Ukrainian Air Force
Aerial warfare branch of Ukraine's armed forces From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ukrainian Air Force (Ukrainian: Повітряні сили Збройних сил України, romanized: Povitryani syly Zbroynykh syl Ukrayiny, PS ZSU) is the air force of Ukraine and one of the eight branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU).[5] Its current form was created in 2004 by merging the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces into the Air Force.
| Ukrainian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Повітряні сили Збройних сил України | |
Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Force | |
| Active | 1917–1921 1992–present |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 35,000 (2022)[1] 207 aircraft (2021)[2] |
| Part of | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Headquarters | Vinnytsia |
| Anniversaries | Air Force Day (the first Sunday of August)[3] |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko |
| Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force | Chief Master Sergeant Kostiantyn Stanislavchuk |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Fin flash |  |
| Flag |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-24M, Su-25 |
| Fighter | MiG-29, Su-27, F-16 |
| Helicopter | Mi-8T, Mi-17 |
| Reconnaissance | An-30, Su-24MR, Bayraktar TB2, Tu-141, Tu-143, RQ-11 |
| Trainer | Aero L-39 |
| Transport | Il-76MD, An-24, An-26B, An-30, An-70, An-178 |
When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, many aircraft were left in Ukrainian territory. After Ukrainian independence in 1991, the air force suffered from chronic under-investment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise inoperable.[6] However its domestic defense industry Ukroboronprom and its Antonov subsidiary are able to maintain its older aircraft.[7]
The Ukrainian Air Force participated in the war in Donbas.[4] Following the 2014 ceasefire, the air force was suspended from carrying out missions in the areas of Donbas.[8] Since February 2022, the Air Force has been engaged in constant combat operations in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The air force flies F-16 multirole jetfighters[9] and Soviet-made aircraft.[10]
Missions
Summarize
Perspective
The role of the Air Force is to protect the air space of Ukraine. The objectives are: obtaining operational air superiority, delivering air strikes against enemy units and facilities, covering troops against enemy air strikes, providing air support to the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Marine Corps and the Navy in wartime operations and peacetime exercises, disrupting enemy military movements on the ground, air and sea, disrupting enemy communications, and providing air support by reconnaissance, airdrops, and troop and cargo transportation in both peace and war, in support of the Armed Forces, other uniformed forces, and wider mandates of the Government of Ukraine.
In peace-time, this is carried out by flying air-space control missions over the entire territory of Ukraine (603,700 square km), and by preventing air space intrusion along the aerial borders (totaling almost 7,000 km, including 5,600 km of land and 1,400 km of sea). Over 2,200 service personnel and civilian employees of the Air Force, employing 400 items of weapons and equipment, are summoned daily to perform defense duties.[11]
On average, the Ukrainian radar forces detect and track more than 1,000 targets daily. As a result, in 2006 two illegal crossings of the state border were prevented and 28 violations of Ukrainian air space were prevented. Due to such increased strengthening of air space control, the number of air space violations decreased by 35% compared to the previous year, even though the amount of air traffic increased by 30%.[11]
History
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Perspective
1917–1945
![[icon]](#/media/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion with: Short summary of Ukrainian–Soviet War to explain how the air fleets evolved through the course of the war and were absorbed at its end. You can help by adding to itadding to it or making an edit request. (December 2023) |
Ukrainian military aviation started with the winter 1917 creation of the Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet, headed by former commander of the Kyiv Military District Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Pavlenko.[12] Previously, while in Russian service in World War I, Pavlenko was in charge of air security of the Russian Stavka.[13]
Sometime in 1918 the West Ukrainian People's Republic created its own aviation corps with the Ukrainian Galician Army headed by Petro Franko, a son of renowned Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko. In 1918 he organized an aviation school of the Ukrainian Galician Army Command Center which was active until 1920.[14][15]
The airplanes used by Ukraine in this period included Belgium-built SPAD S.VIIs. The Ukrainian Galician Army used Nieuport 17 biplanes. At the beginning of 1918, 188 aircraft of 26 models were listed in Ukrainian registers.[12]
During World War II, Ukrainian pilots took part in combat operations as part of the Soviet Air Force. Among these pilots, Ivan Kozhedub is notable for being the highest-scoring Allied ace with over 60 credited solo victories.[16]
Collapse of the USSR
Air Forces
On the basis of the ex-Soviet Air Forces formations in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force, as a service branch of the young Armed Forces, was established on 17 March 1992, in accordance with a Directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the AFU. The headquarters of the 24th Air Army of the Soviet Air Force in Vinnytsia served as the basis to create the Air Force headquarters. The newly created PSZSU nominally controlled at least three Frontal Aviation Armies (5th, 14th, and 17th), the Strategic 46th Air Army, the 8th Air Defence Army including the 28th, 49th, and 60th Air Defence Corps from the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO), two Military Transport divisions, at least nine Army Aviation regiments, and a large part of the Naval Aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, for a total of 49 regiments and 11 independent squadrons with more than 2,800 aircraft and helicopters.[17] The PSZSU also controlled the 106th Heavy Bomber Division, based at Pryluky. This division included twenty-seven Tu-95MS bombers, two obsolete Tu-95M, nineteen new Tu-160 bombers, and twenty Il-78 aerial tankers. The 160th Divison also had at least 564 Kh-22 and Kh-55 air-to-surface nuclear cruise missiles in their inventory.[18]
After combining all its flying assets into the Air Force (though ground-based elements of the PVO remained separate as the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces until 2004), Ukraine gradually began downsizing the size of the PSZSU in order to comply with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) terms.[17] Faced with difficulties maintaining a strategic bomber fleet, Ukraine was forced to scrap part of their bomber fleet under the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program and return some aircraft and all nuclear cruise missiles to Russia in exchange for settling debts for oil and natural gas imported from the Russian Federation.[17][18][19]
