Russian Air Force 3.3

3.3. Infrastructure

The Russian air surveillance and command system changed dramatically after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Russia lost the opportunity to maintain forward positioned, ground-based air surveillance network. At the moment the system is being modernized to increase the automation level. However, with current resources, it can be assumed that Russia will try to maintain the system operational and to gradually adjust it to the new situation.

Russia has negotiated with several newly independent former Soviet states concerning establishment of a joint air defense system. The earlier Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Defense Force has acted as the chairman of the air defense coordination committee established by the Commonwealth of Independent States. In principle, the CIS states have agreed upon establishment of a common system (24).

In addition to Russia, the countries represented in the coordination committee include Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. Azerbaijan and Moldova have stayed out of the joint undertaking (24).

On February 22, 1999, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze announced that his country will not extend its membership in the CIS Collective Security Treaty. This announcement followed similar decision by Uzbekistan. (115) Upd 11 March 2000

The CIC of the earlier Russian Air Defense Force estimated that it takes at least five years before a common system can be developed. He pointed out that only those parts of the CIS situated on the European side of the area have credible defenses. Especially the situation on the southern border of the CIS and in Caucasus area worried the commander (24).

The CIS defense ministers had a meeting at 21st December 1999 and only six participants were still left; Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The air defense of the southern border of the CIS was estimated very weak consisting of Tajikistan 536th Air Defense Rocket Regiment with two outdated S-125M complexes and four S-75 complexes. (143) 11 March 2000

When the Soviet Union collapsed, about 50 percent of its airbase network remained on the Russian territory. The current airbase groupings date back to the Soviet era and are not in keeping with the current regional distribution, reform program or military doctrine of Russia. About 70 percent of air force aircraft are deployed on the European side of Russia; 15 percent in northwestern area, 25 percent in western area and 30 percent in southwestern area. Of the remaining 30 percent stationed east of the Urals 20 percent are located in the Far East, whereas only 10 percent of the aircraft are in the direction of China. The deployment plan calls for aircraft reinforcements in North Caucasus, Trans-Caucasia and the directions of Turkey and Iran (19).

Two thirds of the aircraft on the European side are stationed in airbases that are only 200-300 kilometers from the Western border of Russia. Bombers and transports, on the other hand, have been placed to only a few airbases, which means that their ramp areas are often packed. According to air force estimate, about a half of Frontal Aviation fighters can be placed in reinforced hangars (19).

The Air Force has launched an airbase project, which aims at guaranteeing supply and maintenance services in all airbases in a certain area to all aircraft types operating in that particular area and also to expected reinforcements. The bases to be so equipped will be picked from among the airbases situated at the distance of at least 300 km from the Russian border. The bases will be dimensioned to supply and service five to six permanently deployed fighter squadrons and to replenish working airfields assigned to them (19).

The Russian Air Force has 149 airfields which have runways over 1800 meters long. All of these bases are reported to be built in a time period between 1950ies and 1970ies. 63 airfields need urgent repairs and reconstruction, and 54 % of the base buildings and structures also need maintenance. According to specialists, virtually no money has been allocated for the maintenance of airfields in the last four years. The maintenance and reconstuction of air bases requires at least 400 million rubles every year, and the total cost for the basing system is reported to be 3.5 billion rubles. (113) Upd 14 Feb '99.

The reductions of the organization have had their effect on the base structure. For instance the largest strategic air base in the Caucasus was closed in 1998. All airworthy Tu-95 Bears at Mozdok, North Osetia, were flown to Engels and the Mozdok air base was closed. One reason for the closure of Mozdok has been said to be its location only 50 km (31 miles) from Chechen border and the guerilla threat. (82)

The collapse of the Soviet Union changed also the structure of the flight technical system dramatically. The total of about 40 percent of air force's depot standard maintenance and repair capacity ended up outside Russia. All inspection and maintenance of attack missiles had been concentrated to Estonia. Over a half of regular Su-24 maintenance was done in Lithuania. Depot standard maintenance of Su-25 attack aircraft was made only in Lithuania and Georgia and the maintenance of Tu-95 bombers was concentrated to Ukraine. Russia lost 44 of the best-equipped maintenance depots to Eastern Europe and 94 to former Soviet States. (19) It will take quite a long time before Russia can build up comparable maintenance skills and structures within its own territory while the reductions hit the organization. For example the Perm Military School which trained specialists for combat aircraft maintenance is expected to be disbanded by the year 2000. (87)

The unification of the two air organizations also affected the maintenance infrastructure. The facilities for aircraft repair on the division, army and front line level were practically closed. These were specialized type depots, but now the plants repair three or four types of aircraft causing deterioration in the quality of work. The present infrastructure repairs only 9% of airplanes and 5% of engines per year. (145) 11 March 2000

During the reorganization process in 1998 more than 20 airfields and 300 training camps were vacated. (90) Upd 14 Jan '99

Some rather peculiar basing problems have come up. A general, the chief of the rear services of the army, was arrested after he had sold a heating machine for preparing the runways of airfields in winter time. The lack of that equipment almost created an emergency situation; the runways of the Lodeynoe Pole airfield were not prepared in time and a flight of fighters returning from a mission was forced to land on an alternate airfield near Vybog. (93) Upd 17 Jan '99

The number of testing sites was reduced during the reorganization of 1998. Most aircraft and equipment are tested in Vladimirovka. Ashuluk is under the Air Force control, but it also is used by other branches especially as the training facility for anti-aircraft missile and radiotechnical troops. In addition to that the Air Force has combat deployment centers in Lipetsk (frontal aviation), Savasleika (anti-aircraft defence fighter aviation), Ryazan (long-range aviation), and Ivanovo (military transport aviation). (103) Upd 10 Feb '99

On February 12, 1999, a test shot of the new Triumf anti aircraft missile system was accomplished on the common Kapustin Jar, Astrakhan, testing site. The Triumf or S-400 system which is modified from the S-300PMU by Almaz uses 9M96 missile with a range of 120 km. (116) Upd 27 March '99

Russia has the CIS Joint AAD System working with Belarus, Kazakhstan, and now also with Armenia. The airspace information is collected to the Air Force Central Command Post located near town of Balashikha in the Moscow region. Russia also has deployed a S-300V anti-aircraft missile unit and a flight of five MiG-29 fighters in Armenia. The flight is based on the Yerebuni airport in Yerevan. (105, 106) Upd 10 Feb '99

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Russian Air Force, Chapter 3

3.3. Infrastructure