, the Air Force began to respond to the advance of Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft and materiel towards Ukrainian skies as part of the country's invasion by the Russian Armed Forces.[51]

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that over 100 air defence systems and over 90 aircraft had been disabled or destroyed by 6 March 2022, which has not been confirmed by independent sources.[52] No official figures from the Ukrainian Defence Ministry were immediately available. According to US defense officials, UKAF still had 56 operational fighter jets as of 11 March 2022.[53]

In April 2022, an unspecified country offered parts to help Ukraine restore 20 aircraft to operational usage, a US defence official claimed.[54]

On 19 September, US Air Force General James B. Hecker said that Ukrainian air defences had shot down 55 Russian warplanes since the start of the invasion. He credited this success to the Ukrainian use of SA-11 and SA-10 air defence systems. As the US doesn't have these systems getting new missiles from European allies was a "big ask" from Kyiv. Russian airplanes increased their operations due to the 2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive. The tally went to 55 after the UK MoD stated that it believed that some 4 Russian jets had been downed by Ukraine over the previous 10 days. This was due to a number of factors including changing front lines, or the fact that they were under pressure to provide closer ground support. He further claimed that the Ukrainian Air Force was at about 80% of its pre-invasion strength after 7 months of combat.[55][56]

In May 2023 the BBC interviewed several Ukrainian Air Force pilots. Even with MiG-29s supplied from Slovakia and Poland these are still old, with the same Soviet era equipment and radars as their own Ukrainian aircraft. When long range radar guided missiles, such as the R-37M, are fired by Russian aircraft Ukrainian pilots have to rely on ground radar to warn them verbally. Once a launch is detected pilots must abandon their mission and fly extremely low. Another pilot said that his radar cannot see cruise missiles, so they can't be shot down. Most of the pilots fly extremely low during attack missions. When they are in action they use Soviet era unguided bombs and rockets. Due to these limitations one pilot estimates that "they (Ukrainian pilots) carry out up to 20 times fewer sorties than the Russian Air Force."[57]

As of 4 August 2023, according to Forbes the Ukrainian Air Force lost seven aircraft, "four MiG-29s, an Su-24, an Su-25 and an Su-27". The reduced rate of loss, compared to reported 62 aircraft in 2022, is credited to longer range western weapons.[49]

On 16 January 2025, the PSZSU launched an investigation on whether key personnel are being redeployed to reinforce the Eastern Front, following allegations that MiG-29 maintenance crews were sent as infantry affecting the combat readiness of the fleet. According to reports from The Kyiv Independent and Militarnyi, thousands of Air Force personnel including aviation, anti-aircraft, and radio engineering crews, were transferred to the Ground Forces since 2024 following a January 11th directive from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi ordering the transfer of 5,000 personnel from the Air Force to the Ground Forces, while the General Staff of the Armed forces of Ukraine denied such allgations.[58]

Equipment

[edit]

The last reliable information of the number of Ukrainian Air Force operational aircraft came in December 2021; during the current escalation of fighting, losses, technical refitting and donations may have changed the equipment numbers reported below.

Aircraft

[edit]

As of December 2023, the amount of aircraft that are still in service, especially fighter aircraft, is uncertain. Ukraine had 43 MiG-29s, 12 Su-24s, 17 Su-25s, and 26 Su-27s in active service in 2021 according to data from Flight Global.[2]

In February 2022, Ukraine had around 50 MiG-29S, MiG-29MU1, and MiG-29MU2 in service and a couple dozen of Su-27s in service including Su-27S, Su-27P, Su-27UB, Su-27PU, Su-27S1M, Su-27P1M, Su-27UBM1, and Su-27PU1M variants according to Forbes. Since then, Poland and Slovakia donated 27 MiG-29G and MiG-29AS in 2023, while Ukraine has been able to restore some grounded Su-27s back to service.[59]

F-16 procurement

[edit]
See also: F-16 training coalition and F-16 operators

In May 2023, the United States indicated support for training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighters and for allies to transfer the aircraft to Ukraine.[60][61] Jets announced to be donated will be delivered to Ukraine once the Ukrainian pilots have completed their training.[62]

