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82-574: In 2024, the Russian Air Force had 57 aircraft in service, according to the 2024 Military Balance report by International Institute for Strategic Studios. In 2023, Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence estimated that Russia had 27 aircraft in operable condition. In 1962, after the introduction of the Tupolev Tu-22 , it became increasingly clear that the aircraft was inadequate in its role as

164-723: A 15-year unilateral suspension due to fuel costs and other economic difficulties after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Patrols towards the North Pole , the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean were reinstated, bringing the planes often close to NATO territory, including in one instance flying over the Irish Sea between the United Kingdom and Ireland . During the 2008 South Ossetian War ,

246-614: A NATO carrier group occurred between 30 September and 1 October 1982. Eight aircraft locked onto the U.S. task forces of USS Enterprise and USS Midway which were operating in the North Pacific. They came within 120 mi (200 km) of the task forces. The reaction of the U.S. Navy was thought to have been restrained during this event so as to allow the observation of the Tu-22M's tactics. The bomber also made attempts to test Japan's air defense boundary on several occasions. The Tu-22M

328-482: A Reserves and Cadres Training Command (Samara, under Colonel-General Leonid Stepanyuk) were to be established. But little more was heard of these commands. During the 1990s, the financial stringency was felt throughout the armed forces made its mark on the VVS as well. Pilots and other personnel could sometimes not get their wages for months, and on occasion resorted to desperate measures: four MiG-31 pilots at Yelizovo in

410-623: A Russian Tu-22M3 crashed near Stavropol , over 450 km of distance from the nearest Ukrainian controlled territory as of the time of the event. Ukraine claimed to have shot down the long-range strategic bomber about 300 km from Ukraine as it was reportedly trying to return to base after a combat sortie. Russian authorities claimed the aircraft crashed in Krasnogvardeysky District due to a technical malfunction, killing one crew member, with another missing. A source claimed that Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence had planned and executed

492-567: A Russian airbase on fire in the Millerovo air base attack . On 13 March 2022, Russian forces launched cruise missile attacks on Yavoriv military base near the Polish border. As of 20 March 2022, it was claimed that VVS carried out at least 1403 airstrikes on Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion. The VVS has generally been noted by its relative absence from the invasion and has as of 25 March 2022 failed to subdue Ukrainian air defenses or

574-673: A Russian or Belarusian Air Force or Air Defence Force senior commander. In July 2010, Russian jet fighters made the first nonstop flights from European Russia to the Russian Far East. By August 2010, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the VVS Alexander Zelin , the average flight hours of a pilot in Russian tactical aviation had reached 80 hours a year, while in army aviation and military transport aviation, it exceeded 100 hours

656-468: A bomber. In addition to widespread unserviceability and maintenance problems, the Tu-22's handling characteristics proved to be dangerous. Its landing speed was 100 km/h (60 mph) greater than previous bombers and it had a tendency to pitch up and strike its tail upon landing. It was difficult to fly, and had poor all-round visibility. In 1962, Tupolev commenced work on major update of the Tu-22. Initially,

738-500: A former Air Defence Forces officer and new commander-in-chief of the merged force succeeding Deynekin, reported to the Russian defense minister that the task had 'in principle been achieved'. General Kornukov established the new headquarters of the force in Zarya, near Balashikha , 20 km east of the center of Moscow, in the former PVO central command post, where the CIS common air defense system

820-532: A full mid-life upgrade, the Tu-22M3M, was signed in September 2014. The aircraft was then planned to receive a further modified NV-45M radar, together with new navigation equipment and a modified flight control system. A new self-defense electronic radar suite was to be fitted, replacing the tail gun of the existing Tu-22M3. Much of the new avionics were planned to be shared with the upgraded Tu-160M2 . As of 2018, armament

902-609: A government offensive. On December 12, 2017, a fleet of Tu-22M3 bombers arrived back from Syria at Shaykovka air base near Kirov, Kaluga Oblast , where lieutenant general and long-range-aviation commander Sergey Kobylash awarded crews with the medal "Participant of the military operation in Syria" . In May 2021, three Tu-22Ms were temporarily deployed to the Khmeymim airbase in Syria. Tu-22Ms were again deployed in eastern Mediterranean in June of

