11th Air Army
Encyclopedia
The 11th Air Army is a unit of the Russian Air Force
, which was located in the Russian Far East and Pacific Coast area, and its zone of responsibility covered the Far East Military District.
It was first formed during World War II
from the Air Forces of the 2nd Red Banner Army but re-created in 1998 from the Soviet Air Defence Forces' 11th Army units (except for a regiment of MiG-31 interceptor aircraft
on the Kamchatka Peninsula
, handed over by Naval Aviation
) and the 1st Army of the VVS. In 2007 the commanding officer was Lieutenant General
Valeriy Ivanov, former commander of the 1st Air Defence Corps.
, flying Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
s, though it is not certain that the current 303rd Division is the same unit that fought during that war. The 303rd Fighter Aviation Division fought during Operation Bagration, and included the Normandie-Niemen regiment for a period.
During the Soviet period, the 11th PVO Army gained headlines due to the defection of Viktor Belenko
in September 1976, and the KAL 007 shootdown in 1983. The KAL 007 shootdown occurred on 1 September 1983. After a protracted ground-controlled interception
, three Su-15 fighters from Dolinsk-Sokol
airbase and a MiG-23 from Smirnykh Air Base
managed to make visual contact with the Boeing 747 and later shot it down.
In the late 1980s the 11th Army of the Voyska PVO, as it was then, controlled two Corps (23rd in Vladivostok & 8th in Komsomolsk) and three divisions (24th in Petropavlovsk, 29th in Blagoveshchenk and 6th in Okhotsk), 10 fighter aviation regiments (IAPs), 8 SAM brigades/regiments and 9 radio-technical (radar) brigades/regiments.
In 2007 the 11th Army included two of Su-27 fighter
regiments, one of MiG-31 interceptors, two of Su-24 tactical bomber
s, two of Su-25 attack aircraft and one reconnaissance
regiment of Su-24MRs. The anti-aircraft component is much less powerful, including just three regiments of surface-to-air missile
s, located in Khabarovsk
, Komsomolsk
and Vladivostok
. The 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment, located at Dzemgi (Komsomolsk-on-Amur
), was the first Russian Air Force unit armed with the upgraded Su-27SM fighters.
The most notable unit of the 11th Army in 2007 was the 18th Vitebsk Normandie-Niemen Attack Air Regiment of Guards
, stationed at Galyonki
, which has been twice awarded the Red Banner
and the Suvorov order. In 1943, during World War II
, the regiment included the Normandie squadron of French pilots, which later became the independent regiment known as Normandie-Niemen
. On 9 May 1995 (Victory Day), to commemorate these events, the 18th ShAP received the name Normandie-Niemen. Since March 1993, the unit operates the Sukhoi Su-25
attack aircraft.
Russian Air Force
The Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...
, which was located in the Russian Far East and Pacific Coast area, and its zone of responsibility covered the Far East Military District.
It was first formed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from the Air Forces of the 2nd Red Banner Army but re-created in 1998 from the Soviet Air Defence Forces' 11th Army units (except for a regiment of MiG-31 interceptor aircraft
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
on the Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is a peninsula in the Russian Far East, with an area of . It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Okhotsk to the west...
, handed over by Naval Aviation
Russian Naval Aviation
The Russian Naval Aviation , is the air arm of the Russian Navy...
) and the 1st Army of the VVS. In 2007 the commanding officer was Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Valeriy Ivanov, former commander of the 1st Air Defence Corps.
History
The 303rd Air Division fought with the 64th Independent Fighter Aviation Corps of the Air Defence Forces during the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, flying Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in...
s, though it is not certain that the current 303rd Division is the same unit that fought during that war. The 303rd Fighter Aviation Division fought during Operation Bagration, and included the Normandie-Niemen regiment for a period.