Denmark will provide 19 F-16 aircraft and the Netherlands will attempt to provide up to 100% of their remaining fleet of 42 aircraft,[63] with the exception of the aircraft required for the training of Ukrainian pilots and maintenance personnel that will take place in Denmark and Romania. Denmark aims to deliver six F-16s by April 2024,[64] then eight F-16s in the rest of the year and five afterwards.[65] The Netherlands committed to an initial delivery of 18 aircraft.[66]

Norway have provided two F-16s to train Ukrainian pilots,[67] while the total number of aircraft provided to Ukraine will be six.[68] Belgium announced that they will send a total of 30 F-16s to Ukraine by 2028, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that the first aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2024.[69]

Greece has reportedly pledged 32 of its decommissioned F-16 aircraft to Ukraine.[70] These aircraft will first be sent to the United States for repairs and necessary upgrades before transferring them to Ukraine.[71]

All F-16 aircraft supplied by Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium will be the F-16AM (single-seat) / F-16BM (twin-seat) Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) variants. These variants are analogous to the F-16C/D Block 30/50/52.[72][73]

As of August 2024, Ukraine has received ten F-16s, and six Ukrainian pilots have completed their training.[74][75] By the end of 2024, Ukraine is expected to have twenty F-16s. The remaining jets will be delivered in batches throughout 2025.[76]

Mirage 2000-5 procurement

[edit]

On 6 June 2024, according to Le Figaro, French president Emmanuel Macron announced the future transfer of an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine.[77]

According to French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, the first Mirages will be delivered in the first quarter of 2025, and they will be modernized before delivery, with new air and ground combat systems as well defenses against electronic warfare.[78] In October 2024, it was reported that the first batch of three Mirages will be equipped with MICA missile, SCALP-EG cruise missiles, and AASM Hammer guided bombs.[79] In November 2024, French legislator Frank Giletti stated in his budget review that six Mirage 2000-5Fs will be delivered to the UAF with a "complete support model" for maintenance and combat readiness.[80]

In December 2024, Ukrainian pilots and ground crews completed their training in France. Reportedly Ukraine asked for a total of 12 Mirage 2000 5-Fs to fulfill the immediate needs of the Air Force.[81]

Current inventory

[edit]
Su-27 over Royal International Air Tattoo (2018)
Ukrainian Su-25
An Mi-8 helicopter lifts off from the military training academy in Odesa
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft
General Dynamics F-16 United States Multirole A[82] 2[82] An unknown number of aircraft was received as of December 2024 out of nearly 100 pledged.[83]
Mikoyan MiG-29 Soviet Union Multirole S/M1/M2/UB/G/AS[59][84] 45[82] 9 are used for conversion training.[82]
Sukhoi Su-24 Soviet Union Attack M/MR[85] 13[82] Modified to fire Storm Shadow missiles.[86]
Sukhoi Su-25 Soviet Union Attack / Close air support M1/M1K/UB/UBM1/UBM1K[87] 17[82] 4 are used for conversion training.[82]
Sukhoi Su-27 Soviet Union Multirole S/P/P1M/UB/UM[88] 23[82] 6 are used for conversion training.[82]
Dassault Mirage 2000 France Multirole 5F[81] Unspecified number to be transferred from France.[83]
Reconnaissance
Antonov An-30 Soviet Union Surveillance B[89] 3[82]
SAAB 340 Sweden AEW&C ASC 890[90] 2 to be delivered.[82]
Transport
Antonov An-24 Soviet Union Transport 22[82]
Antonov An-26 Soviet Union Transport
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union Transport / Utility TB/MSB-V[91] 15[82]
Mil Mi-9 Soviet Union Command post 2+[92]
Mil Mi-17 Soviet Union
Russian Federation 		Transport / Utility E/M/V-5[93] 22[92] Donated by several countries since 2022[93]
Trainer aircraft
Aero L-39 Czechoslovakia Jet trainer C/M1[87] 42[82]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Tupolev Tu-141 Soviet Union Reconnaissance ?[92] Modified as a loitering munition.[94]
Tupolev Tu-143 Soviet Union Reconnaissance ?[95] Modified as a loitering munition.[94]
Bayraktar TB2 Turkey Unmanned combat aerial vehicle ?[92] 72 delivered between 2019 and 2022. At least 8 were donated by Baykar.[93]
UJ-22 Ukraine Multirole ?[92]