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984-509: A major Warsaw Pact exercise. During the exercise, naval Tu-22M2s conducted anti-ship operations by mining parts of the Baltic Sea to simulate an amphibious landing . The exercise was extensively covered by the press and TV media. In June 1981, four Tu-22Ms were intercepted and photographed by Norwegian aircraft flying over the Norwegian Sea . The first simulated attack by the Tu-22M against

1066-817: A new computer, a new navigation system and digital processing for the aircraft's radar. The upgrade is claimed to greatly increase navigation accuracy and bomb delivery. A SVP-24-22-equipped Tu-22M underwent trials in 2009, and the program was moved into production, with deliveries after 2012. In September 2023, it was reported that the Tu-22M3 have been modified to carry a missile with a payload capacity of 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). The two prototypes Tu-22M(0) were delivered to Long Range Aviation 's 42nd Combat Training Centre at Dyagilevo air base , near Ryazan , in February 1973. The aircraft began practice sorties in March. Within 20 days of

1148-501: A new jurisdiction. The redistribution of forces affected 95% of aircraft, 98% of helicopters, 93% of anti-aircraft missile complexes, 95% of the equipment of radiotechnical troops , 100% of anti-aircraft missiles and over 60% of aviation armament. More than 600,000 tons of material changed location and 3,500 aircraft changed airfields. Military Transport Aviation planes took more than 40,000 families to new residence areas. The short-lived operational commands were abolished. Two air armies,

1230-569: A political resolution to the rebellion was announced. The U.K. Defense Intelligence reported that the Il-22M was a particularly high value asset, being one in a fleet of only 12 special mission aircraft, and that its loss could have an impact on the ongoing invasion of Ukraine . Previously the highest military office until 1 August 2015. Since the merger between the VVS and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces on 1 August 2015,

1312-630: A precise ammunition. UMPK bomb kits are being particularly used with general purpose FAB-250 , FAB-500 and FAB-1500 aerial bombs containing highly explosive warheads. These glide kits greatly increase range and also add an element of guidance, allowing Russian bombers, namely the Su-34 , to execute aerial attacks from safer distances without entering areas covered by Ukrainian air defense systems. According to Ukrainian General Ivan Havryliuk, since start of 2024 year, Russian aviation dropped over 3,500 of these bombs on Ukrainian positions. On 23 - 24 June 2023

1394-567: A year. On 15 August 2010, the Russian Air Force temporarily grounded its fleet of Su-25 ground attack aircraft to investigate a crash that happened during a training mission. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the plane crashed on 6 August 2010, 60  km to the north-west of Step air base in Siberia , according to RIA Novosti . According to the instructions of the General Staff of

1476-764: Is directed from. In December 2003 the aviation assets of the Russian Ground Forces —mostly helicopters—were transferred to the VVS, following the shooting down of a Mi-26 helicopter in Chechnya on 19 August 2002 that claimed 19 lives. The former Army Aviation was in its previous form intended for the direct support of the Ground Forces, by providing their tactical air support, conducting tactical aerial reconnaissance, transporting airborne troops, providing fire support of their actions, electronic warfare , setting of minefield barriers and other tasks. The former Army Aviation

1558-740: The 37th Air Army (long-range aviation) and the 61st Air Army (former Military Transport Aviation ), were established directly under the Supreme Command. The former frontal aviation and anti-aircraft forces were organized as Air Force Armies and Anti-Aircraft Defense Armies under the military district commanders. There were initially four such armies with headquarters in St.Petersburg ( Leningrad Military District ), Rostov-on-Don ( North Caucasus Military District ), Khabarovsk ( Far East Military District ), and Chita ( Siberian Military District ). Two military districts had separate Air and Air Defence Corps. When

1640-478: The Joint CIS Air Defense System was to be set up by Russia and Belarus . This network was intended to protect the airspace of the two countries as defined in the supranational 1999 Union State treaty. Its planned composition was to include five Air Force units, 10 anti-aircraft units, five technical service and support units, and one electronic warfare unit. It was to be placed under the command of