Air Defence Forces
In 1992 the newly independent Ukrainian State took over control over the three Air Defence corps stationed in Ukraine and retained the Air Defence Forces of Ukraine as a separate armed service, equal in status to the Ground Forces, Air Forces and the Navy. The 28th Corps was transferred to the now-Ukrainian 8th Separate Army of Air Defence.[20]
1991–2014
Since its independence in 1991, Ukraine launched a three-stage reform program to reform its Armed Forces. During the first stage which ran from 1991 to 2006 the ZSU shrank in size and capabilities.[21] Corruption, already endemic in the political and economic system of the country began spreading into the ZSU, resulting in an increase of draft dodging cases and bases falling into a state of decay. Under the government of Viktor Yanukovych from 2010−2014, an armed conflict with Russian Federation was considered unthinkable, resulting in further budget cuts.[22] By 2014, the Air Force was suffering from chronic under-investment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise becoming inoperable.[6]
In 1993, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) estimated that the PSZSU had 171,000 personnel with 900 combat capable aircraft plus 440 in storage; 87 reconnaissance, 47 electronic countermeasure, 274 transport, 560 training fixed-wing aircraft, and 142 helicopters.[23]
Between 1994 and 2003 the entire fleet of 60 Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 with the exception of a few aircraft preserved for display in local museums, were scrapped alongside 423 Kh-22 cruise missiles. By 1995−96, the MiG-23, MiG-25, and Su-15 interceptors were withdrawn from service.[17] While Ukraine was less than keen on returning its fleet of strategic bombers to Russia "since they could be used in roles other than nuclear attack", the PSZSU was soon unable to keep the fleet operational with Russia refusing to sell spare parts, forcing the Ukrainian government to start negotiating the possible sale of the aircraft back to Russia, but as talks dragged on, their condition seriously deteriorated.[18] Starting in November 1998, some of the older aircraft began to be scrapped with American funding (with a few examples preserved as local museum exhibitions) and in October 1999, Ukraine finally agreed to return eight Tu-160s, three Tu-95MS's (out of nineteen Tu-160s and twenty-three Tu-95MS), and 575 Kh-55MS nuclear cruise missiles to settle debts for oil and natural gas imported from the Russian Federation.[17][18][19]
During the second stage of reforming the ZSU, which ran from 2006 to 2014, Ukraine was supposed to (at least on paper) move from the old Soviet model of fielding large formations into a smaller, fully trained and equipped professional force, taking advantage of new technologies such as digitalization, precision-guided munitions and sensors, and command and control infrastructure. However by 2014, it became clear that such plans were beyond the capabilities of the Ukrainian state to fund and implement, resulting in the PSZSU (and other branches of the Armed Forces) being unprepared for the War in Donbas.[21] Between 2006 and 2017, Ukraine sold as many as 65 combat jets (Su-27s, Su-25s, Su-22s, MiG-29s, and MiG-21s), 41 L-39s trainers, six An-72, An-74, and An-12 military transports, three Il-78 tankers, 50 Tu-143 reconnaisance drones, 44 Mi-24 attack helicopters and 802 missiles of various types (R-24, R-27, R-73 air-to-air missiles and Kh-59 air-to-surface cruise missiles).[24]
By 2010, the Air Force was reduced to 45,240 personnel (down from 96,000 in 2002). Formations included seven brigades with 188 combat aircraft; two reconnaissance squadrons operated thirty-three Su-24MRs; three transport brigades with 31 aircraft (An-24, An-26, Tu-134, and Il-76); an helicopter fleet with 38 Mi-9s, Mi-8s, and Mi-2s. While only thirty-nine L-39s were available for training compared to 300 operational in 2002.[25]
Some upgrade programs were carried to overhaul and upgrade the PSZSU fleet of fighters and fighter-bombers. In 2008, 12 Su-25s were upgraded to the Su-25M1K standard. In 2011, the Air Force received its first four upgraded MiG-29MU1s with assistance from Rockwell Collins. From 2012 onwards, the MiGremont company started working on upgrading Su-27 to the Su-27M1 standard. However due the lack of funds, only part of the fleet was upgraded prior to February 2014.[26][27]
Role in the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine
In 2014 the PSZSU was reduced to 144 aircraft, but only two-thirds were operational at the time.[28] Due the poor condition of several of their aircraft, some units were severely understrength (for example, the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade had only 10 operational Su-24M and MRs in February that year).[29]
Despite its poor condition, the Air Force operated intensively in the Donbas region, inflicting heavy casualties on the pro-Russian insurgents, albeit at a heavy cost.[29] During the first four months of the War in Donbas alone, the Ukrainian Air Force and Ukrainian Army Aviation lost four Mi-24 gunships, two Mi-8 helicopters, six Su-25s, three transport aircraft and four strike and air-superiority fighters.[30] In total, 20 aircraft were shot down or lost in accidents, 126 were captured by the Russians after their air bases in Crimea were seized; while 51 servicemen of the PSZSU were killed including 16 pilots from February to early September 2014.[29] Ukraine later managed to secure the return of 92 of the captured aircraft.[24]
While the Russians made ample use of drones since the start of the conflict for observation and fire control, Ukraine had very few drones in early 2014.[31] In fact, the Air Force operated none at all. In August 2014, the PSZSU began employing restored Tu-141 and Tu-143 reconnaissance drones,[32] while citizens and supporters from abroad (specially the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada) launched crowdfunded initiatives to buy or build reconnaissance drones for the ZSU.[33]
After the ZSU was defeated in the Battle of Ilovaisk, Russia demanded a complete ban on the Ukrainian use of air power as a condition for the Minsk I peace agreement,[29] though Air Command East based at Dnipropetrovsk kept two units of S-300PS surface-to-air missile batteries on standby against potential Russian airstrikes.[28]
Developments towards restoration (2014−2021)
Starting in 1993 the United States National Guard worked with the Ukrainian Air Force as part of a NATO sponsored program. The Ukrainian Air Force worked with the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing and pilots exercised together, including in 2011 and 2018.[34]