Retired

[edit]

Previous aircraft operated include: An-12, Il-76, Il-78, L-29, Mi-6, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, Su-15, Su-17, Tu-16, Tu-22, Tu-22M, Tu-95MS, Tu-134, Tu-160, and Yak-28[23][24][17][18]

Armament

[edit]
Name Origin Type Variant Notes
Air-launched cruise missiles
Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG France
United Kingdom 		Long-range cruise missile [92]
Air-to-air missiles
R-73 Soviet Union Short-range [92]
R-60 Soviet Union Short-range R-60M [92]
R-27 Soviet Union/Ukraine Medium-range R-27ET
R-27R
R-27ER

R-27ET1 R-27ER1

[92]
AIM-9 Sidewinder United States Short-range AIM-9X
AIM-9M 		Used on NASAMS systems and F-16s.[93][96]
AIM-120 AMRAAM United States Medium-range AIM-120C-5

AIM-120C-8

Used for NASAMS systems and F-16s.[93][96]
AIM-7 Sparrow United States Medium-range Used in the surface-to-air role.[93]
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow United States Short-range Used in the surface-to-air role.[93]
ASRAAM United Kingdom Short-range AIM-132 Used in the surface-to-air role.[97]
Air-to-surface missile
Kh-25 Soviet Union Kh-25ML
Kh-25MP[92] 		[98]
Kh-29 Soviet Union Kh-29T [92]
AGM-88 HARM[92] United States Anti-radiation missile Mounted on modified MiG-29 fighters.[99]
Decoy missiles
ADM-160 MALD[92] United States ADM-160B Mounted on modified MiG-29s.[100]
Guided bombs
KAB-1500L Soviet Union Laser guided [101]
KAB-500KR Soviet Union TV guided [101]
MAM-L Turkey For Baykar Bayraktar TB2.[50]
MAM-C Turkey For Baykar Bayraktar TB2.[50]
Joint Direct Attack Munition[102] United States JDAM-ER Mounted on modified MiG-29 fighters.[99]
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb United States [103]
Armement Air-Sol Modulaire[102] France Mounted on modified MiG-29 fighters.[99]
Paveway United Kingdom Paveway IV To be supplied by the UK.[104][105]
Unnamed guided aerial bomb Ukraine Similar in concept to the French AASM.[106]
Unguided bombs
OFAB-100-120 Soviet Union [107]
OFAB 250–270 Soviet Union High explosive fragmentation.[98]
FAB-250 Soviet Union [107]
FAB-500 Soviet Union OFAB-500ShR Parachute retarded fragmentation bomb.[108]
Unguided rockets
Zuni United States 4,000 delivered by the United States.[109]
S-8 Soviet Union S-8KOM [107]
S-13 Soviet Union [98]
S-24 Soviet Union S-24B [98]
S-25 Soviet Union S-25OF [98]
Hydra 70 United States Used on Su-25 bombers and Mi-8 helicopters.[110]
Illumination bombs
SAB-250-200 Soviet Union [107]

