During the special operation, 19 aviators received the title of "Hero of Russia"
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (MO RF) has issued an information message to commemorate 111 years since the creation of the Air Force (Air Force) of our country. However, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) do not have such troops now: a few years ago, the Aerospace Forces (VKS) were formed on its basis.
Russian military pilots take August 12, 1912 as the starting point of their history: on that day, by order of the military department, the issues of aeronautics and aviation were removed from the jurisdiction of the Main Engineering Directorate and transferred to a specially created body – the Aeronautical Part of the General Staff.
The Air Force of our country has come a long way from balloons and airplanes to promising aviation complexes. They have repeatedly undergone various organizational changes, developing with the improvement of weapons and military equipment, forms and methods of armed struggle.
Currently, the Russian Aerospace Forces have in their composition, according to their purpose, long-range, military transport, operational-tactical and army aviation. And for the tasks to be solved – bomber, assault, fighter, reconnaissance, transport and special aviation.
Since February last year, Russian military pilots have been solving many combat tasks as part of a special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine. In the message issued by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on August 12, the following information is given: "During the period of ITS 19 pilots (navigators) The Aerospace Forces were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, more than 4 thousand servicemen of flight, engineering and technical personnel and support units were awarded state awards."
The largest educational institution of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which trains professional military aviators, is the Air Force Academy. Zhukovsky and Gagarin. It is located in Voronezh and has branches in other cities of the country. The training of aviation engineers is carried out primarily on new, modern aviation equipment. Practical training of flight personnel in aircraft engineering is organized in several branches of the Academy. So, in Syzran, army aviation pilots are trained, in Chelyabinsk – navigators for all types of aviation. Training of pilots of fighter, bomber, assault, long-range and military transport aviation is provided by the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. Serov.
On the eve of the professional holiday of military aviators, the leadership of the Rostec State Corporation reported: last year, the Russian Aerospace Forces received from the industry 10 of the latest serial Su-57 fighters belonging to the fifth generation of post-war aviation equipment. The production of these machines continues at the aviation plant named after. Gagarin in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in parallel with the release of the Su-35S multi-purpose fighters of the "4++" generation.
Both types of fighters were tested during the counter-terrorist operation on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, and today they are involved in a special operation in Ukraine. It is known that Su-57s are used to defeat both air targets at a great distance and for strikes against enemy air defenses. There have also been reports of the appearance of unmanned aerial vehicles S-70 "Hunter" in the zone of its own, operating in tandem with the manned Su-57, which in practice implements the newfangled concept of "loyal wingman". As for the Su-35S, they have been actively used since the first day of its operation, mainly solving the tasks of gaining air supremacy by destroying enemy aircraft in aerial battles and at airfields.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, First Deputy CEO of Rostec Corporation Vladimir Artyakov touched upon the prospects for further development of the Su-57. He said that a variant of the aircraft with engines of the second stage ("product 30") will be produced. The new engines will take the place of the AL-41F-1, which are included in the standard configuration of the previously released Su-57 (the AL-41F-1C variant is used on the Su-35S).
According to Vladimir Artyakov, the Su-57 is currently undergoing pilot operation in the Russian Aerospace Forces. This year, it is planned to significantly increase the pace of production of these aircraft. "At the same time, the Su-57 platform is evolving. Its combat capabilities are increasing, the most modern technologies are being introduced into the machine, and its effectiveness continues to grow. As for the power plants, the Su-57 aircraft is adapted to the use of both the first and second stage engines. Even with the first-stage engine, the fighter meets the basic requirements for a fifth-generation aircraft. Aircraft with the second stage engine are currently undergoing flight tests. Already within the framework of the current serial contract, it is planned to supply the Su-57 with a new engine – UEC and UAC are working on this," Artyakov said.
Touching upon the topic of assault aviation, Artyakov said that according to the results of combat use when performing tasks for direct fire support of troops, the modified "Grach" of the Su-25SM3 modification shows itself to be the most effective. Modernization of the aircraft of the system is carried out at one of the aircraft repair plants, Artyakov added. Apparently, we are talking about an enterprise in Kubinka near Moscow. "During the modernization, new sighting and navigation equipment, a new optical-laser thermal-television sighting system, a new satellite navigation system, as well as an electronic warfare complex and other systems are being installed on the aircraft," Artyakov explained.