| Belarusian Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Belarusian Su-25 |
|
| Active | since 1991 |
| Country |  Belarus |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-25, Mi-24 |
| Bomber | Su-24 |
| Fighter | MiG-23, MiG-29, Su-27 |
| Trainer | L-39 |
| Transport | An-12, An-24, An-26, Il-76, Mi-8, Tu-134 |
The Belarusian Air Force is the air force of the Armed Forces of Belarus, formed in 1942 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Belorussian SSR.
Contents |
Organization
In accordance with an edict of the President of Belarus in 2001, the Air Force, and Air Defense troops were created as one of the arms of the Armed Forces of Belarus. The VVS and Air Defense forces are intended to protect population centres such as cities and regions, as well as the administrative, industrial, economic interests of the Republic. They are also intended to defend troops from the impacts of enemy air attacks, and also against the attacks of hostile troops, as well as fire support and the guarantee of combat operations of ground forces.
In peacetime, VVS and Air Defense forces are on standby to protect the state boundary in the air and also control of Belarussian airspace.
The Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Belarus are organized into six major flying regiments, including two interceptor, three strike, and a reconnaissance regiments. The air force consists of more than 22,000 personnel, though this number is being reduced. Major bases include Balbasovo, Bobr, Luninets, Maladzyechna, Pribytki, Smarhon, and Vitebsk. The Air Force is responsible for all military aviation, as the Army maintains no aircraft of its own.
The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force.
Prior History
On 5 May 1942 on the basis of the Air Forces of the Western Front the 1st Air Army was created.[1] By General Staff order of 10 January 1949 the Army became the 26th Air Army (ГШ ВС СССР № ОРГ 120026). In 1980, the 26th Air Army was redesignated the Air Forces of the Belorussian Military District (ГШ ВС СССР 1980 года № 314/1/00170). On 1 May 1988, in accordance with the Ministry of Defence of the USSR's Decree № 0018, the Air Forces of the District were again renamed the 26th Air Army. On 15 June 1992, by decree № 05 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, the 26th Air Army headquarters became the command of the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
Aircraft Inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[2] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter Aircraft | ||||||
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum |  Soviet Union |
fighter | MiG-29 | 41 | At least 5 MiG-29S have been upgraded to MiG-29BM | |
| Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker | Soviet Union |
fighter | Su-27
SU-27UB |
14
2 |
At least 2 Su-27UB have been upgraded to Su-27UBM1 One Belarussian Su-27UBM crashed in an accident during 2009 Radom Air Show in Radom (Poland) on the 30th of August 2009.[3] |
|
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger | Soviet Union |
fighter | MiG-23M | 34 | ||
| Ground-Attack Aircraft | ||||||
| Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer | Soviet Union |
strike | Total Su-24K Su-24MR |
35 23 12 |
||
| Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot | Soviet Union |
close air support | Su-25
Su-25UB |
70
6 |
||
| Transport and Liaison Aircraft | ||||||
| Antonov An-12 Cub | Soviet Union |
transport | An-12BP | 6 | ||
| Antonov An-24 Coke |  Ukraine |
transport | An-24 | 1 | ||
| Antonov An-26 Curl | Soviet Union
Ukraine |
transport | An-26RT | 6 | ||
| Ilyushin Il-76 Candid | Soviet Union |
transport | Il-76MD | 4 | ||
| Tupolev Tu-134 Crusty | Soviet Union |
VIP transport | Tu-134A | 1 | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| Aero L-39 Albatros |  Czechoslovakia |
trainer | L-39C | 6 | ||
| Attack Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-24 Hind | Soviet Union |
attack | Mi-24C
Mi-24D Mi-24E Mi-24F |
5
24 14 12 |
||
| Transport and Utility Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-8 Hip | Soviet Union |
transport/attack | Mi-8 | 129 | At least 2 Mi-8MT have been upgraded to Mi-8MTKO | |
| Mi-6 | Soviet Union |
transport | Mi-6 | 15 | ||
| Mi-26 | Soviet Union |
transport | Mi-26 | 14 | ||
References
- ^ Belarusian Ministry of Defense, http://www.mod.mil.by/s37sprawka.html, accessed 22 May 2008
- ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology 2009, 26 JAN 2009 240. Web.4 Aug 2009. <http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/sourcebook/content.jsp?channelName=pro&story=xml/sourcebook_xml/2009/01/26/AW_01_26_2009_p0240-112924-12.xml&headline=World%20Military%20Aircraft%20Inventory%20-%20Belarus>.
- ^ http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=68093
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