Air defense

[edit]
IRIS-T SLM SAM Air defense system
9K37 Buk M1 SAM Air Defense system
Name Origin Type In service Pledged Notes
Surface-to-air missile
S-300PS
S-300PT
S-300PMU 		Soviet Union Mobile long-range SAM 200[92]
8[92] 		One S-300PMU battery was donated by Slovakia in 2022.[111]
S-200 Soviet Union Static long-range SAM ? Reactivated in 2024.[112][113]
2K12 Kub Soviet Union Mobile medium-range SAM 3+[114] 2[115]
9K37 Buk M1 Soviet Union Mobile medium-range SAM 50[92] Modified to fire AIM-7 Sparrow/RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.[116]
S-125 Neva/Pechora Soviet Union Mobile short-range SAM 8[117] Modernized to the S-125-2D standard.[118] The Polish S-125 Newa-SC is also used.[119]
IRIS-T SLM Germany Mobile medium-range SAM 5[120] 8[120]
IRIS-T SLS Germany Mobile short-range SAM 4[120] 10[120]
NASAMS Norway/United States Mobile short- to medium-range SAM 17[93][121][122][123] 12 systems have been donated by the United States.[124] Norway donated four systems in two batches[125] with Canada donating another one.[126] While Lithuania donated an additional two launchers.[127]
MIM-104 Patriot United States Mobile long-range anti-ballistic missile system 7[93][120][128][129][130] Germany and the United States has each delivered 3 Patriot batteries with an additional four launchers donated by Germany.[131][132][133] Spain has delivered two batches of Patriot missiles to Ukraine.[134][135] The USA also announced it was pausing delivery of Patriot missiles to other global customers in order to prioritize deliveries to Ukraine.[136][137] Ukraine received one Patriot system pledged by Romania, the Romanian Defense Ministry spokesperson Constantin Spinu confirmed for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in October 2024.[138] While the Netherlands provided five additional Patriot launchers.[139][140][141]
SAMP/T Italy/France Mobile long-range ABM 1[93] 1[142]
Aspide Italy Mobile medium-range SAM 3[50] Spada 2000 donated by Spain. Skyguard Aspide and Spada systems donated by Italy.[50]
MIM-23 Hawk United States Mobile medium-range SAM 20[92][143] To be upgraded.[144]
Anti-aircraft guns
ZU-23-2 Soviet Union Towed AA gun [92]

Radars

[edit]
Model Country of origin Type Number Details
P-14 Soviet Union Early-warning radar N/A [145]
P-18 Soviet Union Early-warning radar N/A Being modernized to the P-18C standard.[146] The Lithuanian P-18ML and Ukrainian P-18 "Malakhit" modernisation have both been seen in use.[145]
P-19 Soviet Union Mobile surveillance radar N/A [145]
P-35 Soviet Union Early-warning radar N/A [145]
1L22 "Parol" Soviet Union Mobile radar N/A [145]
PRV-11 [ru] Soviet Union Towed radar N/A [145]
PRV-13 [ru] Soviet Union Towed radar N/A [145]
PRV-16 [ru] Soviet Union Mobile radar N/A In service during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Lithuanian modernsation PRV-16ML has been seen in use.[145]
R-410 Soviet Union Tropospheric scatter N/A [145]
36D6 'Tin Shield Soviet Union Air surveillance radar 1+ Part of the S-300 radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.[147]
5N66M 'Clam Shell' Soviet Union Target acquisition radar 1+ Part of the S-300 radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.[147]
5N63S 'Flap Lid B' Soviet Union Engagement/fire-control radar 1+ Fire control radar for S-300. 1 donated by Slovakia.[147]
SURN 1S91 Soviet Union Target acquisition and distribution radar 3+ Part of the 2K12 Kub radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.[147] 2 donated by Czech Republic.[148]
AN/MPQ-61 United States Pulse acquisition radar 1 Provided with the MIM-23 Hawk battery donated by Spain in December 2022.[149][150]
AN/MPQ-62 United States CW acquisition radar 1 Provided with the MIM-23 Hawk battery donated by Spain in December 2022.[149][150]
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel United States Towed air surveillance radar 8[93]
TRML Germany Early-warning radar 9[120]
Ground Master 200 France Mobile air surveillance radar 1[93] Contract signed between Ukraine and Thales for 2 systems.[151]
Thomson-CSF RAC 3D France Air surveillance radar 1 Provided by Spain with the Aspide 2000 battery.[150]
PS-90 Sweden Early warning Radar 1[93]
VERA passive radar Czech Republic Long range passive radar 4 Pledged by the Netherlands.[152]

Branches of the Air Force

[edit]
Troop badges of the Air Force
2016 to present badge of Ukrainian aviation
Aviation
2016 to present badge of Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile troops
Anti-aircraft missile troops
2016 to present badge of Ukrainian radio engineering troops
Radio engineering troops

Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Forces

[edit]

The Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Forces Corps were created after the 2004 merger of the Air Force and the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces. It allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to adopt the tri-service structure,[153] common to most modern armed forces in the world as of present. Personnel of this force fall under the direct control of the Ukrainian Air Force General Command.[154]

