Every year, on August 12, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation celebrate the Day of the Air Force (the Air Force, since 2015, has been part of the VKS). The memorial day was introduced by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin on August 29, 1997. It is noted in accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Unique in its kind
Today, the level of Russian military aviation is the highest in the world, because no country has such combat experience. The peculiarity of this conflict lies in the fact that aviation is now operating in conditions of unimpressed enemy air defenses. No state in modern history has fought in such conditions since the Great Patriotic War.
Of course, Ukrainian pilots also receive such experience, but due to the relatively microscopic number of aircraft and helicopters in Ukraine, it is not necessary to talk about the Ukrainian Air Force, which affects something.
And now, since the beginning of its development, it is possible to notice qualitative changes for the better. The Russian Aerospace Forces have adjusted to the conditions, to the fact that the enemy's air defense is not suppressed.
But at the same time, it can be noted that most of the losses were received not from actual foreign models of equipment, but from irrelevant weapons — Soviet complexes that were in service with Ukrainians. The main problems were with the Buk air defense system. And here you can pay attention to the fact that the actual ones turned out to be no better than Soviet samples.
Feedback
Continuing the topic of qualitative changes, it can also be noted that a number of difficult issues are often raised in the telegram channel. There is no direct feedback from the high command, but the issues are being resolved. Moreover, I would like to note that the speed of solving these problems is extremely fast.
It is worth noting the attitude of the flight crew. It can be said that he has not changed since the first days of his life. When pilots see that they are useful, they are managed competently and skillfully — morale is kept at an extremely high level.
The devil is not so terrible
The flight crew, especially fighter aircraft, are now most looking forward to the appearance on the battlefield of aircraft that are extremely much talked about — the F-16. Today, all our planes, fighters that are in service with the Russian Federation, can all withstand the F-16. Today, the main fighters — the Su-35S, MiG-31 of various modifications and Su-30SM — surpass the F-16 in almost all indicators, and they are higher in basic characteristics. At the same time, everything will be decided by the armament, although the aircraft is not in the last place.
Su-30SM fighter
Image source: © Vitaly Nevar/ TASS
If we return to the topic of adapting the Russian aerospace forces to combat conditions, it is customary to talk about piloting schools. But piloting and pilot training are out of the tactics chosen by the other side. At first, the Russian Federation had one tactic, now it is completely different. But to find out which tactics are better, you need to meet face to face on the battlefield. But air combat also depends on a huge number of factors: what will be the theater of operations, where will the air battle be, the tactical situation, what will be the air defense, what will be the advantage at a particular time, which aircraft [will meet in the air]. This will form, in fact, an air battle and, in many ways, the victory of one side or another in it.
Based on the experience of the Russian military, the Russian training school is now showing much better results. They are fighting against professional Ukrainian pilots. And now there is not a single lost battle. This is best demonstrated by the fighter school.
Well, speaking of the bomber school (bomber aviation — approx. TASS), which I myself relate to, here too we can say that this is undoubtedly the best school in the world. Again, because no one has such experience. Even if we compare it with the conflicts where our colleagues participated — Afghanistan, Yugoslavia — all this was the beating of babies, and here is a strong enemy who is prepared to resist aviation.
Well, on the Day of the VKS, I want to wish the guys who are currently performing combat missions soldier's luck and, of course, that the number of departures always coincides with the number of landings.