In response to the Russian annexation of Crimea and the insurgency in the Donbas region, Ukraine attempted to obtain a license to produce the Saab JAS 39 Gripen locally as well purchase Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano training aircraft, but due budgetary constraints, talks were cancelled in August 2014. Immediately after, Kyiv issued order No. 499 allocating funds to restore and upgrade as many Soviet-era fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters as possible. Such effort was possible thanks to clandestine purchases of spare parts abroad. Also Ukraine, a former hub of the Soviet aerospace industry, inherited hundreds of factories including: Konotop Aircraft Repair Plant (AVIAKON), Lviv State Aviation Repair Plant (LSARP or LDARZ), Nikolaev (Mykolaiv) Aircraft Repair Plant (NARP), Zaporizhzhia State Aircraft Repair Plant (ZDARZ, also known as "MiGremont"), Odessa Aircraft Plant (ODARZ, aka "Odessaviaremservis"), and the Lutsk Repair Plant Motor. Additionally, the Air Force also received enough funding to reactivate former air bases at Kanatove, Voznesensk, Velykyi Buialyk, and Artsyz.[29]
Since 2014, the PSZSU also worked on restoring several SAM systems kept in storage, including the S-300V.[35] In August 2014 the Air Force received enough funding to reactivate 68 Soviet vintage Tu-141 and Tu-143 reconnaissance drones. While in 2019, Kyiv received its first batch of six Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey. By 2022, 36 were operational with the Air Force and Navy.[32]
In 2019 spending on the PSZSU reached ₴8.3 billion (US$320 million), allowing the gradual resumption of regular practice flights,[24] though according to Cooper, the leftover Soviet flight regulations and bureaucratic red tape prevented pilots from effectively putting into practice new tactics learned from NATO pilots during joint exercises.[36]
In 2020, the Kyiv Post reported that Ukraine planned on fully replacing its fleet of Soviet combat jets with 72−108 Western multirole combat aircraft (such as the Gripen E/F or F-16 Block 70/72); fully replace its Ilyushin and Antonov transport and L-39 Albatros trainer aircraft with unspecified types; and creating a force of attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles by 2035. Kyiv also planned on fully replacing its Soviet SAM systems with modern systems including the NASAMS, SAMP-T and MIM-104 Patriot in the next 15 years. The total cost of this project was estimated as ₴320 billion (US$ 12 billion) over a period of 15 years (over 38 times the budget of PSZSU in 2019).[37]
Prior to February 2022, the Air Force was equipped with a fleet of partially upgraded old aircraft (with the newest airframes being 30 years old) and inferior weaponry in comparison to their Russian counterparts; while its personnel were plagued by low salaries, poor living conditions, and insufficient annual flying hours per pilot, barely enough to maintain proficiency. Another problem for the PSZSU was a shortage of qualified pilots, with only 10−15 cadets graduating from the Ivan Kozhedub National University of the Air Force in Kharkiv every year, while hundreds of pilots abandoned service or retired between 2020 and 2021.[38]
Role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
On the morning of 24 February 2022, most of the Ukrainian air defense crews were on their bases, while a handful were on training duties when the Russians launched a barrage of at least 160 ballistic and cruise missiles (Kh-101, Kh-555, 3M54 Kalibr, and 9K720 Iskander) and anti-radiation missiles (Kh-31, Kh-58) as well, hitting at least 83 ground targets including 11 air bases, 19 air defense radar systems and 39 "other" radar stations while up to 22 S-300 launchers and 17 launchers for other SAM systems knocked down during the first 48 hours of the Russian "special military operation". With communications from the headquarters in Vinnytsia cut off by a Russian cyberattack a day earlier, local commanders were forced to act independently in face of the enemy onslaught, with pilots quickly taking off and scattering to avoid incoming missiles, ground crews being hastily evacuated and start repairing as much remaining equipment as possible.[39]
On 24 February 2022, the PSZSU had 116 operational combat aircraft (MiG-29s, Su-27s, Su-25s, and Su-24Ms) according to Business Insider.[40] In March 2022, Ukraine still had about 55 operational combat aircraft according to David Deptula, senior scholar at the United States Air Force Academy.[41]
In April 2022, the Pentagon stated that Ukraine not only managed to maintain its fleet of fixed-wing aircraft, but also repair damaged aircraft after receiving spare parts and equipment through the United States' coordination and provision,[42] with a senior US defence official claiming that about 20 aircraft were restored to operational status.[43] On 19 September, US Air Force General James B. Hecker said that Ukrainian air defences had shot down 55 Russian warplanes since the start of the invasion. He credited this success to the Ukrainian use of Buk and S-300 air defence systems. As the US doesn't have these systems getting new missiles from European allies was a "big ask" from Kyiv. Russian airplanes increased their operations due to the 2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive. The tally went to 55 after the British Ministry of Defence stated that it believed that some 4 Russian jets had been downed by Ukraine over the previous 10 days. This was due to a number of factors including changing front lines, or the fact that they were under pressure to provide closer ground support. He further claimed that the Ukrainian Air Force was at about 80% of its pre-invasion strength after 7 months of combat.[44][45]
In May 2023 the BBC interviewed several Ukrainian Air Force pilots. Even with MiG-29s supplied from Slovakia and Poland these are still old, with the same Soviet era equipment and radars as their own Ukrainian aircraft. When long range radar guided missiles, such as the R-37M, are fired by Russian aircraft Ukrainian pilots have to rely on ground radar to warn them verbally. Once a launch is detected pilots must abandon their mission and fly extremely low. Another pilot said that his radar cannot see cruise missiles, so they can't be shot down. Most of the pilots fly extremely low during attack missions. When they are in action they use Soviet era unguided bombs and rockets. Due to these limitations one pilot estimates that "they [Ukrainian pilots] carry out up to 20 times fewer sorties than the Russian Air Force."[46]
As of 4 August 2023, according to Forbes the Ukrainian Air Force lost seven aircraft, "four MiG-29s, an Su-24, an Su-25 and an Su-27". The reduced rate of loss, compared to reported 62 aircraft in 2022, is credited to longer range western weapons.[47]
According to leaked US intelligence documents from February and March 2023, Ukraine stocks of missiles for their Soviet SAM systems are running low due the constant barrage of Russian missiles and drones aimed at critical infrastructure and civilian targets, forcing commanders to choose which targets can be shot down or not. To address this issue, the US and allies began providing Ukraine with a large range of air defense systems, from truck-mounted guns to Patriot batteries.[48]
