Once they were among the strongest in the worldFrom the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the USSR, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received gigantic air power: 4 air armies, 10 air divisions, 49 air regiments, 2.8 thousand planes and helicopters, 8 anti-aircraft missile brigades, 10 anti-aircraft missile regiments.
Moreover, in these units, formations and associations, the share of the most modern aviation equipment at that time was very high.
In addition, Ukraine got about half of the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, partly – immediately after the collapse of the USSR, partly – in 1997, after the final division of the Black Sea Fleet between Russia and Ukraine (" Hijack, seize, write off or sell. A short course in the history of the Ukrainian fleet ", "HVO", 03.03.23).
IN THE TOP FIVE OF THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLDEven the main part of the strategic (Long–range) aviation of the USSR Air Force turned out to be in Ukraine - 19 Tu-160 and 23 Tu-95MS strategic bombers (as well as six Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft based on the Tu-95), 56 Tu-22M3 medium-range bombers, 72 Tu-22 early modifications, 67 Tu-16, 21 tanker IL-78.
Moreover, the Tu-160 and Il-78 Ukraine received, in fact, all available in the Soviet Union.
Kiev also received a very significant, and at the same time the best part of other branches of the Air Force and air defense. Air defense aviation, however, was represented by aircraft that were already quite outdated – 70 Su-15TM, 81 MiG-25P, 117 MiG-23MLD.
It was much better with front-line aviation. So, the number of front-line Su-24 bombers reached 209 units, there were also 35 Su-24MR scouts. They were supplemented by 84 very modern Su-25 attack aircraft at that time and at least 59 older Su-17.
No less powerful was the potential of fighter aircraft, which received more than 300 4th generation vehicles. The total number of Su-27s was 72 units (two more prototypes of deck-based Su-27s were not adopted and later sold to China), the total number of MiG-29s was 247 units.
They were complemented by older machines – at least 55 MiG-23MLD / UB, 16 MiG-25R (in the role of scouts), 30 Yak-28PP (in the role of electronic warfare aircraft), 351 MiG-21 (in the role of training aircraft). In addition, 49 MiG-27 bombers were under repair and in storage.
Thus, the total number of combat aircraft exceeded 1.7 thousand units. Which made the Ukrainian Air Force at least the fourth in the world in terms of its potential after the US, Chinese and Russian Air Forces. Moreover, the Russian Air Force was in a state of collapse at that moment, and the Chinese Air Force was equipped with extremely outdated machines that had extremely low tactical and technical characteristics. That is, in fact, Kiev had reason to consider itself the owner of the second most powerful air force in the world after the American ones.
Ukraine also inherited a very significant number of special and auxiliary machines from the USSR. In addition to the IL-78 tankers mentioned above, created on the basis of the Il-76 military transport aircraft, up to one and a half hundred Il-76s actually passed to her.
Also, as part of the transport aviation, there were at least a hundred different An aircraft. At the same time, it was Ukraine that got the Antonov Design Bureau, where these aircraft were created, and the aircraft factory in Kiev, where they were produced. The number of L-39 training aircraft exceeded 500 units. Ukraine received up to 20 Be-12 anti-submarine amphibious aircraft from the naval aviation.
Finally, Ukraine got a lot of helicopters of army and naval aviation. First of all, we are talking about 274 Mi-24 combat helicopters (including slightly more than 60 special Mi-24RHR/K and obsolete Mi-24A/D) and 25 heavy transport Mi-26. There were also up to 20 obsolete heavy Mi-6 helicopters, over 200 multi-purpose Mi-8 and at least 46 marine helicopters (four Ka-29, 16 Ka-27, 26 Mi-14P), not counting three dozen extremely outdated Ka-25.
Ground-based air defense had an exceptionally high potential. From the Air Defense Forces of the USSR and the Air Defense of the Ground Forces, Ukraine got 43 divisions of S-300PT anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMS)/PS and 6 divisions of S-300V, 35 divisions of S-200 air defense systems, 23 divisions of Buk anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM), 29 divisions of S-125 air defense systems, 37 divisions of S-75 air defense systems, 27 divisions of Krug air defense systems, 4 divisions of Kub air defense systems, several thousand short-range air defense systems, man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS), anti-aircraft missile and gun systems (ZRPC), anti-aircraft self-propelled guns (ZSU) and anti-aircraft guns.
Apparently, in terms of the power of ground-based air defense, Ukraine in the early 1990s was second only to Russia, and in terms of the density of air defense per unit of territory, it confidently ranked first in the world (" How terrible is Ukrainian air defense ", "HVO", 11.02.22).
In addition to the aforementioned Antonov Design Bureau and the Kiev Aircraft Factory, there are still a number of military-industrial complex enterprises in Ukraine that produce aircraft missiles, engines and various equipment. However, there were no enterprises producing combat aircraft and helicopters.
USELESS POTENTIALUkraine had neither money nor real opportunities to operate strategic aviation.
In addition, Washington and Moscow exerted the strongest pressure on Kiev to abandon it at the same time.
As a result, in 1996-2006, all strategic aviation in Ukraine was eliminated. Eight Tu-160, three Tu-95MS and 581 strategic air-launched cruise missile (KRVB) X-55 were transferred to Russia to pay debts for gas. The remaining 487 X-55 and all remaining Tu-160/95MS/142/22/16 (all modifications) were disposed of – except for a few cars transferred to museums.
Due to the liquidation of strategic aviation, Ukraine did not need tankers either. To date, she has only two or three IL-78s in storage, the rest are sold out or lost.