1722-633: The Russian Aerospace Defence Forces and the Air Defense Troops, were merged into a new branch of the armed forces, now officially called the Russian Aerospace Forces . On 30 September 2015, the VVS launched a military intervention in Syria , in Syria 's Homs region. On 24 November 2015, during a bombing mission, a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 that Turkey claimed had violated its airspace. In March 2020,

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1804-603: The Soviet Air Forces (1918–1991). The Russian Air Force, officially established on August 12, 1912, as part of the Imperial Russian Air Service , has a long and complex history. It began as one of the earliest military aviation units globally, although its early years saw slow development due to the constraints of World War I . After the Russian Revolution of 1917 , the air service was reorganised under

1886-653: The Transbaikal Military District and Siberian Military District were merged, the 14th Air and Air Defence Forces Army was formed to serve as the air force formation in the area. The number of servicemen in the Air Force was reduced to about 185,000 from the former combined number of 318,000. 123,500 positions were abolished, including almost 1,000 colonel positions. The resignation of 3000 other servicemen included 46 generals of which 15 were colonel generals. On 29 December 1998 Colonel General Anatoly Kornukov ,

1968-500: The Ukrainian Air Force . It has, as of April 1, 2022, also failed to achieve air supremacy . Failure to achieve this has been attributed to the lack of SEAD operations on the part of the VVS likely due to the lack of flying hours for Russian pilots as well as the lack of dedicated SEAD units and precision-guided munitions within the VVS. These weaknesses have been compounded by the mobility of Ukrainian air defenses with

2050-585: The VVS including the terrain, lack of significant fixed targets, and insurgents armed with Stinger and Strela-2M surface-to-air missiles . The former Soviet Air Defence Forces remained independent for several years under Russian control, only merging with the Air Forces in 1998. The decree merging the two forces was issued by President Boris Yeltsin on 16 July 1997. During 1998 altogether 580 units and formations were disbanded, 134 reorganised, and over 600 were given

2132-546: The battle of Mariupol it struck a hospital as well as a theatre . Russian pilots in Ukraine are having to use civilian GPS units "taped to the dashboards". On 19 September US Air Force General James B. Hecker said that Russia had lost 55 military aircraft due to being shot down by Ukrainian air defenses since the start of the invasion. He credits this success to the Ukrainian use of SA-11 and SA-10 air defense systems. As

2214-656: The ceasefire agreement , Russian peacekeepers were deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh with aviation to patrol its borders. Modernization plans and programs carried out since the 2010s are being continued into 2021 as a part of Russia's State Armament Program for 2018–2027. On 24 February 2022, the VVS was deployed in support of the invasion of Ukraine . The VVS had reportedly deployed about 300 combat aircraft within range of Ukraine. Aircraft have also been deployed in Belarus for sorties over Ukraine . On 25 February 2022, Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed several aircraft and set

2296-472: The indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets by the VVS in Syria has been described as "amounting to war crime" by a United Nations Human Rights Council report. On 9 November 2020, a Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter was shot down mistakenly by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war killing 2 crew members and injuring 1 more. Days later, after the signing of

2378-508: The 2,154 missiles fired by Russia hit their targets, such as the Zatoka bridge which sustained over eight air attacks before being disabled. The VVS reportedly flew over 20,000 sorties in the war, fewer than 3,000 of which entered Ukrainian airspace, possibly due to fear of Ukraine's sustained air defense. The VVS has struck civilian targets during the invasion prompting an International Criminal Court investigation in Ukraine . Notably, during

2460-529: The 2012 training year. Pilots from the Kursk air base achieved an average of 150 hours, with transport aviation averaging 170 hours. In February 2014, during the early periods of Russia's annexation of Crimea , the assets of the VVS in the Southern Military District were activated and flown to the peninsula for supporting the rest of the operations. On 1 August 2015, the Russian Air Force, along with