During the Soviet period, the 11th PVO Army gained headlines due to the defection of Viktor Belenko
Viktor Belenko
Viktor Ivanovich Belenko is Soviet defector and aerospace engineer and lecturer. Belenko was sentenced to death in the Soviet Union for state treason. He was born in Nalchik, Russian SFSR in a Ukrainian family...
in September 1976, and the KAL 007 shootdown in 1983. The KAL 007 shootdown occurred on 1 September 1983. After a protracted ground-controlled interception
Ground-controlled interception
Ground-controlled interception an air defense tactic whereby one or more radar stations are linked to a command communications centre which guides interceptor aircraft to an airborne target. This tactic was pioneered during World War II by the Royal Air Force with the Luftwaffe to follow closely...
, three Su-15 fighters from Dolinsk-Sokol
Dolinsk-Sokol
Dolinsk-Sokol is a military air base in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia located 8 km south of Dolinsk. It is a small base with no hardened areas. It existed before June 1966 according to declassified KH-7 satellite images...
airbase and a MiG-23 from Smirnykh Air Base
Smirnykh (air base)
Smirnykh is an air base in Sakhalin, Russia located 2 km east of Smirnykh. It appears in June 1966 KH-7 imagery with a runway length of 2000 m. It was expanded sometime after this to 2500 m with a new extension of revetments added...
managed to make visual contact with the Boeing 747 and later shot it down.
In the late 1980s the 11th Army of the Voyska PVO, as it was then, controlled two Corps (23rd in Vladivostok & 8th in Komsomolsk) and three divisions (24th in Petropavlovsk, 29th in Blagoveshchenk and 6th in Okhotsk), 10 fighter aviation regiments (IAPs), 8 SAM brigades/regiments and 9 radio-technical (radar) brigades/regiments.
In 2007 the 11th Army included two of Su-27 fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
regiments, one of MiG-31 interceptors, two of Su-24 tactical bomber
Tactical bomber
A tactical bomber is a bomber aircraft with an intended primary role of tactical bombing—attacking tactical targets, such as enemy's troops and military equipment. This implies that either aircraft's range or ordnance is insufficient to use it effectively as a strategic bomber.All light bombers,...
s, two of Su-25 attack aircraft and one reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
regiment of Su-24MRs. The anti-aircraft component is much less powerful, including just three regiments of surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
s, located in Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk is the largest city and the administrative center of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. It is located some from the Chinese border. It is the second largest city in the Russian Far East, after Vladivostok. The city became the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia...
, Komsomolsk
Komsomolsk
Komsomolsk may refer to:Places*Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a city in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia*Komsomolsk, Russia, name of several inhabited localities in Russia*Komsomolsk, Ukraine, a city in Poltava Oblast, UkraineOther...
and Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
. The 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment, located at Dzemgi (Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Komsomolsk-on-Amur is a city in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, situated on the left bank of Amur River. It is located on the BAM railway line, northeast of Khabarovsk. Population: -Geography and climate:...
), was the first Russian Air Force unit armed with the upgraded Su-27SM fighters.
The most notable unit of the 11th Army in 2007 was the 18th Vitebsk Normandie-Niemen Attack Air Regiment of Guards
Russian Guards
Guards or Guards units were and are elite military units in Imperial Russia, Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. The tradition goes back to the retinue of a knyaz of medieval Kievan Rus' and the streltsy, the Muscovite harquebusiers formed by Ivan the Terrible by 1550...
, stationed at Galyonki
Galyonki
Galyonki is a village in Oktyabrsky District of Primorsky Krai, Russia. Population: It was founded in 1880.18th Vitebsk Normandie-Niemen Attack Air Regiment of Guards is stationed at a military airfield in the village's vicinity....
, which has been twice awarded the Red Banner
Red Banner
Red Banner was a symbol of the USSR associated with the Soviet state flag.Military units, institutions and organizations awarded with the Order of the Red Banner are referred to with the honorific title "of the Red Banner" Red Banner was a symbol of the USSR associated with the Soviet state...
and the Suvorov order. In 1943, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the regiment included the Normandie squadron of French pilots, which later became the independent regiment known as Normandie-Niemen
Normandie-Niemen
The Normandie-Niemen Regiment was a fighter squadron, later regiment of the French Air Force. It served on the Eastern Front of the European Theatre of World War II with the 1st Air Army...
