Current state of Russian Air Force?

[F-15 Eagle]

What is the current state of the Russian Air Force? Like how many fighters, bombers, transports and helicopters they have in active service. I wish I had an accurate source instead of Wikipedia.

 

[Duffy]

What is the current state of the Russian Air Force? Like how many fighters, bombers, transports and helicopters they have in active service. I wish I had an accurate source instead of Wikipedia.

I don't know how accurate the numbers are, or how many are combat ready but heres a link ( the numbers look a bit optimistic)

State of the Russian Air Force | Russian Arms, Military Technology, Analysis of Russia's Military Forces

 

[GI-Gizmo]

Russian Air Force Inventory 2009

COMBAT -
Su-35 11
Su-30 140
Su-27 380
MiG-29 448
MiG-31 300
Su-34 18
Su-24 416
Su-25 200
Tu-22 132
Tu-160 18
Tu-95 64

TRANSPORT -
IL-76 100
An-124 16
An-26 215
An-12 50
An-22 20
IL-86 4 [VIP]

SUPPORT -
IL-78 tanker 30
A-50 AWACS 24
MiG-25 Rec 70
Su-24 Rec 100
IL-80 ACP 8
Tu-214 ACP 3

HELO -
Mi-8 300+
Mi-26 35
Mi-24 228
Mi-28 60
Ka-50/52 42

[There are some types of aircraft not listed, including certain special duty, recon, transport,
light aircraft and trainers. Aircraft, including combat types, that are under development are
not listed either. Russian Naval Aviation inventory is not counted among this list and operates
an additional 500~ aircraft. This list is only an estimate based upon several online sources
and is not meant to be completely accurate] : )

 

[GI-Gizmo]

. . .

Also... Russian aircraft reliability and availability due to maintnance, corruption and
logistical problems keeps the actual number of planes ready to fly and fight at an
estimated 60% average availability rate. Aircraft numbers are counting all active
and reserve models, some may be upgraded to modern standards while other may
be older models still in service.

 

[Scorpion82]

@GI-Gizmo

not meant to be completely accurate

You can replace that with "way off from any reality".
The following link leads to a document in russian which is claimed to be a january 2009 status+2010 prospects of the RuAF.
zSHARE - RuAF orbat 2009-10.xls

It is said that this list was published by the russian MoD.

Here is something I suppose to be a translation of that document. It was translated into german by "Foxhound" over at airpower.at:
1. Komand WWS i PWO (Militärdistrikt Leningrad)

1. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Seweromorsk
6959. AB in Sawatija: 24 MiG-31B, 12 Su-27S, 4 Su-27UB
161. ZRP in Seweromorsk: S-300
583. ZRP in Olenogorsk: 2 S-300PM, 2 S-300PS
1488. ZRP in Selenogorsk: 4 S-300PS
1528. ZRP in Sewerodwinsk: 4 S-300PS
531. ZRP in Poljarnij: 5 S-300PM
1544. ZRP in Wladimirskij: 1 Buk, 2 S-300W
1489. ZRP in Baranowo: 2 S-300PS
1490. ZRP in Sablino: 4 S-300PS

2. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Tosno
6964. AB in Montshegorsk: 24 MiG-31BS, 24 Su-24M, 20 Su-24MR
6961. AB in Besowets: 36 Su-27, 6 Su-27UB
87. AB in Lewashowo: 2 Tu-134, 6 An-26, 5 An-12, 5 Mi-8
6992. AB in Priblowo: 12 Mi-24PN, 12 Mi-8
6960. AB in Alakurttij: 8 Mi-24, 8 Mi-8
922. AB in Pushkino: 9 Mi-8
42. ZRP in Waldaj: S-300PS
500. ZRP in Gostijnij: 4 S-300PM

3. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Kalinigrad
6967. AB in Tshkalowsk: 36 Su-27, 6 Su-27UB
6962. AB in Thernajakhowsk: 24 Su-24M

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Komand WWS i PWO (Militärdistrikt Moskau)

5. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Petrowskoje
6968. AB in Khotilowo: 24 MiG-31B, 12 Su-27S
6963. AB in Khalino: 24 MiG-29SMT, 6 MiG-29UBT
7000. AB in Woronesh: 1 Su-34, 24 Su-24M, 4 An-30, 1 Mi-8
6996. AB in Wjasma mit 24 Mi-24 und 12 Mi-8
6965. AB in Kaluga mit 24 Mi-24 und 12 Mi-8
214. OWE in Kursk mit 30 Mi-24 und 14 Mi-8
253. OWE in Kostroma mit 28 Mi-24 und 17 Mi-8
606. Gw. ZRP in Elektrostal mit S-400
93. ZRP in Swenigorod mit S-300PM1
210. ZRP in Dmitrow mit S-300P
390. ZRP in Nowoje mit S-300PM1
226. OSAP in Kubinka mit 8 An-12, 8 An-24, 6 An-26, 13 An-30 und 44 Mi-8
5. ODRAO in Woronesh mit 16 An-30

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Komand WWS i PWO (Militärdistrikt Nordkaukasus)

7. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Rostow-na-Donu
6972. AB in Krimskaja: 36 Su-27, 6 Su-27UB, 3 Mi-28N, 20 Mi-24, 16 Mi-8, 4 Ka-27
6969. AB in Millerowo: 36 MiG-29, 6 MiG-29UB
69__. AB in Morozowsk: 24 Su-24, 30 Su-24M
6971. AB in Budennowsk: 24 Su-25SM, 6 Su-25UB, 2 Mi-28N, 20 Mi-24, 16 Mi-8
6973. AB in Primorsko-Akhtarsk: 24 Su-25, 6 Su-25UB
6974. AB in Egorlik: 16 Mi-8, 10 Mi-26
6970. AB in Marinowka: 24 Su-24MR
1536. ZRP in Rostow-na-Donu: 3 S-300PM
1537. ZRP in Noworossijsk: 2 S-300PM
____. ERP in Wolgograd: S-300P
1721. ZRP in Sotshij: 2 Buk

Armenien
3624. AB in Erebuni: 16 MiG-29, 2 MiG-29UB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Komand WWS i PWO (Militärdistrikte Wolga-Ural und Sibirien)

8. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Kuibjschew
6977. AB in Bolshoje Sawino: 24 MiG-31
30. AB in Koltsowo: 4 Su-27S, 3 Tu-134, 8 An-26, 2 An-12, 5 Mi-8
6976. AB in Gissar: 4 Su-25, 1 Su-25UB, 4 Mi-24, 2 Mi-8
6975. AB in Bobrowka: 12 Mi-24, 16 Mi-8, 6 Mi-26
511. ZRP in Engels: 2 S-300PS
185. ZRP in Ekaterinburg: 2 S-300PS
568. ZRP in Samara: 3 S-300PS

9. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Nowosibirsk
6979. AB in Kansk: 24 MiG-31DZ
590. ZRP in Nowosibirsk: 3 S-300PS

10 Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Tshita
6982. AB in Domna: 36 MiG-29, 6 MiG-29UB
6980. AB in Dshida: 24 Su-24M, 12 Su-24MR, 1 Mi-8
6981. AB in Step: 24 Su-25, 6 Su-25UB
6978. AB in Berdsk: 20 Mi-24 und 12 Mi-8
320. AB in Nertshinsk: 8 Mi-8
1534. ZRP in Angarsk: 3 S-300PS
____. ZRP in Dshida: S-300
1722. ZRP in Perwomanskij: 2 S-300W
388. ZRP in Atshinsk: 3 S-300PS
1723. ZRP in Dshida: 2 Buk

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Komand WWS i PWO (Militärdistrikt Fernost)

14. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Jellisowo
6990. AB in Elizowo: 36 MiG-31B, 2 An-12, 2 An-26, 2 Mi-8
6984. AB in Ukrainka: 12 Mi-24, 12 Mi-8
317. OSAP in Elizowo: 8 Il-38, 12 Tu-142MR, 24 Ka-27, 25 Ka-29
589. ZRP in Nakhodka: 3 S-300PS

12. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Wladiwostok
6989. AB in Zentralnaja Uglewaja: 12 MiG-31B, 24 Su-27SM, 6 Su-27UB
1533. ZRP in Wladiwostok: 1 S-400, S-300PS