In May 2023, a Patriot of the PSZSU in the Kharkiv Oblast reportedly shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber, a Su-35 fighter, and three Mi-8 helicopters in the Bryansk Oblast. In December Ukrainian Patriots or S-300s were used to shoot down three Su-34s in a single engagement in the occupied Southern Ukraine. A month later Ukrainian SAMs shot down a Beriev A-50 early warning aircraft flying over the Sea of Azov.[49] According to a US Army officer, a German-supplied Patriot was used to ambush the A-50.[50] On 23 February 2024, a second A-50 was shot down by a S-200 SAM in Krasnodar Krai. On 19 April 2024, a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber was shot down in Stavropol Krai with a S-200 missile according to the chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov.[51]
Some American officers told the New York Times that Ukraine used a Patriot missile to shoot down a Russian Il-76 transport in the Belgorod Oblast on 24 January 2024, allegedly killing everyone onboard. According to Ukrainian claims the plane was carrying S-300 missiles, while Russia claimed it was carrying 65 Ukrainain prisoners of war. Sources told the NYT that at least some of the passengers were POWs.[52] According to Forbes, some of the Ukrainian prisoner names that were listed as passengers were already exchanged.[49]
After receving its first F-16s in August 2024, they have been mostly used on the defensive role, shooting down Russian cruise missiles, with the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stating that: "In the course of air combat, F-16 aircraft demonstrated their high effectiveness, [and] with [their on-board] weapons shot down four enemy cruise missiles". On 29 August 2024, an ex-Danish F-16 piloted by Lt. Col. Oleksii Mes crashed, killing him.[53]
On 7 January 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force Command claimed that an unnamed F-16 pilot managed to shoot down six cruise missiles with air-to-air missiles and cannon fire during a Russian missile strike on the morning of 13 December 2024.[54]
On 16 January 2025, the PSZSU launched an investigation on whether key personnel are being redeployed to reinforce the Eastern Front, following allegations that MiG-29 maintenance crews were sent as infantry affecting the combat readiness of the fleet. According to reports from The Kyiv Independent and Militarnyi, thousands of Air Force personnel including aviation, anti-aircraft, and radio engineering crews, were transferred to the Ground Forces since 2024 following a January 11th directive from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi ordering the transfer of 5,000 personnel from the Air Force to the Ground Forces, while the General Staff of the Armed forces of Ukraine denied such allgations.[55]
Re-equipping developments (2022−Present)
As of August 2023, according to Forbes, Ukraine lost 69 aircraft since February 2022, but they have been receiving equipment and funding from other countries,[47][56] including 27 MiG-29G and MiG-29AS figther jets donated from Poland and Slovakia, while the Air Force has been able to restore some grounded Su-27s back to service.[57] In January of that year, the PSZSU began preparing infrastructure to allow the operation of Western fighter jets such as the F-16, improving the quality of operating areas and possibly lengthening runways.[58] In April 2023, photographic evidence showed that the PSZSU managed to restore at least one Su-25 donated by North Macedonia to flyworthy condition and upgrade to the Su-25M1(K) standard before it joined the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade.[59] In February 2024, the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade commander Col. Yevhen Bulatsyk told the Voice of America that the brigade not only managed to make up for its losses of Su-24M/MR bombers, but expand its numbers by restoring as many grounded aircraft as possible.[60]
Ukraine has also received Western air-defense systems from allies, including the Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS, MIM-23 Hawk, and gun trucks to help protect its skies from missiles, fighter jets and drones.[48] In 2023, the Pentagon launched its "FrankenSAM" project which builds SAM systems capable of firing AIM-9M missiles built from parts obtained from the US, allies, and partners for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Soviet Buk was modified by American engineers to fire RIM-7 missiles. Also as part of the FrankenSAM project, the US also restored and revamped retired Hawk systems.[61] Other FrankenSAMs include 9K33 Osas modified to fire R-73 missiles and Patriot missile launchers combined with elements from existing Ukrainian air defenses, which might include radars for the S-300P.[62]
In April 2024, a Ukrainian defense official told The War Zone that Ukraine received help from partners to provide an improved guidance system for their S-200 batteries, which were retired from service in 2013, before being reactivated during the war. "The missile itself has a good maneuvering system, so if provided with proper guidance is quite a modern weapon," the official stated. According to TWZ it is possible that Ukraine may have developed mobile launchers to allow its S-200 missiles to be fired from different locations.[63] In January 2025, Syrsky stated in an interview with TSN that Ukraine is developing its own air defense systems in response to the Russian Oreshnik ballistic missile.[64]
In July 2023, it was reported that Ukraine Su-24 bombers were adapted to fire Storm Shadow missiles by using parts taken from Panavia Tornados retired from British service.[65] On 24 April 2024, during the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) annual Global Security Forum, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Dr. William LaPlante confirmed the use of iPads or similar commercial tablets by Ukrainian pilots to quickly integrate modern Western weaponry (such as AGM-88 HARM missiles, JDAM-ER and AASM Hammer glide bombs) on their Soviet-era jets.[66] On 9 June 2024, Serhiy Golubtsov, the head of aviation within Ukraine's Air Force Command told in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that after Ukraine exhausted its stockpiles of unguided munitions inherited from the Soviet Union and US-supplied Zuni rockets, their Su-25 attack aircraft began using French-supplied Hammer glide bombs. Golubtsov also stated that Ukraine is working on the development of domestically-produced glide bombs.[67]
Western allies started preparing the transfer of surplus aircraft for Ukraine including nearly 100 F-16s, some Mirage 2000-5 and a pair of Saab 340 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft.[68]
Equipment
Summarize
Perspective
 | Due to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, the information below may be outdated. |
The last reliable information of the number of Ukrainian Air Force operational aircraft came in December 2021; during the current escalation of fighting, losses, technical refitting and donations may have changed the equipment numbers reported below.