They are dedicated to anti-air defense operations in defense of air force bases and facilities and other structures of state as well as economic complexes and others as mandated by law, as well as provide support to elements of the Ground Forces, Marine Corps and Navy in combat operations.[155]

Structure

[edit]

As of August 2023 the structure is as follows:[citation needed]

Ukrainian Air Force
Commands
Name Components Commander Location
Air Force General Command Training Command, Air Logistics Command, Air Operations Command Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk Vinnytsia
Air Command West Maj. Gen. Borys Henov Lviv
Air Command Center Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko Vasylkiv
Air Command South Maj. Gen. Dmytro Karpenko Odesa
Air Command East Maj. Gen. Ivan Terebukha Dnipro
Aviation Corps
Name Equipment Higher Command Air Base
7th Tactical Aviation Brigade Su-24M/MR Air Force General Command Starokostiantyniv Air Base
15th Transport Aviation Brigade An-24, An-26, An-30B, Tu-134A-3, Mi-8 Air Force General Command Boryspil International Airport
25th Transport Aviation Brigade Il-76M/MD, Il-78, An-26 Air Force General Command N/A (before the war Melitopol Air Base)
39th Tactical Aviation Brigade Su-27 Air Command "Central" Ozerne Air Base
40th Tactical Aviation Brigade MiG-29 Air Command "Central" Vasylkiv Air Base
114th Tactical Aviation Brigade MiG-29 Air Command "West" Ivano-Frankivsk Air Base
203rd Training Aviation Brigade L-39, An-26, Mi-2 National Air Force University N/A (before the war Chuhuiv Air Base)
204th Tactical Aviation Brigade Mig-29 Air Command "West" Lutsk Air Base
299th Tactical Aviation Brigade Su-25 Air Force General Command Kulbakino Air Base
383rd Unmanned Aircraft Brigade Bayraktar TB2 Air Force General Command Khmelnytskyi Air Base
456th Transport Aviation Brigade An-12, An-24, An-26, Mi-8 Air Force General Command Havryshivka Air Base
831st Tactical Aviation Brigade Su-27 Air Command "Central" Myrhorod Air Base
Anti-Aircraft Defense Missile Artillery Corps
Name Equipment Higher Command Location
Brigades
96th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade S-300PS, Patriot[156] Air Command "Central" Danylivka
138th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade S-300PS, S-300PT, Patriot[157] Air Command "East" Dnipro
160th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade S-300PS Air Command "South" Odesa
201st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade S-300PS, S-300V1 Air Command "South" Pervomaisk
208th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade S-300PS, S-300PT Air Command "South" Kherson
Regiments
11th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment Buk-M1 Air Command "West" Shepetivka
14th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment MIM-23 Hawk Air Command "Central" Poltava Oblast
156th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment Buk-M1 Air Command "Central" Zolotonosha
210th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment S-300V1 Air Command "Central" Uman
223rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment Buk-M1 Air Command "West" Stryi
225th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment Unspecified Air Command "East" Poltava
301st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment S–300PS Air Command "East" Nikopol
302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment S–300PT Air Command "East" Kharkiv
540th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment S–300PS, S–300PT Air Command "West" Kamianka-Buzka
Radio-Technical Troops
Name Equipment Higher Command Location
1st Radio Technical Brigade Air Command "West" Lypniki
14th Radio Technical Brigade Air Command "South" Odesa
19th Special Purpose Radio Intercept Brigade Air Force General Command Halytsynov
138th Radio Technical Brigade Air Command "Central" Vasylkiv
164th Radio Technical Brigade Air Command "East" Kharkiv
Signal Corps
Name Equipment Higher Command Location
31st Communication Regiment Air Command "Central" Kyiv
43rd Communication Regiment Air Command "South" Odesa
57th Communication Regiment Air Command "East" Dnipro
76th Communication Regiment Air Command "West" Lypniki
101st Communication Regiment Air Force General Command Vinnytsia
182nd Communication Regiment Air Force General Command Vinnytsia
Electronic Warfare Corps
Name Equipment Higher Command Location
17th Electronic Warfare Battalion Air Command "West" Kolomyia
1194th Electronic Warfare Battalion Air Command "South" Pervomaisk
2204th Electronic Warfare Battalion Air Command "Central" Vasylkiv
Air Force ground forces
Name Equipment Higher Command Location
1st Air Force Rifle Brigade Air Force General Command
28th Airfield Engineer Battalion Air Command "South" Mykolaiv
352nd Airfield Engineer Battalion Air Command "West" Khmelnytskyi