2542-536: The Armed Forces on 1 September 2011, the unmanned aircraft of the VVS and the personnel operating them moved under the command structure of the Russian Ground Forces . As of 2012, the VVS operated a total of 61 air bases, including 26 air bases with tactical aircraft, of which 14 are equipped with fighter aircraft. In terms of flight hours, pilots in the Western Military District averaged 125 hours over

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2624-503: The Chief of the General Staff, Nikolai Makarov said of the VVS that "They can run bombing missions only in the daytime with the sun shining, but they miss their targets anyway". Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov said that Russia's long-range bombers would be upgraded in 2009 to be able to hit within 20 meters of their targets. Also in September 2009, it was reported that an East European network of

2706-534: The Dyagilevo air base. Images on social media showed at least the engine outputs and the trailing edge of the stabilizers damaged. On 20 August 2023, the Russian government confirmed a drone attack on an airbase in Novgorod and BBC News subsequently published verified images of a Tu-22M3 engulfed in flames at Soltsy air base , Russia, which had been attacked by drones on the day before. According to Ukraine, one Tu-22M3

2788-637: The Far East went on hunger strike in 1996 to demand back pay which was several months overdue, and the problem was only resolved by diverting unit money intended for other tasks. As a result of the cutbacks, infrastructure became degraded as well, and in 1998, 40% of military airfields needed repair. The VVS participated in the First Chechen War (1994–1996) and the Second Chechen War (1999–2002). These campaigns also presented significant difficulties for

2870-559: The Ground Forces include the 39th, 55th, granted Guards status after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , the 112th , 319th , 332nd, 337th , 440th, and the 487th . There is also a helicopter regiment in the Navy, the 830th Anti-Submarine Helicopter Regiment . Headquarters: Moscow Headquarters Moscow Tupolev Tu-160 Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include

2952-524: The Kh-32 family, was conducted from a Tu-22M3M. Reportedly, work on the missile had been initiated several years earlier, and its tests were expected to be completed "simultaneously with the work on the upgraded Tu-22M3M bomber". A separate, simpler, upgrade program (SVP-24-22) was being carried out in 2008 by the company Gefest & T, based on avionics developed for the Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft, including

3034-711: The Soviet Air Force was a pivotal part of the USSR ’s military strategy, with long-range bombers like the Tu-95 and advanced fighters such as the MiG-21 and Su-27 becoming iconic symbols of Soviet air power. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union into its fifteen constituent republics in December 1991, the aircraft and personnel of the Soviet Air Forces —the VVS —were divided among

3116-541: The Soviet premier up to 1964, was adamant that ICBMs would render the bomber obsolete. As in the case of its contemporaries, the MiG-23 and Su-17 projects, the advantages of variable-sweep wing (or "swing wing") seemed attractive, allowing a combination of short take-off performance, efficient cruising, and good high-speed, low-level flight. The result was a new swing-wing aircraft named Samolyot 145 ( Aeroplane 145 ), derived from

3198-638: The Soviet regime, evolving into the Red Air Fleet in 1918, which later became part of the Soviet Air Forces (VVS). During the interwar period, the Soviet Union made significant advancements in aviation technology and pilot training. By World War II , the Soviet Air Forces had grown substantially and played a crucial role in key battles, such as the Battle of Stalingrad and the Defence of Moscow , helping to turn

3280-558: The Swedish island of Gotland without violating its airspace, followed by Swedish and other fighter aircraft. In 2014, Russian aerospace expert Piotr Butowski estimated there were seven squadrons of Tu-22Ms in service, each with approximately 10 aircraft, stationed at three airbases; 40 at Belaya airbase in southeastern Siberia , 28 at Shaykovka airbase southwest of Moscow, and 10 at Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan southeast of Moscow which serves as

3362-610: The Tu-22 bomber, Tu-22Ms were not exported to Middle East countries. During 1999, India reportedly signed a lease-to-buy contract for four Tu-22M aircraft for maritime reconnaissance and strike purposes, which were to enter IAF service in 2001. At the time, the aircraft were to be delivered with Kh-22 cruise missiles. As of 2023 there is no evidence of operation or acquisition by the Indian Air Force. Data from Frawley, General characteristics Performance Armament The Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent ) long-range cruise missile

