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From the history of the Soviet "aggression"
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The world of Aircraft № 2 (8) '94
Sergei Pazynich
Sovetskaya Gavan
From the history of the Soviet "aggression"
agr1.jpg (33,057 bytes)
MiG-23MLD and MiG-29 from the Center for training of personnel, Turkmenistan, 1990
Fig. Kartashov.
The tactics of modern fighter jets took a lot from the experience of local wars, which are, without doubt, the most effective testing ground for new military equipment and weapons. Indeed, in the early 50s in Korea have been checking subsonic jets, and fifteen years later, in Vietnam - supersonic, equipped with guided missiles, a few years later, in the Middle East, met the same machines in air combat maneuvering, a concept which flatly denied in the mid 60s. The results of their operational use have been carefully analyzed by experts abroad. On the basis of the findings to develop proposals for further improvement of air combat tactics.
MiG-23MLD of the Centre for training of flight staff, Turkmenistan, 1990
Photo by the author.
Experience in Vietnam, the Middle East showed that the tactics of aerial combat and the use of fighter aircraft in the Soviet Air Force (namely our school were Vietnamese, and Arab pilots) are outdated and not up to date. The Air Force, given the relentless tension in the Middle East, in order to address these issues and to raise the prestige of the Soviet aircraft decided to create a group from among the most experienced (by peacetime standards) fighter pilots combat units.
MiG-23MLD of the Centre for training of flight staff, Turkmenistan, 1990
Photo by the author.
At various times in the preparation of such groups were the officers (among those personally known to the author and told him many of those events): Bad Mamontov, lasers Mikhail V. Sokolov, B. Gregory, Alexander Vasilenko, Vladimir Kochetkov, now a lieutenant colonel and retired and reserve, in the same years - the young and future captains and senior lieutenants, but surely - the military pilots of the 1st class.
MiG-29 from the training center for pilots, Turkmenistan, 1990
Photo by the author.
In early 1970, on the basis of one Air Force fighter regiments TurkVO (select substantiated the presence of 360 days a year favorable for flight meteoobstanovkoy) organized a special training center crews, where he began to hone their combat skills first groups of pilots, intended for "long trips ". The center had squadron, equipped with the MiG-21PFM, CM and MiG-21UM (MA). Training was conducted on the program "Caucasus" (so-called 500s exercise), which included testing of single and group of the complex and aerobatics, combat maneuvers, single and group air combat maneuvering (in the steam units and tactical teams - 6 8, 10 aircraft in the group) for medium, small and extremely low altitudes. How was this training, I will not describe - is a topic for another article, but for now we can say that happened to everyone: cases and accidents, and catastrophes (and small) ... Anyway, the deed was done, and in 1972 produced several groups. Before sending them to Egypt "blessed" by the late, and then - Air Chief Marshal, Chief of the Air Force PS Kutakhov. Was a group of MiG-25 and several groups on the MiG-21MF, one of which was based at the airbase Benisuef and covered the city and port of Alexandria. The descriptions of these battles we have, and paradoxically (to the west of it inscribed with a volume of literature), are still under a certain stamp, and the coverage of those events - a problem not of the publication. If you say it briefly, then training at the Center has produced positive results, although there were blunders, there were casualties ...
Soon the command of the Soviet Air Force has concluded that a valuable combat experience should be introduced in all aviation units. Contributed to the decision, in addition, the appearance at that time in the U.S. Air Force special forces "invaders." In particular, the 64th and 65th squadron, stationed at Nellis AFB (Nev.), took part in the annual exercise "RED FLEG" ("Red Flag"). These units were armed with R-5A aircraft and T-38, similar in characteristics to the MiG-21, and even color reminiscent of Soviet aircraft. In mock battles, they used tactics, combat techniques and maneuvers typical of Soviet fighters.
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The symbol of the 1st Squadron
So, it was decided to create a similar unit in the Air Force and the Soviet Union. The basis is already known to have taken center in Turkmenistan, armed this time (1974) MiG-21bis. Two squadrons of the former Centre, together with other units and departments to ensure and control (including subdivision and radio-controlled target-La 17), entered the Air Force Base to test combat training front-line fighter aircraft parts. Squadron pilots were equipped with the experience of Vietnam, the Middle East or who have been trained at the Center for the program "Caucasus". It is with them, these aces, had to compete skill fighter pilots of various regiments from all over the Soviet Union, occasionally visited the Turkmen Base. Since that time, and begins almost twenty-year history of the Soviet squadrons "aggressor." Although the title is in any official document is not found in the range of fighter pilots dubbed the units that way.