Geographic distribution

[edit]
class=notpageimage|

Ukrainian Air Force locations in 2018
Brigades: Fighter, Fighter/Attack, Transport, Training, S-300 Air-defense, Radio-technical (Radar)
Regiments: S-300 Air-defense, Buk-M1 Air-defense, Other, Auxiliary Airfield

Military ranks

[edit]
Main article: Military ranks of Ukraine

Officers

[edit]
Rank group General/Flag/Air officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Ukrainian Air Force[158]
Генерал
Heneral 		Генерал-лейтенант
Heneral-leytenant 		Генерал-майор
Heneral-mayor 		Бригадний генерал
Bryhadnyy heneral 		Полковник
Polkovnyk 		Підполковник
Pidpolkovnyk 		Майор
Mayor 		Капітан
Kapitan 		Старший лейтенант
Starshyy leytenant 		Лейтенант
Leytenant 		Молодший лейтенант
Molodshyy leytenant

Other ranks and NCOs

[edit]
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Ukrainian Air Force[158]
Головний майстер-сержант
Holovnyi maister-serzhant 		Старший майстер-сержант
Starshyi maister-serzhant 		Майстер-сержант
Maister-serzhant 		Штаб-сержант
Shtab-serzhant 		Головний сержант
Holovnyi serzhant 		Старший сержант
Starshyi serzhant 		Сержант
Serzhant 		Молодший сержант
Molodshyi serzhant 		Старший солдат
Starshyi soldat 		Солдат
Soldat

Training

[edit]

Training activities have taken on a qualitatively new character due to their complexity, including the simultaneous employment of all branches of the Air Force aviation, anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops in close teamwork with units of other armed services of the Armed Forces. Operational and combat training has included the following activities:

Ukrainian Su-25UBs
  1. Aviation units have performed more than 6,000 tasks in combat scenarios (including more than 1,500 air battles and interceptions, 629 firing at land-based targets, 530 bombings, 21 launches of air missiles, 454 tasks in aerial surveillance, 454 airborne landings, 740 airlifts, 575 flight shifts for a total of 10,553 flying hours);
  2. Five tactical flying missions in a squadron, 14 in a pair and 5 in a flight organization have been carried out to perform the assigned combat tasks, and 54 pilots have been trained to perform specific tasks in difficult meteorological conditions;
  3. The number of flight crews being trained to defend the air space of the country and counter-terrorism air operations has almost doubled from 46 in 2005 to 90 in 2006; the units of anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops carried out 50 maneuvers involving redeployment, with each operator tracking 70 and 140 real and simulated targets, respectively.

In early September 2007, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted the most large-scale training of its aircraft to date. As the Defense Minister of Ukraine, Anatoliy Hrytsenko stated, "The most large-scale, during the whole 16 years of the Ukrainian independence, training of fighting aircraft, which defends our air space, was carried out during September 4–5". According to him, they fulfilled 45 battle launches of air-to-air missile, out of them 22 during the day and 23 at night. 35 pilots confirmed their high skills during the training. Hrytsenko stressed that 100% of air targets were hit.[159]

The Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company developed the KhAZ-30 ultralight trainer for the Ukrainian Airforce. The aircraft is designed for elementary pilot training as an introductory aircraft before recruits move on the more advanced Aero L-39 Albatros trainer.[160]

Invasion of Ukraine

[edit]

Shooting down cruise missiles became important as the war progressed, so pilots received specialist training. The same tactics are used to intercept drones. Pilots use their infrared search and track to detect cruise missiles and drones by their heat signature. They were trained to do this using simulators. Whereas most cruise missiles fly low and are hard to detect, Russian cruise missiles leave a heat signature from their “conventional two-circuit jet engines”. President Zelenskyy singled out the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade for praise in shooting down drones. As surface-to-air missiles run out the fighters are called upon to do more work.[161]

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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Bibliography

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Further reading

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