Aircraft
As of December 2023, the amount of aircraft that are still in service, especially fighter aircraft, is uncertain. Ukraine had 43 MiG-29s, 12 Su-24s, 17 Su-25s, and 26 Su-27s in active service in 2021 according to data from Flight Global.[2]
F-16 procurement
In May 2023, the United States indicated support for training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighters and for allies to transfer the aircraft to Ukraine.[69][70] Jets announced to be donated will be delivered to Ukraine once the Ukrainian pilots have completed their training.[71]
Denmark will provide 19 F-16 aircraft and the Netherlands will attempt to provide up to 100% of their remaining fleet of 42 aircraft,[72] with the exception of the aircraft required for the training of Ukrainian pilots and maintenance personnel that will take place in Denmark and Romania. Denmark aims to deliver six F-16s by April 2024,[73] then eight F-16s in the rest of the year and five afterwards.[74] The Netherlands committed to an initial delivery of 18 aircraft.[75]
Norway have provided two F-16s to train Ukrainian pilots,[76] while the total number of aircraft provided to Ukraine will be six.[77] Belgium announced that they will send a total of 30 F-16s to Ukraine by 2028, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that the first aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2024.[78]
Greece has reportedly pledged 32 of its decommissioned F-16 aircraft to Ukraine.[79] These aircraft will first be sent to the United States for repairs and necessary upgrades before transferring them to Ukraine.[80]
All F-16 aircraft supplied by Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium will be the F-16AM (single-seat) / F-16BM (twin-seat) Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) variants. These variants are analogous to the F-16C/D Block 30/50/52.[81][82]
As of August 2024, Ukraine has received ten F-16s, and six Ukrainian pilots have completed their training.[83][84] By the end of 2024, Ukraine is expected to have twenty F-16s. The remaining jets will be delivered in batches throughout 2025.[85]
Mirage 2000-5 procurement
On 6 June 2024, according to Le Figaro, French president Emmanuel Macron announced the future transfer of an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine.[86]
According to French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, the first Mirages will be delivered in the first quarter of 2025, and they will be modernized before delivery, with new air and ground combat systems as well defenses against electronic warfare.[87] In October 2024, it was reported that the first batch of three Mirages will be equipped with MICA missile, SCALP-EG cruise missiles, and AASM Hammer guided bombs.[88] In November 2024, French legislator Frank Giletti stated in his budget review that six Mirage 2000-5Fs will be delivered to the UAF with a "complete support model" for maintenance and combat readiness.[89]
In December 2024, Ukrainian pilots and ground crews completed their training in France. Reportedly Ukraine asked for a total of 12 Mirage 2000-5Fs to fulfill the immediate needs of the Air Force.[90] On 6 February, Ukraine received an undisclosed number of Mirages, and ex-Dutch F-16s as well.[91][92]
Gripen procurement
While Ukraine attempted to obtain Saab JAS 39 Gripens as early as 2014,[29] as of November 2024 there was no indication on the transfer of the aircraft (at least on the short term), with Ukraine's NATO allies prioritizing ongoing deliveries and support of F-16s to the PSZSU; though Sweden has earmarked spare parts (enough for 14 aircraft) for a future delivery according to Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.[93] On 6 February 2025, Commander-in-Chief of the ZSU Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that negotiations on the transfer of Gripens C/D to Ukraine are still ongoing.[92]
Current inventory
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Retired
Previous aircraft operated include: An-12, Il-76, Il-78, L-29, Mi-2, Mi-6, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, Su-15, Su-17, Tu-16, Tu-22, Tu-22M, Tu-95MS, Tu-134, Tu-141, Tu-143, Tu-160, and Yak-28[18][23][25][105]
Armament
| Name | Origin | Type | Variant | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air-launched cruise missiles | |||||
| Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG | France United Kingdom |
Long-range cruise missile | [95] | ||
| Air-to-air missiles | |||||
| R-73 | Soviet Union | Short-range | [95] | ||
| R-60 | Soviet Union | Short-range | R-60M | [95] | |
| R-27 | Soviet Union/Ukraine | Medium-range | ER/ET[106] | [95] | |
| AIM-9 Sidewinder | United States | Short-range | L/M/X[96] | [95] | |
| AIM-120 AMRAAM | United States | Medium-range | B/C[104] | [95] | |
| AIM-7 Sparrow | United States | Medium-range | Used in the surface-to-air role.[104] | ||
| RIM-7 Sea Sparrow | United States | Short-range | Used in the surface-to-air role.[104] | ||
| ASRAAM | United Kingdom | Short-range | AIM-132 | Used in the surface-to-air role.[107] | |
| Air-to-surface missile | |||||
| Kh-25 | Soviet Union | MP[95] | [108] | ||
| Kh-29 | Soviet Union | [95] | |||
| Kh-58 | Soviet Union | Anti-radiation missile | [95] | ||
| AGM-88 HARM | United States | Anti-radiation missile | [95] | ||
| Decoy missiles | |||||
| ADM-160 MALD | United States | B | [95] | ||
| Guided bombs | |||||
| KAB-1500L | Soviet Union | Laser guided | [109] | ||