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3444-505: The Tu-22 had entered service. The Air Force and Tupolev, in order to save face regarding the Tu-22's operational deficiencies and to stave off criticisms from the ICBM lobby, agreed to pass off the design as an update of the Tu-22 in their discussions with the government. The aircraft was designated Tu-22M, given the OKB code "Aircraft 45", and an internal designation of "AM". Their effort was successful as

3526-592: The Tu-22M designation for the Backfire. Production of all Tu-22M variants totalled 497, including pre-production aircraft. An initial attempt at modernizing the Tu-22M, Adaptation-45.03M , based on modernizing the aircraft's radar, began in 1990, but was abandoned before reaching production. In 2007, work began on a new radar for the Tu-22M, the NV-45, which was first flown on a Tu-22M in 2008, with four more repaired Tu-22Ms refitted with NV-45 radars in 2014–2015. A contract for

3608-478: The Tu-22M3 in combat in Chechnya during 1995, performing strikes near Grozny . In August 2007, the Tu-22M and the Tu-95 began conducting long-range patrolling, for the first time since 1992. On 9 August 2008, a Russian Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft was shot down in South Ossetia by a Georgian air defence Buk-M1 surface-to-air-missile system during the 5–day Russo-Georgian War . One of its crew members

3690-567: The Tupolev Tu-22, with some features borrowed from the abandoned Tu-98 project. The Tu-22M was based on the Tu-22's weapon system and used its Kh-22 missile. The Tu-22M designation was used to help get approval for the bomber within the Soviet military and government system. The Tu-22M designation was used by the Soviet Union during the SALT II arms control negotiations, creating the impression that it

3772-468: The US doesn't have these systems getting new missiles from European allies is a "big ask" from Kyiv . Russian airplanes increased their operations due to the September 2022 Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast counteroffensive . This was due to several factors including changing front lines, former safe territory is now held by the enemy. Or because they were under pressure to provide closer ground support. On 8 October 2022

3854-460: The VVS suffered losses of between four and seven aircraft due to Georgian anti-aircraft fire. The 2008 Russian military reforms were promptly announced following the war, which according to Western experts were intended to address many inadequacies discovered as a result. The reforms commenced in early 2009, in which air armies were succeeded by commands, and most air regiments became air bases. Aviation Week & Space Technology confirmed that

3936-486: The aircraft also flew missions aimed at relieving the besieged city of Kandahar . The aircraft had its last Afghan operation in January 1989 at Salang pass. The Tu-22M suffered from widespread maintenance problems due to poor manufacturing quality during its service with the Soviet forces. The engines and airframes in particular had short service lives. The Air Force at one point sought to prosecute Tupolev for allegedly rushing

4018-464: The aircraft bombed enemy forts, bases and material supplies. In October 1988, the aircraft was again deployed against the Mujahideen. Sixteen Tu-22M3s were used to provide cover to Soviet forces that were pulling out of the country. The Tu-22Ms were tasked with destroying paths of access to Soviet forces, attacking enemy forces at night to prevent regrouping, and to attack incoming supplies from Iran and Pakistan. Working alongside 30 newly arrived MiG-27s ,

4100-424: The aircraft's delivery, the air and ground crew at the air base had received their type ratings; this was helped by their earlier training at Tupolev, the Gromov Flight Research Institute and the Kazan plant. In June that year, the aircraft were demonstrated to Soviet government officials, destroying tanks and armoured personnel carriers . The Tu-22M was first unveiled in 1980 during the aircraft's participation in

4182-476: The area of Deir ez-Zor to prevent capture of the city by jihadists and again in late 2017 to support a government offensive . 22–31 January 2016, Tu-22M3s reportedly conducted 42 sorties performing airstrikes in the vicinity of Deir ez-Zor . On the morning of 12 July 2016, six Tu-22M3 bombers carried out a concentrated attack around Palmyra , Al-Sukhnah and Arak . On 14 July, six Tu-22M3 bombers operating from airfields in Russia delivered another massive strike on