. On 9 May 1995 (Victory Day), to commemorate these events, the 18th ShAP received the name Normandie-Niemen. Since March 1993, the unit operates the Sukhoi Su-25
Sukhoi Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975...
attack aircraft.
Structure in 2007
- 11th Air Army - KhabarovskKhabarovskKhabarovsk is the largest city and the administrative center of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. It is located some from the Chinese border. It is the second largest city in the Russian Far East, after Vladivostok. The city became the administrative center of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia...
- 23rd PVO Corps - HQ at Vladivostok;
- 22nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment - HQ at Centralnaya Uglovaya (Artem) - Su-27;
- 530th Interceptor Aviation Regiment - HQ at Sokolovka - MiG-25PU, MiG-31;
- 25th PVO Division - HQ at Komsomolsk-na-Amure (see http://rus.rpg7.org/index.php/topic/148-11-%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%BE/)
- 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment - HQ at Dzemgi - Su-27;
- 303rd Composite Aviation Division - HQ at UssuriyskUssuriyskUssuriysk is a city in Primorsky Krai, Russia, located in the fertile valley of the Razdolnaya River, north of Vladivostok and about from both the Chinese border and the Pacific Ocean. Population: -Medieval history:...
- 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment - HQ at KhurbaKhurbaKhurba is an air base in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia south of Komsomolsk-na-Amure. This medium-sized base has considerable tarmac space and an extended area of revetments...
- Su-24; - 302nd Bomber Aviation Regiment - HQ at Verino - Su-24;
- 18th Shturmovik (Assault) Air Regiment - HQ at GalyonkiGalyonkiGalyonki is a village in Oktyabrsky District of Primorsky Krai, Russia. Population: It was founded in 1880.18th Vitebsk Normandie-Niemen Attack Air Regiment of Guards is stationed at a military airfield in the village's vicinity....
- Su-25 - disbanded June 2009; - 187th Shturmovik Air Regiment - HQ at ChernigovkaChernigovkaChernigovka may refer to:*Chernigovka, Arkharinsky District, Amur Oblast, a village in Arkharinsky District of Amur Oblast, Russia*Chernigovka, Svobodnensky District, Amur Oblast, a village in Svobodnensky District of Amur Oblast, Russia...
- Su-25; - 799th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment - HQ at VarfolomeyevkaVarfolomeyevka (village), Primorsky KraiVarfolomeyevka is a village in Yakovlevsky District of Primorsky Krai, Russia. Population: 1,300 .The village hosts the 799th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment of the 11th Air Army of the Russian Air Force....
- Su-24MR, MiG-25RB(?);
- 277th Bomber Aviation Regiment - HQ at Khurba
- 257th Independent Composite Air Regiment - HQ at Khabarovsk-Bolshoy - An-12, An-26, Mi-8Mil Mi-8The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
; - Army Aviation component;
- Unknown Independent Helicopter Regiment - HQ at Dolinsk-SokolDolinsk-SokolDolinsk-Sokol is a military air base in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia located 8 km south of Dolinsk. It is a small base with no hardened areas. It existed before June 1966 according to declassified KH-7 satellite images...
(DolinskDolinskDolinsk is a town in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia, the administrative center of Dolinsky District. In Japanese, it is known as Ochiai . Population: 12,555 ; 15,653 .-Geography:...
) - Mi-8; - 319th Independent Helicopter Regiment for Battle Control - HQ at ChernigovkaChernigovkaChernigovka may refer to:*Chernigovka, Arkharinsky District, Amur Oblast, a village in Arkharinsky District of Amur Oblast, Russia*Chernigovka, Svobodnensky District, Amur Oblast, a village in Svobodnensky District of Amur Oblast, Russia...
- Mi-24; - 364th Independent Helicopter Regiment - HQ at Srednebelaya - Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-26;
- 825th Independent Helicopter Regiment - HQ at Garovka-2 - Mi-6, Mi-8, Mi-26;
- Unknown Independent Helicopter Regiment - HQ at Dolinsk-Sokol
- 23rd PVO Corps - HQ at Vladivostok;