Army aviation of Russia: history, comparison with foreign analogues

The Russian Air Force is divided intofighter, assault, bomber, reconnaissance, special and transport aviation. Each of these units has its own, strictly defined purpose. In addition, they include long-range, military-transport, operational-tactical and army aviation. It is about this and will be discussed in this article.

The history of the birth of a new kind of troops

It is generally accepted that the history of army aviationRussia originates from the creation in 1948 in Serpukhov of the first helicopter squadron. However, it would be a mistake to ignore the combat path traveled by Russian and Soviet military aircraft in the period of previous wars.

It is known that back in 1909,the tsarist army there were some flying machines of foreign manufacture. Their baptism of fire they received during the First World War. Then in Russia the first private enterprises were created, which produced aircraft and aircraft engines. By 1917 there were already about twenty of them.

Despite the fact that the fighting vehicles were usedmainly for reconnaissance and bombing attacks, much of the experience of those years formed the basis for the subsequent creation of army aviation. Basically, the need for its appearance became apparent during the battles of the Great Patriotic War.

The tasks facing the army aviation

Modern army aviation serves to solvethe widest range of operational and tactical tasks. During combat operations, it strikes, hitting the enemy's living force, as well as tanks, anti-tank weapons and armored vehicles. In addition, with its help, fire support for ground forces is carried out and reconnaissance is conducted.

Thanks to the role that the army aviationplays in the course of combat operations, combined-arms divisions, units and formations have the opportunity to significantly increase their operational mobility. It acquires special significance for providing communication and control over the actions of ground troops, as well as for mining, evacuation, search and rescue of the wounded.

Brigades of army aviation are used infight against a certain category of enemy air forces. Practice shows that their use is especially effective in performing tasks related to the destruction of low-flying aircraft and helicopters. They are indispensable for the suppression of air defense weapons.

Assignment of shock combat helicopters

Russian Army Aviation is based onunits, complete with helicopters of various types and modifications. According to their purpose, they are divided into three categories: military transport, transport and combat, and combat. Let us dwell on each of them.

Combat, or, as they are called, shockhelicopters, equipped with various types of weapons and perform a wide range of operational tasks. They are responsible, in particular, the fight against armored vehicles, as well as enemy tanks and the defeat of small ground targets. In the course of operations, they also deliver air strikes against military units, accompany military transport helicopters, and in the event of the appearance of an air enemy, fight with them.

An important area of ​​use for combat helicoptersis aerial reconnaissance and surveillance, in which data on the location of targets are transmitted to ground-based fire weapons, as well as to bombers or attack aircraft.

Divisions of transport and combat vehicles

The next category of helicopters that is part ofRussian Army Aviation, is a transport-combat vehicles. They are designed to provide all the necessary ground troops, the delivery and landing of troops, as well as carrying out various kinds of rescue operations and the evacuation of the wounded. In addition, their task may include the installation of minefields and the destruction of ground targets.

What are military transport helicopters?

And finally, the last group ismilitary transport helicopters. These are, as a rule, medium-sized and heavy vehicles intended for the transfer of personnel to specified areas, as well as the delivery of weapons and ammunition. Carried goods can be placed both inside the helicopter and with the help of external suspension. Machines of this type are also used for the landing of assault forces and various search and rescue operations.

Modernization of army aviation in the post-Soviet period

As follows from the data published by the militaryObservers, most of the helicopter fleet of the Russian Air Force was created before the collapse of the USSR and was inherited by today's army. This includes well-proven Mi-24 attack helicopters in local military conflicts, heavy Mi-26 transport vehicles and a number of other aircraft that surpass their foreign counterparts in a number of technical specifications.

The beginning of a large-scale modernization of combattechnology, which was involved, and the Russian army aviation, began in 2000. Besides the fact that during this period a large number of new modifications of the machines that were previously in service appeared, several fundamentally new models were launched. Among them a special place was occupied by the Ka-52 multi-purpose attack helicopters, as well as the Mi-28N. Currently, they are among the combat vehicles that form the basis of the power of the Russian army aviation.

High combat readiness of flight parts

The combat capability of this kind of troops, manifested inthe difficult years of the Afghan conflict did not diminish also in the nineties, despite all the economic difficulties. The crews of Russian Air Force helicopters honorably performed their duty during operations in Chechnya, as well as in a number of other “hot spots”. Everywhere they showed an example of high professionalism and readiness to perform any combat mission set for them.

In the early 2000s, there was a trend towardsthe widespread reduction of tensions that caused local conflicts, often transformed into military clashes. This made it possible to make efforts to re-equip the air units and improve the skills of their personnel. Across the country, large-scale military exercises were regularly conducted, in which army aviation also took part. Photos of such training flights are given in the article.

Operation in Syria, which has become a combat exam

The real test of combat training was the participationRussian pilots in a large-scale anti-terrorist operation launched in Syria. Despite the fact that actions are carried out not against the regular army, but against scattered gangs, they are extremely risky and require high proficiency and coherence from all participants.

Particularly difficult to create a qualitatively grownthe level of enemy air defense and the difficult climatic conditions in which the assigned tasks have to be accomplished. It is these factors that caused losses among the personnel of the Russian units.

Army Aviation of foreign countries

Helicopters have received similar applications inarmed forces of other large countries of the world. For example, in the USA, a special Army Aviation Corps has been created, in service with which, besides conventional vehicles, there are also unmanned aerial vehicles. Its purpose is to conduct joint combat operations with infantry, armored and airborne formations.

According to official data published in 2007year, the helicopter fleet of American Army aviation totaled about 4,200 combat vehicles. Currently, this information is certainly outdated, but it also gives an idea of ​​the importance attached to this kind of troops overseas. The same can be said about the armed forces of Germany and England, where, along with multi-purpose helicopters, various types of transport aircraft are used.