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4264-401: The bureau planned to add a variable-sweep wing and uprated engines into the updated design. The design was tested at TsAGI 's wind tunnels at Zhukovsky . During this time Sukhoi developed the T-4 , a four-engine titanium aircraft with canards. A response to the XB-70 , it was to have a cruise speed of 3,200 km/h (2,000 mph), requiring a major research effort in order to develop

4346-642: The chief of the VVS Sergey Surovikin became the commander of all Russian forces invading Ukraine. On 10 October 2022 the VVS re-commenced the bombardment of cities like Kyiv and especially energy infrastructure like electricity grid facilities. The large-scale coordinated attacks also hit Kharkiv , Kryvyi Rih , Lviv , Dnipro , Ternopil , Kremenchuk , Khmelnytskyi , and Zhytomyr . The oblasts of Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zhytormyr, Kirovohrad were attacked on this day. When, by 17 October, these energy infrastructure attacks continued unabated

4428-408: The commander of the VVS as part of the new Russian Aerospace Forces is titled Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Commander of the VVS. Lieutenant General Andrey Yudin became the first holder of the position until he was succeeded by Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov in August 2019. In 2009 the structure of the VVS was completely changed to a command-air base structure from

4510-473: The damage to two Tu-22M3 aircraft. We are talking about aircraft No. 33 and No. 31. No. 33 has holes in the upper part of the fuselage, and aircraft No. 31 also has some body damage." On 15 August 2024, a Russian Tu-22M3 crashed and burned in the Irkutsk Oblast . The Tupolev company has sought export customers for the Tu-22M since 1992, with possible customers including Iran, India and the People's Republic of China, but no sales have apparently been made. Unlike

4592-444: The destroyed Mi-8s as well as the damaged one were Russia's newest Mi-8MTPR-1 Electronic Warfare variants. Up to 29 crew were killed, assuming the aircraft were fully manned, but the VVS has not released casualties. Wagner lost at least five vehicles during hostilities, but it is unclear how many can be attributed to VVS actions. Reports indicated that the Russian Armed Forces were failing to stop Wagner's momentum toward Moscow when

4674-485: The downing with a S-200 missile, the same type of missile Ukraine claimed to have shot down a Beriev A-50 in February 2024. If confirmed, it would be Ukraine's first downing of a Tu-22M in the air. Ukraine "likely destroyed" one Tu-22M at an airbase in Novgorod Oblast in August 2023, using drones. HUR drones struck the Olenya air base in Murmansk Oblast , some 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, damaging two Tu-22M3s. A Ukrainian spokesman said, "We can confirm

4756-438: The extensive use of MANPADS as well as NATO reportedly sharing early warning information with Ukrainian forces. According to the Ukrainian MoD, as of 16 March 2022, the VVS has also suffered at least 77 aircraft losses, however only 12 were verified by independent sources at the time. In the first six months of the campaign, Russia's air war was largely a failure. An American intelligence analyst said that less than 40% of

4838-467: The flight hours of the United States Air Force . The 2007 edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Military Balance listed pilots of tactical aviation flying 20–25 hours a year, 61st Air Army pilots (former Military Transport Aviation), 60 hours a year, and Army Aviation under VVS control 55 hours a year. In 2007 the VVS resumed the Soviet-era practice of deploying its strategic bomber aircraft on long-range patrols. This ended

4920-438: The forces of central subordination are as of approximately August 2008. Warfare.ru maintains what appears to be a reasonably up-to-date listing, and Combat Aircraft magazine in June 2010 listed their organization's estimate of the new order of battle. This listing appears to be as of June 2009 : Russian Air Force flights often use a callsign beginning with RFF: For example RFF1234. Helicopter regiments providing support to

5002-450: The government approved the design on 28 November 1967, and decreed the development of the aircraft's main weapon, the Kh-22 missile. The T-4 itself made its first flight in 1972, but was later cancelled. US intelligence had been aware of the existence of the aircraft since 1969, and the first satellite photograph of the bomber was taken in 1970. The existence of the aircraft was a shock to US intelligence as Nikita Khrushchev , who had been