11. Brigada WKO, Hauptquartier Komsomolsk
6987. AB in Dzemgi: 2 Su-35, 24 Su-27SM, 6 Su-27UB
6988. AB in Khurba: 24 Su-24M2, 24 Su-24M
6985. AB in Wosshajewka: 24 Su-24M, 24 Su-24MR
6983. AB in Wosshajewka: 36 Su-25, 6 Su-25UB, 4 Ka-50, 12 Mi-24, 12 Mi-8
265. AB in Khabarowsk: 1 Tu-154, 1, Tu-134, 6 An-26, 1 An-24, 15 An-12
6986. AB in Garowka: 20 Mi-8, 4 Mi-26
101. OWO in Sokol: 6 Mi-8
1530. ERP in Komsomolsk: 5 S-300PS
1529. ERP in Khabarowsk: 3 S-300PS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Direkt unterstellt

Komandowanije DA
6950. AB in Engels: 18 Tu-160, 14 Tu-95MS-6
6952. AB in Ukranika: 36 Tu-95MS-6
6953. AB in Engels: 30 Tu-22M3, 2 Tu-22MR, 2 Tu-134UBL, 3 An-30, 2 An-12
6951. AB in Shaikowka: 30 Tu-22M3
43. TsBP i PLS in Rjasan: 4 Tu-22M3, 4 Tu-95MS, 8 Tu-134UBL
6954. AB in Djagilewo: 18 Il-78

Komandowanije WWS
929. GLITs in Aktubinsk: 2 MiG-31BM, 2 Su-30MK, 4 MiG-29SMT, 18 MiG-29, 1 Su-34, 14 Su-24M2, 2 Jak-130
4. TsBL i PLS in Lipetsk: 2 MiG-31BM, 5 Su-27SM, 6 Su-27UB, 6 MiG-29SMT, 6 MiG-29UB, 4 Su-24M2, 6 Su-24M, 2 Su-24MR, 4 Su-25SM, 1 Su-25UBM, 6 Su-25, 6 Su-25UB, 2 Jak-130
344. TsBL i PLS in Torshok: 8 Ka-50, 2 Ka-52, 4 Mi-28N, 16 Mi-24,
12 Mi-8, 8 Mi-26
185. TsBP i BP in Ashuluk: 1 Tu-160, 3 Tu-95MS, 2 Tu-22M3,
4 MiG-31B, 8 Su-27S, 7 MiG-29, 8 Su-24M, 6 Su-25
2457. AB in Iwanowo: 12 A-50, 1 Il-76MD, 1 Il-22M, 2 An-26, 8 Mi-8

Komandowanije WTA
6985. AB in Pskow: 27 Il-76MD, 6 An-22
6958. AB in Taganrog: 27 Il-76 MD
6957. AB in Seshtsha: 18 An-124-100, 4 Il-76MD
6991. AB in Tshkalowskij: 16 Tu-154, 8 An-72, 5 An-26, 5 An-12, 11 Il-22M

Mitärdistrikt = military district
Hauptquartier = head quarter

If there are any additional questions regarding translations hier let me know.

 

[F-15 Eagle]

I don't know how accurate the numbers are, or how many are combat ready but heres a link ( the numbers look a bit optimistic)

State of the Russian Air Force | Russian Arms, Military Technology, Analysis of Russia's Military Forces

I thought there would be more fighters in service. It says only 194 Mg-29s I thought there were at least 260?

@GI-Gizmo


You can replace that with "way off from any reality".
The following link leads to a document in russian which is claimed to be a january 2009 status+2010 prospects of the RuAF.
zSHARE - RuAF orbat 2009-10.xls

I tried to download but it did not work for me.

 

[Scorpion82]

Strange, I'll upload the document somewhere else. It's in russian but you can gather some details from their, even if you can't speak russian.

