Belarus Air and Air Defense Force

Air Force and Air Defence as the armed service are intended to protect centers, regions and objects (administrative, industrial, economic), force groups against hostile air strikes, to defeat objects, military-economic potential and forces of hostile, to provide fire support and Army's combat activity. In peacetime Air Force and Air Defence is on combat duty to defend the State Frontier in air and to control use of the airspace of the Republic of Belarus. The Operational-Tactical Command exercises the direct control over subordinated troops, organizes air defence of vital objects of state and military administration, economy and forces, defends the State Frontier in its area of responsibility, trains subordinated troops and conducts combat missions jointly with forces of operational commands of the Army in operations line.

In December 2001 the transition of the armed forces to the two-fold structure - Ground Forces, and the Air Force (VVS) and Troops of Air Defense (PVO) -- was completed. The VVS and air defense forces consist of aviation, zenith rocket forces, radiotechnical troops, and also military parts and support units and maintenance/servicing.

In mid-1994 the Belarusian air force operated two interceptor regiments with MiG-23, MiG-25, and MiG-29 aircraft; three strike regiments with MiG-27, Su-17, Su-24, and Su-25 aircraft; and one reconnaissance regiment with MiG-25 and Su-24 aircraft. Four regiments had 300 helicopters, and one transport regiment had more than forty helicopters. Personnel numbered 15,800.

Belarus also had an air defense force with 11,800 personnel and 200 SA-2, SA-3, SA-5, and SA-10 surface-to-air missiles. The system was being integrated into Russia's air defenses in 1994 owing to Belarus's lack of resources.

On 5 May, 1942, on the base VVS of Western Front was formed by 1 air force. On 10 January 1949 control 1 VA on the basis of directive GSH VS OF THE USSR.ORG 120026 is renamed in control 26 VA of directive GSH VS OF THE USSR 1980.314/1/00170 control 26 VA was re-formed in control VVS of Belorussian military district.From 1 May, 1988, by the order of the Minister/Secretary of Defense OF THE USSR 1988.0018 control VVS BVO are re-formed in control 26 VA.

From 15 June, 1992, by the order of the Minister/Secretary of Defense of republic Belarus'.05 on the base of control 26 VA is formed the command of Air Force of republic Belarus'. In 1992, after the finding of state sovereignty, republic Belarus' approached the creation of the personal armed forces air defense forces they were formed/shaped as the independent form of the armed forces on the base of 2-1 independent army of air defense forces OF THE USSR, and also - the air defense units of red banner Belorussian military district.

In accordance with the decision of Supreme Soviet of republic Belarus' of 16 March, 1992, the 2-4 independent army PVO - AIR DEFENSE- from 1st June 1992 was subordinated to the commander of air defense forces of the armed forces of republic Belarus', and from 1 August control PVO - - AIR DEFENSE- of Red Banner Belorussian Military District and 2-1 independent army PVO - AIR DEFENSE- were re-formed into the troop command PVO - AIR DEFENSE- of the armed forces of republic Belarus'. In the course of reforming the air defense system the number of military personnel PVO - - AIR DEFENSE- new military-political conditions was in connection with substantially shortened, are re-formed more than 10 connections and parts. The normative base was reviewed and brought into correspondence with the decided tasks, and the modernization of forces and air defense weapons was carried out. Due to the modernization and the organizational measures, the air defense system of republic Belarus' became more contemporary, which makes it possible more effectively and more qualitatively to manage stated problems.

In accordance with the edict of the President of republic Belarus' in the year 2001 the Air Force and troops of air defense were created as one of the forms of the armed forces of the Belarus republic. The VVS and air defense forces as the form of the armed forces are intended for the protection of centers, regions, objects (administrative, industrial, economic), groupings of troops from the impacts/shocks of enemy from air, and also for the defeat of objects, military-economic potential and hostile troops, fire support and guarantee of combat operations of ground forces.In peacetime VVS and air defense forces by the part of the forces and facilities they bear standby alert for the purpose of the protection of state boundary in air and the control of the observance of the order of the use of airspace of republic Belarus'.

Aviation VVS air defense forces consists of bomber, reconnaissance, assault, destructive, army, transport, special and is intended for: the defeat of the air weapon systems, important military-economic objects of enemy; the disorganization of stated and military control; the protection of important state, military targets and troops from air; air-ground support; the guarantee of forces of special operations; conducting aerial reconnaissance; the transportation by air of troops and of supplies; landing personnel and technology.