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5084-497: The inadequate designs of the Tu-22M and the Tu-160 into service. This was compounded by the government bureaucracy, which hampered the provision of spare parts to allow the servicing of the Tu-22M. With some aircraft grounded for up to six months, the mission-capable rate of the aircraft in August 1991 was around 30–40%. At the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union , 370 remained in Commonwealth of Independent States service. Production ended in 1993. The Russian Federation used

5166-428: The last bastion for Ukrainian troops in the besieged city of Mariupol . On 11 May 2022, a video emerged on social media showing a Russian Aerospace Forces Tu-22M3 bomber launching two Kh-22 missiles at targets somewhere in Ukraine. On 5 December 2022, a Russian Aerospace Forces Tu-22M3 bomber, identified as RF-34110 , was shown damaged as a result of a long-range drone attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against

5248-399: The merging of the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces . After the dissolution of the Soviet Union , the reborn Russian armed forces began to be created on 7 May 1992 following Boris Yeltsin 's creation of the Ministry of Defence . However, the Russian Federation's air force can trace its lineage and traditions back to the Imperial Russian Air Service (1912–1917) and

5330-417: The newly detected IS facilities in the areas east of Palmyra, as well as in Al-Sukhnah, Arak, and the T-3 oil pumping station in the province of Homs . New raids were conducted on 21 July, 8 August, 11 August, and 14 August 2016. On 16 August 2016, the bombers began to fly missions in Syria using Iran's Hamedan Airbase . In November 2017, six Tu-22M3s resumed airstrikes in the area of Deir ez-Zor to support

5412-516: The newly independent states. General Pyotr Deynekin , the former deputy commander-in-chief of the Soviet Air Forces, became the first commander of the new organization on 24 August 1991. Russia received the majority of the most modern fighters and 65% of the manpower. The major commands of the former Soviet VVS—the Long-Range Aviation , Military Transport Aviation , and Frontal Aviation were renamed, with few changes, Russian VVS commands. However, many regiments, aircraft, and personnel were claimed by

5494-418: The previous structure of air army-air division or corps- air regiment . The VVS was divided into four operational commands, the Aerospace Defense Operational Strategic Command (seemingly primarily made up of the former Special Purpose Command ), the Military Transport Aviation Command, and the Long-Range Aviation Command. This listing is a composite; the available new information covers frontline forces, and

5576-429: The reorganization would be completed by December 2009 and would see a 40 percent reduction in aircrew numbers. In February 2009, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that 200 of the 291 MiG-29s currently in service across all Russian air arms were unsafe and would have to be permanently grounded. This action would remove from service about a third of Russia's total fighter force, some 650 aircraft. On 5 June 2009,

5658-438: The republics they were based in, forming the core of the new republics' air forces. Some aircraft in Belarus and Ukraine (such as Tupolev Tu-160s ) were returned to Russia, sometimes in return for debt reductions, as well as the 79th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division at Chagan in Kazakhstan . In 1993 and 1994 Deynekin announced that a Frontal Aviation Command (Moscow, under General-lieutenant of Aviation Nikolay Antoshkin) and

5740-404: The requisite technologies. Tupolev, whose expertise was with bombers, offered the Soviet Air Force ( Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily , VVS) a massively updated version of the Tu-22. Compared to the T-4, it was an evolutionary design, and thus its appeal lay in its simplicity and low cost. The Soviet government was skeptical about the need to approve the development of a replacement aircraft so soon after

5822-436: The same year for large RF Navy and Air Force drills. On 15 April 2022, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry stated Russia had used Tu-22M3 bombers for the first time since the start of its invasion of Ukraine , to strike targets in Mariupol . It had earlier been reported that FAB-3000M-46 dumb bombs had been reactivated in Russia for use with Tu-22M3 bombers to strike targets at the Azovstal iron and steel works plant that became

5904-516: The state-funded private military company Wagner Group rebelled against the Russian government citing increased tensions with Ministry of Defence leaders. With the majority of Russian ground forces already committed in the invasion of Ukraine , the VVS was a primary component of the Russian military response to the rebellion. During the conflict, the VVS lost one Il-22M Airborne Command Post and five helicopters (three Mi-8 , one Mi-35M , and one KA-52 ) as well as one damaged Mi-8 . Two of