 

[SkolZkiy]

Germans are not counting reserve.
And numbers that are given by Gi-Gizmo are mostly uncorrect.
Su-30 - there are no 140 of them. Su-30 when it was born planned as a sommander of group of 4 Su-27 or MiG-29 bur it was not built in such numbers.
18 Su-34 - may be, but as we counted something like 10-12
MiG-31 in service 120-140 and all the rest 200-300 in reserve
Su-24 in service 200+ AC anything else in reserve
MiG-29 ~300 in service (100 were flying, 200 were being repaired according to last problems) - all the rest in reserve
Su-27 ~300 in service (modernization progamme is in run ot level Su-27SM, from next year all the rest ro SM2 in other words to Su-35BM)

Mi-28 60
Ka-50/52 42 - is this a joke?? it is planned to buy them up to 2015
now there are 12-20 Mi-28 and 6-12 Ka-50/52

But the real numbers nobody knows. All info about exact qaulity and quantity and state of Russia armed forces is under secret.
almost All I've said here is official info

 

[SkolZkiy]

Also... Russian aircraft reliability and availability due to maintnance, corruption and
logistical problems keeps the actual number of planes ready to fly and fight at an
estimated 60% average availability rate. Aircraft numbers are counting all active
and reserve models, some may be upgraded to modern standards while other may
be older models still in service.

Some people say that you are wrong everything is much better

 

[Scorpion82]

But the real numbers nobody knows. All info about exact qaulity and quantity and state of Russia armed forces is under secret.
almost All I've said here is official info

The link I provided leads to an Excel document which is claimed to come from the russian MoD (at least the listing itself).
It includes the status of all units on 1.1.2009 and the planed composition on 1.1.2010, including reserves, allocation etc.

 

[Duffy]

I thought there would be more fighters in service. It says only 194 Mg-29s I thought there were at least 260?

F-15 Eagle on the right side of the page there is a list of AC. Click on the one of interest and it explains how they arrived at the given number. Example Mig - 29 Operational 194 AC , Reserve 150 +/-, 6 Algerian canceled
Total = 350 =/-
Training 50 Sent for restoration 106
Operational 194
Like I said before I don't know how accurate the numbers are, If you look at all of them some seem out of whack. I posted this site because it brakes down the numbers. Or at least tries to. But just because there thorough doesn't make them accurate.

 

[SkolZkiy]

The link I provided leads to an Excel document which is claimed to come from the russian MoD (at least the listing itself).
It includes the status of all units on 1.1.2009 and the planed composition on 1.1.2010, including reserves, allocation etc.

I repeat once more
Any numbers of REAL status of Russian armed forces are in special list of information which is TOP SECRET
This is the LAW of Russian Federation. May be in US or somewhere else it is not so but in Russia it is so

 

[GI-Gizmo]

Russian Air Force Inventory 2009 . . . Explained . . .

The inventory I listed is bloated, but that is the average taking into account all legitimate sources. Russia always exaggerates their actual capabilities, firepower and technical
standing. The list I posted includes all aircraft considered active by the Russian Air Force.
While they say they have 448 MiG-29 Fulcrums, in reality only about 220 are able to fly and
fight. The remaining fulcrums in service are older, spares or just sitting on a tarmac somewhere in various states of disrepair. Officialy they are still considered part of the AF inventory so I listed them. If anybody would of scrolled down to my second post [directly under my first post] they would of realized I explained this briefly and to cut the numbers in half to get a real idea of the actual number of aircraft that can fly and fight. The Russian Air Force is in sad shape, the problems are numerous and they run deep. Everything from lack of technical personnel, poor maintnance, corrupt officers to geographic difficulties and alcoholism are major issues that have no indication of fading away anytime soon. Russia is in a unqiue position militarily speaking, they have a huge area to defend and keep watch over, yet a shrinking population. They have very serious social problems, a record high death rate
and a limited pool of technical people to recruit from. They have a plethora of Cold War weapons platforms left over to arm them into the early 21st Century, yet these are quickly becoming obsolete. The race to replace platforms and keep up with technological advances
with limited resources is a recipe for disaster. Almost all the new aircraft introduced since the fall of the Soviet Union are incremental improvements upon previous platforms, no completely new aircraft has been rolled out. The new PAK FA 5th generation fighter does not yet have a
prototype mock-up.

 

[Duffy]

The number of air craft any given air force has in no way reflects the state of that Air Force. Does any one have info on the flight hours for the average fighter pilot in the Russian Air Force? Also number of trainees? You can have a million shiny new fighters and with no one to fly and work on them it would do nothing but chew up money.

If anyone has info on this please post......