| KAB-500KR | Soviet Union | TV guided | [109] | ||
| MAM-L | Turkey | For Baykar Bayraktar TB2.[56] | |||
| MAM-C | Turkey | For Baykar Bayraktar TB2.[56] | |||
| Joint Direct Attack Munition | United States | ER | [95] | ||
| GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb | United States | B | [96] | ||
| Armement Air-Sol Modulaire | France | [95] | |||
| Paveway | United Kingdom | Paveway IV | To be supplied by the UK.[110][111] | ||
| Unnamed guided aerial bomb | Ukraine | Similar in concept to the French AASM.[112] | |||
| Unguided bombs | |||||
| OFAB-100-120 | Soviet Union | [113] | |||
| OFAB 250–270 | Soviet Union | High explosive fragmentation.[108] | |||
| FAB-250 | Soviet Union | [106] | |||
| FAB-500 | Soviet Union | OFAB-500ShN OFAB-500ShR |
Parachute retarded fragmentation bomb.[29] | ||
| Unguided rockets | |||||
| S-8 | Soviet Union | S-8KOM | [113] | ||
| S-13 | Soviet Union | [108] | |||
| S-24 | Soviet Union | S-24B | [108] | ||
| S-25 | Soviet Union | S-25OF | [108] | ||
| Hydra 70 | United States | Used on Su-25 bombers and Mi-8 helicopters.[114] | |||
| Illumination bombs | |||||
| SAB-250-200 | Soviet Union | [113] | |||
Air defense
| Name | Origin | Type | In service | Pledged | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface-to-air missile | |||||
| S-300PS S-300PT S-300V S-300PMU |
Soviet Union | Mobile long-range SAM | 170[95] ?[115] 8[95] |
One S-300PMU battery was donated by Slovakia in 2022.[116] | |
| S-200 | Soviet Union | Static long-range SAM | ? | Reactivated in 2024.[117][118] | |
| 2K12 Kub | Soviet Union | Mobile medium-range SAM | 3+[119] | 2[120] | |
| 9K37 Buk M1 | Soviet Union | Mobile medium-range SAM | 50[95] | Modified to fire AIM-7 Sparrow/RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.[121] | |
| S-125 Neva/Pechora | Soviet Union | Mobile short-range SAM | Modernized to the S-125-2D standard.[122] The Polish S-125 Newa-SC is also used.[123] | ||
| IRIS-T SLM | Germany | Mobile medium-range SAM | 14[95] | 6[124] | |
| IRIS-T SLS | Germany | Mobile short-range SAM | 12[95] | 7[124] | |
| NASAMS | Norway/United States | Mobile short- to medium-range SAM | 14[95] | ||
| MIM-104 Patriot | United States | Mobile long-range anti-ballistic missile system | 37[95] | 2 launchers[124] | PAC-3 variant used.[95] |
| SAMP/T | Italy/France | Mobile long-range ABM | 8[95] | ||
| Aspide | Italy | Mobile medium-range SAM | 4+[95] | ||
| MIM-23 Hawk | United States | Mobile medium-range SAM | 4+[95] | To be upgraded.[125] | |
| Anti-aircraft guns | |||||
| Skynex | Germany | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | 8[95] | 2[124] | |
| ZU-23-2 | Soviet Union | Towed AA gun | [95] | ||
 |
 |
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Radars
| Model | Country of origin | Type | Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-14 | Soviet Union | Early-warning radar | N/A | [126] |
| P-18 | Soviet Union | Early-warning radar | N/A | Being modernized to the P-18C standard.[127] The Lithuanian P-18ML and Ukrainian P-18 "Malakhit" modernisation have both been seen in use.[126] |
| P-19 | Soviet Union | Mobile surveillance radar | N/A | [126] |
| P-35 | Soviet Union | Early-warning radar | N/A | [126] |
| 1L22 "Parol" | Soviet Union | Mobile radar | N/A | [126] |
| PRV-11 | Soviet Union | Towed radar | N/A | [126] |
| PRV-13 | Soviet Union | Towed radar | N/A | [126] |
| PRV-16 | Soviet Union | Mobile radar | N/A | In service during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Lithuanian modernsation PRV-16ML has been seen in use.[126] |
| R-410 | Soviet Union | Tropospheric scatter | N/A | [126] |
| 36D6 'Tin Shield | Soviet Union | Air surveillance radar | 1+ | Part of the S-300 radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.[128] |
| 5N66M 'Clam Shell' | Soviet Union | Target acquisition radar | 1+ | Part of the S-300 radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.[128] |
| 5N63S 'Flap Lid B' | Soviet Union | Engagement/fire-control radar | 1+ | Fire control radar for S-300. 1 donated by Slovakia.[128] |
| SURN 1S91 | Soviet Union | Target acquisition and distribution radar | 3+ | Part of the 2K12 Kub radar complex. 1 donated by Slovakia.[128] 2 donated by Czech Republic.[129] |
| AN/MPQ-61 | United States | Pulse acquisition radar | 1 | Provided with the MIM-23 Hawk battery donated by Spain in December 2022.[130][131] |
| AN/MPQ-62 | United States | CW acquisition radar | 1 | Provided with the MIM-23 Hawk battery donated by Spain in December 2022.[130][131] |
| AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel | United States | Towed air surveillance radar | 8[104] | |
| TRML | Germany | Early-warning radar | 9[124] | |
| Ground Master 200 | France | Mobile air surveillance radar | 1[104] | Contract signed between Ukraine and Thales for 2 systems.[132] |
| Thomson-CSF RAC 3D | France | Air surveillance radar | 1 | Provided by Spain with the Aspide 2000 battery.[131] |
| PS-90 | Sweden | Early warning Radar | 1[104] | |
| VERA passive radar | Czech Republic | Long range passive radar | 4 | Pledged by the Netherlands.[133] |
Branches of the Air Force
Troop badges of the Air Force
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Aviation
Anti-aircraft missile troops
.png)
Radio engineering troops
Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Forces
The Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense Forces Corps were created after the 2004 merger of the Air Force and the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces. It allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to adopt the tri-service structure,[134] common to most modern armed forces in the world as of present. Personnel of this force fall under the direct control of the Ukrainian Air Force General Command.[135]
They are dedicated to anti-air defense operations in defense of air force bases and facilities and other structures of state as well as economic complexes and others as mandated by law, as well as provide support to elements of the Ground Forces, Marine Corps and Navy in combat operations.[136]
Structure
Summarize
Perspective
As of August 2023 the structure is as follows:[citation needed]
| Ukrainian Air Force | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commands | ||||
| Name | Components | Commander | Location | |
 Air Force General Command |
Training Command, Air Logistics Command, Air Operations Command | Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk | Vinnytsia | |
.png){kind=small} Air Command West |
Maj. Gen. Borys Henov | Lviv | ||
.png){kind=small} Air Command Center |
Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko | Vasylkiv | ||
 Air Command South |
Maj. Gen. Dmytro Karpenko | Odesa | ||
 Air Command East |
Maj. Gen. Ivan Terebukha | Dnipro | ||
| Aviation Corps | ||||
| Name | Equipment | Higher Command | Air Base | |
 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade |
Su-24M/MR | Air Force General Command | Starokostiantyniv Air Base | |
 15th Transport Aviation Brigade |
An-24, An-26, An-30B, Tu-134A-3, Mi-8 | Air Force General Command | Boryspil International Airport | |
 25th Transport Aviation Brigade |
Il-76M/MD, Il-78, An-26 | Air Force General Command | N/A (before the war Melitopol Air Base) | |
 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade |
Su-27 | Air Command "Central" | Ozerne Air Base | |
 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade |
MiG-29 | Air Command "Central" | Vasylkiv Air Base | |
 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade |
MiG-29 | Air Command "West" | Ivano-Frankivsk Air Base | |
 203rd Training Aviation Brigade |
L-39, An-26, Mi-2 | National Air Force University | N/A (before the war Chuhuiv Air Base) | |
.png){kind=small} 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade |
Mig-29 | Air Command "West" | Lutsk Air Base | |
 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade |
Su-25 | Air Force General Command | Kulbakino Air Base | |
.jpg){kind=small} 383rd Unmanned Aircraft Brigade |
Bayraktar TB2 | Air Force General Command | Khmelnytskyi Air Base | |
 456th Transport Aviation Brigade |
An-12, An-24, An-26, Mi-8 | Air Force General Command | Havryshivka Air Base | |
 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade |
Su-27 | Air Command "Central" | Myrhorod Air Base | |
.png){kind=small} Anti-Aircraft Defense Missile Artillery Corps | ||||
| Name | Equipment | Higher Command | Location | |
| Brigades | ||||
 96th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade |
S-300PS, Patriot[137] | Air Command "Central" | Danylivka | |
 138th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade |
S-300PS, S-300PT, Patriot[138] | Air Command "East" | Dnipro | |
 160th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade |
S-300PS | Air Command "South" | Odesa | |
.svg){kind=small} 201st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade |
S-300PS, S-300V1 | Air Command "South" | Pervomaisk | |
 208th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade |
S-300PS, S-300PT | Air Command "South" | Kherson | |
| Regiments | ||||
 11th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
Buk-M1 | Air Command "West" | Shepetivka | |
 14th Anti-aircraft Missile Regiment |
MIM-23 Hawk | Air Command "Central" | Poltava Oblast | |
 156th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
Buk-M1 | Air Command "Central" | Zolotonosha | |
 210th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
S-300V1 | Air Command "Central" | Uman | |
 223rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
Buk-M1 | Air Command "West" | Stryi | |
 225th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
Unspecified | Air Command "East" | Poltava | |
.png){kind=small} 301st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
S–300PS | Air Command "East" | Nikopol | |
 302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
S–300PT | Air Command "East" | Kharkiv | |
 540th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment |
S–300PS, S–300PT | Air Command "West" | Kamianka-Buzka | |
.png){kind=small} Radio-Technical Troops | ||||
| Name | Equipment | Higher Command | Location | |
 1st Radio Technical Brigade |
Air Command "West" | Lypniki | ||
.svg){kind=small} 14th Radio Technical Brigade |
Air Command "South" | Odesa | ||
| 19th Special Purpose Radio Intercept Brigade |
Air Force General Command | Halytsynov | ||
 138th Radio Technical Brigade |
Air Command "Central" | Vasylkiv | ||
.svg){kind=small} 164th Radio Technical Brigade |
Air Command "East" | Kharkiv | ||
.png){kind=small} Signal Corps | ||||
| Name | Equipment | Higher Command | Location | |
 31st Communication Regiment |
Air Command "Central" | Kyiv | ||
 43rd Communication Regiment |
Air Command "South" | Odesa | ||
| 57th Communication Regiment |
Air Command "East" | Dnipro | ||
 76th Communication Regiment |
Air Command "West" | Lypniki | ||
| 101st Communication Regiment |
Air Force General Command | Vinnytsia | ||