5986-737: The tide against Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front . Soviet pilots flew legendary aircraft like the Yakovlev Yak-3 and Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik , which were crucial in gaining air superiority. After the war, the Soviet Air Force focused on modernising its fleet, developing jet fighters like the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 , which became famous during the Korean War . Throughout the Cold War ,

6068-471: The training unit for the bomber. With the removal of the aircraft's in-flight refueling capability due to the START I treaty, the Tu-22M's internal fuel capacity limits its operational range ( combat radius unrefueled: 4,000–5,000 km (DIA), 3,360–3,960 km (CIA) estimate) from its home bases to only around Russia's immediate sphere of influence. Since late January 2017, six Tu-22M3s resumed airstrikes in

6150-542: The western media labeled the delivery system "kamikaze drones", and Ukrainian president Zelensky called this "terrorizing the civilian population". By 23 October (not yet two weeks) 40% of Ukrainians were without electricity and/or water. Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian infrastructure again intensified with the deployment of the UMPK (unified gliding and correction module) bomb kits since early 2023, which allowed to Russian Air Force convert dummy Soviet-era aerial bombs into

6232-495: Was a modification of the Tu-22. Some suggested that the designation was deliberately deceptive, and intended to hide the Tu-22M's performance. Other sources suggest the "deception" was internal to make it easier to get budgets approved. According to some sources, the Backfire-B/C production variants were believed to be designated Tu-26 by Russia, although this is disputed by many others. The US State and Defense Departments have used

6314-612: Was captured (Major Vyacheslav Malkov), two others were killed and the crew commander, Lt. Col. Aleksandr Koventsov, was missing in action . On 29 March 2013, two Tu-22M3 bombers flying in international airspace made a simulated attack on Sweden. The Swedish air defense failed to respond. Two Tu-22Ms flew supersonic over the Baltic Sea on 24 March 2015. Two Tu-22Ms approached Öland in international airspace on 21 May 2015. The Swedish Air Force sent two Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters to mark their presence. On 4 July 2015, two Tu-22Ms approached

6396-543: Was destroyed, and two were disabled, in an operation of a Ukrainian intelligence unit led by Oleh Babiy in August 2023. During the 29 December 2023 Russian strikes on Ukraine and other attacks, some 300 Kh-22 missiles have been launched at Ukraine by Russian forces, all by Tu-22M bombers. None have been shot down by Ukrainian forces, although it is suggested that Russia has been targeting areas where there are no MIM-104 Patriot or SAMP/T missile batteries. On 19 April 2024,

6478-619: Was first used in combat in Afghanistan . It was deployed December 1987 to January 1988, during which the aircraft flew strike missions in support of the Soviet Army 's attempt to relieve the Mujahideens ' Siege of Khost . Two squadrons of aircraft from the 185th GvBAP based at Poltava were deployed to Maryy-2 air base in Turkmenistan . Capable of dropping large tonnages of conventional ordnance,

6560-483: Was planned to be enhanced by adding the new Kh-32 missile, a heavily modified version of the current Kh-22, the subsonic Kh-SD, the hypersonic Kh-MT, or the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles. In 2018, deliveries of the Tu-22M3M were expected to begin in 2021. On 11 May 2020, it was reported by TASS , citing anonymous sources in the military-industrial complex, that a test launch of a new hypersonic missile, not belonging to

6642-478: Was subsequently managed by the Chief of the Department of Army Aviation. In 2010, it was announced that the 2003 decision to transfer Ground Force Aviation to the Air Force was reversed, with the transfer back to the Ground Forces to occur sometime in 2015 or 2016. During the 2000s, the Air Force continued to suffer from a lack of resources for pilot training. In the 1990s Russian pilots achieved approximately 10% of

6724-399: Was tested on the Tu-22M but apparently not used in service. Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Russian Air Force The Russian Air Force (Russian: Военно-воздушные силы России , romanized : Voenno-vozdushnye sily Rossii , VVS ) is a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces , the latter being formed on 1 August 2015 with

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