 

[SkolZkiy]

from 60 to 120 hours per year nowadays (120 is a maximum)
But there is one note - in US and EU as I know flying hours are counted from turning on engines. In Russia flying hours are counted from the moment of taking-off the land. So if we count as in the west this number will be higher

 

[SkolZkiy]

GI-Gizmo once more - you don't know anything about PAK-FA. As I too.
It is only said that 3 prototypes are almost or fully ready - one flying and 2 for land tests. That is all.
I've already said here for several times. In US and EU the new project of AC is a great festival and advertising company. The prototype YF-23 and YF-22 were shown publicly before first flights. And this is normal FOR YOUR COUNTRIES. I don't say is it good or is it bad. But it is so and you know that.
In Russia there is a different situation. we all know that PAK-FA and T-95 exist but nobody saw them except some militaries and productioners. And THAT IS NORMAL FOR OUR COUNTRY.

Dialog of two men
-Do you see gopher in that grass?
-no
-me too, but it is there

I also don't want to say that RuAF is in chocolate but the situation is not as bad as GI-Gizmo says, everything is much better.

 

[turin]

It is only said that 3 prototypes are almost or fully ready - one flying and 2 for land tests.

Thats incorrect, at least according to the official statements at this point in time. The latest such statement said that there are three airframes finished, one of them was moved to Moscow for some kind of static tests and that the first flight-prototype was still in the process of assembly. Thats what they said less than four weeks ago. So first flight may or may not take place in the end of the year.

I agree as far as the difference in presentation is concerned. Russia has a history of hiding things up until the last minute. The SSBN-presentation not too long ago showed that very clearly. Its not necessarily a good idea though, esp. when its about the image of indigenous development and production capabilities. After all, Russia has an interest in generating attention for future export prospects.

 

[Duffy]

from 60 to 120 hours per year nowadays (120 is a maximum)
But there is one note - in US and EU as I know flying hours are counted from turning on engines. In Russia flying hours are counted from the moment of taking-off the land. So if we count as in the west this number will be higher

In the US flight hours are from wheels up to wheels down I would think its the same in the EU also.(Its not like thy taxi all over any way). Russian front line fighter pilots average 60 to 65 hours a year as of August 2009.With young crew commanders averaging 20.6 hours. More importantly look at the training time and cost. For a front line pilot its seven to eight years and $3.4 million. While "Sniper-pilots" take 10-12 years and $7.8 million. Future introduction of modern platforms will raise costs and timescale for pilot training. There is no quick fix . Realistically to field modernized aircraft with capable pilots in existing numbers will take till 2018+
Link to interview below.
Russian Air Force Modernization Linked to Future U.S. "Threat" - The Jamestown Foundation

 

[GI-Gizmo]

Pak fa

GI-Gizmo once more - you don't know anything about PAK-FA. As I too.
It is only said that 3 prototypes are almost or fully ready - one flying and 2 for land tests. That is all.
I've already said here for several times. In US and EU the new project of AC is a great festival and advertising company. The prototype YF-23 and YF-22 were shown publicly before first flights. And this is normal FOR YOUR COUNTRIES. I don't say is it good or is it bad. But it is so and you know that.
In Russia there is a different situation. we all know that PAK-FA and T-95 exist but nobody saw them except some militaries and productioners. And THAT IS NORMAL FOR OUR COUNTRY.

Dialog of two men
-Do you see gopher in that grass?
-no
-me too, but it is there

I also don't want to say that RuAF is in chocolate but the situation is not as bad as GI-Gizmo says, everything is much better.

The first flight of a prototype PAK FA is now estimated to take place sometime in the first few
months of 2010. The Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (Moscow) deputy head
Konstantin Makiyenko was recently quoted as saying that it will be 10 years between the first flight and the time production begins. Historically, fourth and fifth generation fighters take 15 to 20 years to develop. There are problems with the powerplant, manufacturing techniques and
ofcourse financial constraints and limitations to deal with that are hindering the project. Foreign financial assistance is being sought. The whole project now depends on money, with it the project will go forward and Russia will have an advanced 5th-gen fighter jet. Without it the project will either drag on, end or morph into split projects and another incrementally updated aircraft will come along for the interm. Currently the financing is not there, but the project is still continuing.

 

[GI-Gizmo]

When I said that PAK FA did not have a prototype yet, I meant the actual prototype that
would go into production. I realize that different types of PAK FA aircraft designs are being
built in both mock-up and prototype stage. The actual aircraft that will become Russia's
5th generation fighter is yet to be built.