| 182nd Communication Regiment |
Air Force General Command | Vinnytsia | ||
 Electronic Warfare Corps | ||||
| Name | Equipment | Higher Command | Location | |
| 17th Electronic Warfare Battalion |
Air Command "West" | Kolomyia | ||
.svg){kind=small} 1194th Electronic Warfare Battalion |
Air Command "South" | Pervomaisk | ||
| 2204th Electronic Warfare Battalion |
Air Command "Central" | Vasylkiv | ||
| Air Force ground forces | ||||
| Name | Equipment | Higher Command | Location | |
 1st Air Force Rifle Brigade |
Air Force General Command | |||
| 28th Airfield Engineer Battalion |
Air Command "South" | Mykolaiv | ||
| 352nd Airfield Engineer Battalion |
Air Command "West" | Khmelnytskyi | ||
Geographic distribution
Ukrainian Air Force locations in 2018
Brigades:
Fighter, 
Fighter/Attack, 
Transport, 
Training, 
S-300 Air-defense, 
Radio-technical (Radar)Regiments:
S-300 Air-defense, 
Buk-M1 Air-defense, 
Other, 
Auxiliary AirfieldMilitary ranks
Officers
| Rank group | General/Flag/Air officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ukrainian Air Force[139] |
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.svg) |
.svg) |
.svg) |
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 |
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 | |||||||||||||
| Генерал Heneral |
Генерал-лейтенант Heneral-leytenant |
Генерал-майор Heneral-mayor |
Бригадний генерал Bryhadnyy heneral |
Полковник Polkovnyk |
Підполковник Pidpolkovnyk |
Майор Mayor |
Капітан Kapitan |
Старший лейтенант Starshyy leytenant |
Лейтенант Leytenant |
Молодший лейтенант Molodshyy leytenant | ||||||||||||||
Other ranks and NCOs
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian Air Force[139] |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 |
 |
 |
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Головний майстер-сержант Holovnyi maister-serzhant |
Старший майстер-сержант Starshyi maister-serzhant |
Майстер-сержант Maister-serzhant |
Штаб-сержант Shtab-serzhant |
Головний сержант Holovnyi serzhant |
Старший сержант Starshyi serzhant |
Сержант Serzhant |
Молодший сержант Molodshyi serzhant |
Старший солдат Starshyi soldat |
Солдат Soldat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Training
Summarize
Perspective
Training activities have taken on a qualitatively new character due to their complexity, including the simultaneous employment of all branches of the Air Force aviation, anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops in close teamwork with units of other armed services of the Armed Forces. Operational and combat training has included the following activities:
- Aviation units have performed more than 6,000 tasks in combat scenarios (including more than 1,500 air battles and interceptions, 629 firing at land-based targets, 530 bombings, 21 launches of air missiles, 454 tasks in aerial surveillance, 454 airborne landings, 740 airlifts, 575 flight shifts for a total of 10,553 flying hours);
- Five tactical flying missions in a squadron, 14 in a pair and 5 in a flight organization have been carried out to perform the assigned combat tasks, and 54 pilots have been trained to perform specific tasks in difficult meteorological conditions;
- The number of flight crews being trained to defend the air space of the country and counter-terrorism air operations has almost doubled from 46 in 2005 to 90 in 2006; the units of anti-aircraft artillery and radar troops carried out 50 maneuvers involving redeployment, with each operator tracking 70 and 140 real and simulated targets, respectively.
In early September 2007, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted the most large-scale training of its aircraft to date. As the Defense Minister of Ukraine, Anatoliy Hrytsenko stated, "The most large-scale, during the whole 16 years of the Ukrainian independence, training of fighting aircraft, which defends our air space, was carried out during September 4–5". According to him, they fulfilled 45 battle launches of air-to-air missile, out of them 22 during the day and 23 at night. 35 pilots confirmed their high skills during the training. Hrytsenko stressed that 100% of air targets were hit.[140]
The Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company developed the KhAZ-30 ultralight trainer for the Ukrainian Airforce. The aircraft is designed for elementary pilot training as an introductory aircraft before recruits move on the more advanced Aero L-39 Albatros trainer.[141]
Invasion of Ukraine
Shooting down cruise missiles became important as the war progressed, so pilots received specialist training. The same tactics are used to intercept drones. Pilots use their infrared search and track to detect cruise missiles and drones by their heat signature. They were trained to do this using simulators. Whereas most cruise missiles fly low and are hard to detect, Russian cruise missiles leave a heat signature from their “conventional two-circuit jet engines”. President Zelenskyy singled out the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade for praise in shooting down drones. As surface-to-air missiles run out the fighters are called upon to do more work.[142]
Notable people
- Denys Vasyliuk (1993–2024), Ukrainian fighter pilot[143]
- Juice (pilot) (Andrii Pilshchykov)
See also
- Ukrainian Falcons - aerobatic demonstration team
- Air National Guard (Ukraine) - Aerial Comment of the National Guard of Ukraine
References
Further reading
External links
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