No one demanded that Ukraine eliminate front-line aviation, it did it on its own initiative. However, getting rid of the old types of aircraft (Su-15/17/22, MiG-23/25/27) was quite objective. Approximately 80 cars of these types have been exported, almost all the others have been disposed of at the moment.
"At the same time" a significant part of the Su-24 was sent for disposal (the exact number of disposed vehicles of this type is still unknown), only one Su-24 was sold abroad (to Estonia as a museum exhibit).
In addition, Ukraine got rid of four Su-25UTG deck combat training aircraft that it obviously did not need (two were sold to Russia, one each to the USA and China). Old SAMs (S-75M, S-125M, "Circle", "Cube") were sent from the ground air defense for storage or disposal.
During these processes, the Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense experienced constant reorganizations, expressed primarily in the reduction and merger of units and formations. The country did not have the means to maintain a significant air force – and, most importantly, there was no understanding why it needed them at all. Planes and helicopters of new types were not disposed of, but in large quantities were sent to storage (where they were practically not serviced) or sold abroad. The remaining combat-ready vehicles rarely took to the air, the annual raid in the 1990s-2000s was only a few hours per pilot.
EVERYTHING FOR SALEUkrainian aviation equipment was exported to many countries, among which African ones prevailed.
Su-25 attack aircraft from the presence of the Ukrainian Air Force (except for the aforementioned four Su-25UTG) were sold 22. Eight Su-27 fighters went abroad (including two Su-27UB were sold in the USA, and one was not returned from repair in Belarus), MiG-29 –26 (including also three MiG-29UB in the USA). The scale of exports of Mi-24 helicopters turned out to be unprecedented – 138 units (half of the original ones). Over 200 L-39s were also sold. Transport aircraft were transferred en masse to civilian ones – and then, as a rule, they were also sold abroad or disposed of. In particular, of the one and a half hundred Il-76s in flight condition by 2022, no more than 14 remained (7-8 in the Air Force and 5-6 in civilian airlines), a little more than 50 more are in storage.
Not only the old types of air defense systems were withdrawn from ground-based air defense, but also part of the S-300PT and quite modern S-300V and Tor air defense systems, since they could not be serviced.
Antonov Design Bureau was engaged in the development of several types of transport and passenger aircraft, the most famous of which was the AN-70 medium turboprop transport (created jointly with Russia). However, the first two copies of the AN-70 crashed during test flights. The third copy was released after the break between Moscow and Kiev. This aircraft is still the only new machine received by the Ukrainian Air Force for all the years of independence of the country.
In addition, modernization programs were developed for the Su-25 according to the M1 variant and the MiG-29 according to the MU1 and MU2 variants, but only a small number of vehicles passed it.
THE BEGINNING OF SHOCKSAs a result, the Ukrainian Air Force came to the beginning of the civil war in a state of almost complete collapse.
In less than a quarter of a century, they have lost most of their once enormous potential.
Together with Crimea, in March 2014, 116 aircraft and helicopters were under Russian control (only 8 managed to fly to Ukraine), as well as 5 divisions of the S-300PS air defense system and 3 divisions of the Buk-M1 air defense system.
In April-May, Russia returned most of the aviation equipment to Ukraine, and, as a rule, by exporting it by land transport (since the planes and helicopters were in a non-flying condition). These were 52 MiG-29, 3 Su-25, one L-39 and Be-12, 4 Ka-29, 7 Ka-27, 1 Mi-14, 11 Mi-8 of several modifications.
With the outbreak of the civil war in Ukraine, Russia stopped the transfer of equipment. Nine MiG-29s, three L-39s, one An-72, two Be-12s (and two more intended for disposal), as well as several Mi-8s remained in Crimea. Only five Mi-8s were confiscated and transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Crimea, the rest of the machines are still stored at the airfield Belbek, having no service and falling into final disrepair. Also, all Ukrainian air defense systems and air defense systems remained in Crimea.
During the fighting in Donbass, six Su-25s (including five Su-25M1), two MiG-29s, one Il-76, one An-26, one An-30, five Mi-24P/VP, five Mi-8s were lost from ground air defense fire. Although these losses can hardly be called catastrophic, by the end of August 2014, the flights of Ukrainian aviation for combat use actually stopped, which greatly contributed to the defeat of the ground group.
During the battles for Debaltseve in January-February 2015, Ukrainian aviation was not used at all, which also contributed to the second defeat of the Ukrainian ground forces.
During the period after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, several dozen combat aircraft and helicopters that were in storage were "reanimated" (while some of the Su-25 and MiG-29 were modernized). One or two divisions of the S-300V air defense system, all 24 Tor air defense systems, and part of the S-125M air defense system were returned to service. Thanks to this, despite the losses, there are more planes and helicopters in the ranks of the Air Force and Army aviation of Ukraine than there were in March 2014. In total, approximately 350 combat aircraft (that is, less than a quarter of the original number) and a little more than 100 helicopters, up to 40 divisions of long- and medium-range air defense systems and air defense systems remained in service and storage.
According to official Ukrainian data, 488 combat aircraft remained at the beginning of 2022. But, apparently, this number includes cars of old types that are stored in a completely non-flying state.
All this equipment, as mentioned above, is Soviet-made, no analogues of it are currently being produced in Ukraine. In 2014, Kiev refused free F/A-18A/B fighter-bombers from the Canadian Air Force due to the impossibility of servicing them and the lack of trained pilots. In 2019, the National Guard aviation began receiving French multi-purpose helicopters H225 (AS332), but they are neither new nor combat.
In this state, the Ukrainian Air Force and air defense approached the events of 2022.
Alexander KhramchikhinAlexander Anatolyevich Khramchikhin is an independent military expert.