The author of this publication as a pilot of the MiG-21bis in the various regiments, where at that time served and participated in inspections at this air base in 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983. A lot of interesting topic for a book. In a nutshell, the program checks were very complex, and intense. interesting happened all ... But the pilot training bases have always been the highest class and "fight" with them was not easy. As part of squadrons "aggressors" were the most experienced pilots. Over time, the pilots with experience in the Middle East was becoming less and are replaced in the line pilots, as a rule, class 1 and "snipers", the latter was always about 35-40%.
logo2.jpg (5178 bytes)
The symbol of the 2nd Squadron
Updated with time and technology. In the autumn of 1975 the second squadron of MiG-rearmed on 23M and MiG-23UB. And in the first and second squadrons were standard at that time a light gray-blue color of the airframe and blue with white trim, hull numbers. On the left sides of many machines (in the "hood" canopy) had red stars the size of sixth identification mark (03), some - up to six, which indicated that the number of kills on that machine remote controlled targets. In 1979, the Order of Commander of the Air Force began universal camouflage combat aircraft. Touched it, and aircraft bases. We started with the MiG-23, painted directly in the unit. The colors were chosen corresponding to the Asian landscape: sand, light brown, light gray-green ("burnt out" hacks), and green, closer to the hacks that their location is arbitrary. Just below on the machines remained the factory paint.
In 1984, instead of the MiG-23M to adopt the second squadron of MiG-23MLD received. The planes were camouflaged at the factory. Approximately corresponded to a set of colors as described above, the side room - light blue with white piping.
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MiG-29 from the training center for pilots, Turkmenistan, 1990
In 1987, the first air squadron of MiG-29 has mastered. Coloring they had a standard for this type of aircraft, flight number - red with white piping.
However, by that time there was a problem along the following lines: to the inspections at the Base regiments recruited the fighters, similar to 'local'. Therefore, pilots, especially when the group maneuvering air combat, it was difficult to determine - where "his", where "foreign". To resolve this issue (not without experience of American air squadrons "aggressor") command decided to put on planes belonging to the Base, the distinctive coloring: the so-called "brandy strips" (the MiG-29 on the upper surfaces of the wings and fuselage, and the MiG-23 - on the keels) and the "shark mouth" at the bow. In addition, the vertical stabilizer machine written digits hull numbers of white (about 15-20 cm). It was convenient to work on the ground. When on flights to the central technical positions are 20-30 planes in a row, the number on the fuselage (inlet) - seen only 2-3 cars, and the figures on the keels, given that the command and control, engineering and command and control centers are located rear parking lot visible almost all the rooms.
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MiG-23MLD of the Centre for training of flight staff, Turkmenistan, 1990
At the initiative of the pilots and technicians, there was also an unofficial Base symbolism squadrons.
In the first: on the outer sides of the keel with a large number wing (yellow with blue trim) for this logo is from the bottom up with a slant back arrow in red. On the right side, near the peak of the lantern, black dots and black outline - a leopard in a jump.
The second: to the left inlet - Viking with a club (helmet - blue, horn - red hair - red, brown lower body, upper - light brown, baton - black) for a helmet ticket for 2 (2ae) - white.
Since 1988, our "aggressors" had the appearance, in which author and photographed them in November 1990
In autumn 1991 planned to retrain the second squadron of Su-27 fighters were ready and sketches of their "agressorskoy" coloring. The transition to new equipment before it was supposed to, and in 1989, and in 1990, but economic hardship is inexorably pushed away as possible. What happened in August 1991 and later - in December of that year - the reader knows ... Events, of course, influenced the destiny of a unique aviation unit. Everything and everyone started to divide. The former head of the Base (early 80s), Colonel KP Morozov became the Minister of Defence of Ukraine. The base is moved first in the Armed Forces of the CIS, and then - under Russian jurisdiction, but in Turkmenistan ... About retraining is the question no one has ...
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MiG-29UB, MiG-29 (top view) of the training center for pilots
Turkmenistan, 1990
Now money is not enough to maintain an appropriate level of training of pilots. Many of the pilots personally known to the author retired from the army, some were transferred for further service in the European part of Russia ... Relationship with the current base is almost lost, and the fate of her emerges is not very clear. Now and then here comes the muffled information. Hope is small, and yet it is expected that the history of the Soviet, and now - the Russian "aggressors" is not over yet. Perhaps they will change their place of deployment, and will continue to base its existence on the territory of Russia, battles and training will take place not on the sands of the Kara-Kum, and in the sky over the steppes of the Volga ...
Give God ...
If readers of new information on this topic, the author would be glad to receive it. Address - in the office.
Photos from the archives of the author.
Figures Kartashov.
© S. Pazynich