Bomber aviation, being armed with bombers Su-24m, is the basic VVS attack means and is intended for the defeat of the groupings of troops, aviation on the earth/ground (airfields), destroying of important military, military industrial, energy objects, communications, predominantly in the operational depth. It can also solve the problems of conducting of aerial reconnaissance and aerial mine laying.

Attack aviation, being armed with attack aircraft Su-25, is the means of the air support of troops and is intended for the defeat of troops, ground-based, mainly small size and mobile, the objects of enemy predominantly on the forward edge, in the tactical and nearest operational depth, and also for the aerial mine laying. It can solve the problems of the defeat of the helicopters (aircraft) of enemy in air, conducting aerial reconnaissance.

Fighter aviation, being armed with fighters Su-27 and MiG-29, was one of the basic means of fight with the air enemy and is intended for the damage/defeat of aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned vehicles of enemy in air. It also can solve problems in the defeat of the ground-based objects of enemy in the tactical and nearest operational depth and on conducting of aerial reconnaissance.

Reconnaissance aviation, being armed with aircraft Su-24mr helicopter-scouts Mi-24k, is intended for the aerial reconnaissance of enemy, locality/terrain and weather.Sometimes aircraft (helicopters) the scouts can simultaneously with conducting of reconnaissance destroy the revealed by them objects of enemy.

Army aviation, being armed with combat helicopters Mi-24, transport- combat Mi-8 and transport Mi-26, is the means of the air support of troops and is intended for the damage/defeat of kinetic energy, ground-based small size and mobile objects of enemy, predominantly on the forward edge, the air support of the combat operations of ground forces, and also for the transportation of troops and loads, landing, aerial mine laying. It can solve the problems of the damage/defeat of the helicopters (low-speed low-flying objects) of enemy in air, conducting the aerial reconnaissance and other tasks.

The cargo fleet, being armed with transport aircraft Il-76, An-12, An-26 is intended for landing the forces of special operations, transportation of troops and of supplies by air, guaranteeing of maneuver and combat operations of troops.

Belarus’ Armed Forces will soon decommission Russian-made Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, Belarusian Defense Minister Yury Zhadobin said on 19 February 2013. By that time all of Belarus’ Su-27s had been grounded. The post-Soviet nation earlier took all of its Sukhoi Su-24 Fullback fighter bombers out of service. “The Su-24 is an offensive system. Who am I supposed to attack and where? In addition, this aircraft has outlived its usefulness. The decision was made to decommission it,” Zhadobin said. The Belarusian Armed Forces will continue using its Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot and MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, he added. “This year two [MiG] 29s will be modernized,” the minister said.

Major General Oleg Dvigalev said 13 August 2015 that the country had signed two contracts for four Russian Yakolev Yak-130 Mitten trainer/strike aircraft. He also confirmed that an order for 12 Mil Mi-8MTV-5 Hip helicopters had been signed in June. Upon delivery, Belarus will have a fleet of eight Yak-130s. Four of the aircraft Belarus ordered in 2012 were delivered in April.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry intends to replace the MiG-29 fighter jets with Su-30SM after 2020, BelTA learned from Major-General Oleg Dvigalev, Chief of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense, on 20 October 2015.

The official said: “Naturally the existing aviation fleet, particularly fighter jets MiG-29, is getting outdated. It is time to decide on replacing these aircraft. We are considering buying Su-30SM aircraft from Irkut Corporation. It may be done after 2020.”

The Su-30SM jet fighter stems from the Su-37UB model. They are now used by the Russian Air Force and the Russian Navy. These aircraft can carry guided missiles, dumb bombs and other kinds of weapons. The crew comprises two people. The aircraft can fly as far as 3,000km, with the combat radius of 1,500km. The aircraft can stay in the air without refueling for 3.5 hours. Representatives of the Belarusian Air Force tested the aircraft during the air show MAKS 2015 and positively appreciated its qualities.

Oleg Dvigalev reminded that the Belarusian side had signed the contract to buy 12 Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters. He specified that six helicopters will be delivered in 2016 and another six will be delivered in 2017. Meanwhile, the Belarusian army continues repairing and modernizing the available hardware.

The multipurpose helicopter Mi-8MTV-5 represents a profoundly modernized variant of the Mi-8MTV-1 helicopter. The new vehicle can airlift army units at any time of the day and night while providing aerial cover. The helicopter can mount 23mm cannons or can carry up to two tonnes of bombs. The cruising speed is 230kmph, with the flying range of 590km. The helicopter can carry up to four tonnes of cargo in the cabin and up to five tonnes as external loadout.