The Russian Aerospace Forces[3] (Russian: Воздушно-космические силы, tr. Vozdushno-kosmicheskiye sily) or VKS (Russian: ВКС) comprise the air and space branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Russia established the VKS as a new branch of its military on 1 August 2015 with the merging of the Russian Air Force (VVS) and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces (VVKO) - as recommended by the Ministry of Defence. The VKS has its headquarters in Moscow.[4] Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu explained the merger as improving efficiency and logistical support.[5]
Russian Aerospace Forces | |
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Воздушно-космические силы Vozdushno-kosmicheskiye sily | |
![]() Emblem of the Russian Aerospace Forces | |
Founded | 1 August 2015 |
Country | ![]() |
Type | Air and space force |
Role | Aerial warfare Space warfare Missile defense |
Size | 165,000 personnel (2020)[1] |
Part of | ![]() |
Headquarters | Moscow |
Patron | Saint Elijah the Prophet[2] |
Colors | Blue, gold, grey |
March | "Air March" (Russian: "Авиамарш") (official march-past of the Air Force) "14 Minutes Until Launch" (Russian: "14 минут до старта") (official march of the Space Forces) |
Anniversaries | Air Force Day (12 August) |
Engagements | Intervention in the Syrian Civil War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief | General Sergei Surovikin |
First Deputy Commander-in-Chief | Lieutenant General Viktor Afzalov |
Deputy Commander-in-Chief | Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin |
Notable commanders | Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev |
Insignia | |
Flag | ![]() |
Roundel | ![]() |
Patch | ![]() |
Middle emblem | ![]() |
Insignia | ![]() |
According to Jane's Information Group, with the merging of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, the new Russian Aerospace Forces consist of three sub-branches:[6]
Command Staff | ||
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Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces (Главнокомандующий Воздушно-космическими силами) |
Army general / Colonel general | |
Chief of the Main Staff - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces (Начальник Главного штаба — первый заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
Colonel general / Lieutenant general | |
Deputy Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
Colonel general / Lieutenant general | |
Chiefs of branches, deputy commanders: | ||
Commander of the Air Force, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces
(Командующий Военно-воздушными силами — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
Commander of the Aerospace and Missile Defense Forces, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces
(Командующий Войсками противовоздушной и противоракетной обороны — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
Commander of the Space Forces, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Aerospace Forces
(Командующий Космическими войсками — заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами) |
Functional deputy commanders: | ||
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Military-Political Work (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по военно-политической работе) | Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Logistics (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по материально-техническому обеспечению) | Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Aerospace Forces for Armaments (Заместитель Главнокомандующего Воздушно-космическими силами по вооружению) |
Position | Name | Start date | End date |
---|---|---|---|
Commander of the Aerospace Forces | Colonel General Viktor Bondarev | 1 August 2015 | 26 September 2017 |
Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko (acting) | 26 September | 22 November 2017 | |
Colonel General Sergei Surovikin | 22 November 2017 | ||
First Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces (Chief of the General Staff) |
Lieutenant General Pavel Kurachenko | 1 September 2015 | unknown[6] |
Lieutenant General Viktor Afzalov | unknown | ||
Deputy Commanders of the Aerospace Forces | |||
Commander of the Air Force | Lieutenant General Andrei Yudin | 1 September 2015 | c. July 2019 |
Lieutenant General Sergei Dronov | c. July 2019 | ||
Commander of the Aerospace and Missile Defense Forces | Lieutenant General Viktor Gumyonny | 1 September 2015 | 2018 |
Lieutenant General Yury Grekhov | 2018 | ||
Commander of the Space Forces | Colonel General Aleksandr Golovko | 1 September 2015[6] | |
Deputy Commander for Work with Personnel | Major General Andrei Kazakevich | unknown | unknown |
Major General Aleksandr Maksimtsev | 2019 | ||
Deputy Commander for Logistics | Lieutenant General Vladimir Trishunkin | unknown | unknown |
Major General Zabit Kheirbekov | unknown | ||
Deputy Commander for Armaments | Colonel Andrei Medvedkov | unknown | unknown |
Major General Sergei Meshcheryakov | unknown |
The Aerospace Forces are organised in air armies.
Air Forces High Command (Главное командование ВВС) (Moscow)
Air Defence and Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence Forces Command (Командование войск ПВО-ПРО) (Moscow)
Space Forces Command (Командование космических войск) (Krasnoznamensk)
Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Russian Aerospace Forces[8] |
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Генера́л а́рмии Generál ármii |
Генера́л-полко́вник Generál-polkóvnik |
Генера́л-лейтена́нт Generál-leytenánt |
Генера́л-майо́р Generál-mayór |
Полко́вник Polkóvnik |
Подполко́вник Podpolkóvnik |
Майо́р Majór |
Kапита́н Kapitán |
Старший лейтена́нт Stárshiy leytenánt |
Лейтенант Leytenant |
Mла́дший лейтена́нт Mládshiy leytenánt |
Курсант Kursant |
Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Russian Aerospace Forces[8] |
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Ста́рший пра́порщик Stárshiy práporshchik |
Пра́порщик Práporshchyk |
Старшина́ Starshyná |
Ста́рший сержа́нт Stárshiy serzhánt |
Сержа́нт Serzhánt |
Мла́дший сержа́нт Mládshiy serzhánt |
Ефре́йтор Efréĭtor |
Рядово́й Ryadovóy |
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