61st Air Army
Encyclopedia
Military Transport Aviation ( — Komándovaniye voénno-tránsportnoy aviátsii (VTA)) was a major component of the former Soviet Air Forces, active from the Cold War period, through the dissolution of the Soviet Union, to 1998/9. From 1999-2009 it was reduced in status to the 61st Air Army
of the Supreme High Command (61 Vozdushnaya Armiya VGK). The 61st Air Army itself was
initially formed on 10 January 1949 by renaming the 3rd Air Army. In 2009 the 61st Air Army was renamed the Command of
Military Transport Aviation. Its headquarters is located in Moscow
.
The VTA traces its history to the formation of the first transport aviation unit in the Leningrad Military District
on 1 June 1931. In 1988 the VTA included six separate regiments (194th Guards Bryanskiy Red Banner Military-Transport Aviation Regiment im. N.F. Gastello at Fergana
, probably associated with the 105th Guards Vienna Airborne Division, 334, 374 OVTAP at Klokovo
, 566 VTAP, and unidenified regiments at Ulyanovsk and Kirovakan) and six divisions with a total of 18 military transport aviation regiments. Holm and Feskov et al disagree on multiple regiments' identity and stationing. The divisions were the 3rd Guards Military Transport Aviation Division (VTAD) at Vitebsk
(103rd Guards, 110, 235, 239th Regiments), the 6th Military Transport Aviation Division at Krivoy Rog (37th, 338th Regiments), the 7th Division at Melitopol
with the 25th Guards, 369th, and 708th Regiments, the 8th Division at Chkalovsky
, Shchyolkovo
, Moscow Oblast
, (70th, 353rd, and 354th OSNAZ regiments), the 12th Military Transport Aviation Division at Migalovo
, which traced its heritage to the 12th Bomber Aviation Division of the World War II period, and had three regiments, including the 8th, 81st, and a regiment at Klin
. The final division was the 18th Guards 'Taganrogskaya Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov' Military Transport Aviation Division at Shaulyai
, which traced its history to the wartime 6th Guards Bomber Aviation Division, and had three regiments (117th, 128th Guards, 196th). Regiments of the 18th VTAD, according to Holm included the 128th Guards VTAP at Panevėžys Air Base
, and the 600th VTAP at Kėdainiai
in the Lithuanian SSR
.
The main aircraft the 61st Air Army used was the Il-76 Candid (about 220) and An-22 Cock; or the medium transport An-12 Cub. The Russian Air Force began in 2002 to upgrade its Il-76MD transport aircraft, but this is a slow process, only two aircraft being modernized in 2005. According to the modernisation programme, 12 Il-76 aircraft are due to be modernised before 2010, to the Il-76MD-90 variant.
Air Army
An air army was a type of large military formation, comprising several corps or divisions, in the forces of the Soviet Union and the Japanese Empire before, during and after the Second World War...
of the Supreme High Command (61 Vozdushnaya Armiya VGK). The 61st Air Army itself was
initially formed on 10 January 1949 by renaming the 3rd Air Army. In 2009 the 61st Air Army was renamed the Command of
Military Transport Aviation. Its headquarters is located in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
The VTA traces its history to the formation of the first transport aviation unit in the Leningrad Military District
Leningrad Military District
The Leningrad Military District was a military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Moscow Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:...
on 1 June 1931. In 1988 the VTA included six separate regiments (194th Guards Bryanskiy Red Banner Military-Transport Aviation Regiment im. N.F. Gastello at Fergana
Fergana
Fergana is a city , the capital of Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southern edge of the Fergana Valley in southern Central Asia, cutting across the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan...
, probably associated with the 105th Guards Vienna Airborne Division, 334, 374 OVTAP at Klokovo
Klokovo
Klokovo is an air base in Russia located on north fringe of Tula. It has been home to 374 OVTAP flying Il-76 and An-22 large cargo planes, of 12th Mginskaya Krasnoznamennaya military-transport aircraft division.Then, a scholastic regiment of Tambov military aircraft school was situated there...
, 566 VTAP, and unidenified regiments at Ulyanovsk and Kirovakan) and six divisions with a total of 18 military transport aviation regiments. Holm and Feskov et al disagree on multiple regiments' identity and stationing. The divisions were the 3rd Guards Military Transport Aviation Division (VTAD) at Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
(103rd Guards, 110, 235, 239th Regiments), the 6th Military Transport Aviation Division at Krivoy Rog (37th, 338th Regiments), the 7th Division at Melitopol
Melitopol
Melitopol is a city in the Zaporizhia Oblast of the southeastern Ukraine. It is situated on the Molochna River that flows through the eastern edge of the city and into the Molochnyi Liman, which eventually joins the Sea of Azov....
with the 25th Guards, 369th, and 708th Regiments, the 8th Division at Chkalovsky
Chkalovsky Airport
Chkalovsky Airport , is a military airport base near Shchyolkovo, Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located 31 km northeast of Moscow.Chkalovsky provides air support for Star City, Russia, Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center, and other elements of the Soviet space program and Russian Federal Space...
, Shchyolkovo
Shchyolkovo
Shchyolkovo is a city and the administrative center of Shchyolskovsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River , northeast of Moscow. Population: 112,865 ; 109,255 ; 91,000 . The settlement dates back to the 16th century. Town status granted to it in 1925...
, Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
, (70th, 353rd, and 354th OSNAZ regiments), the 12th Military Transport Aviation Division at Migalovo
Migalovo
Migalovo is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia located 10 km west of Tver. It is a large military airlift base. It currently houses all of Russia's remaining Antonov An-22 fleet...
, which traced its heritage to the 12th Bomber Aviation Division of the World War II period, and had three regiments, including the 8th, 81st, and a regiment at Klin
Klin
Klin is a town and the administrative center of Klinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northwest of Moscow. The M10 highway connecting Moscow to St. Petersburg and the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Railway run through the town. It was home to Klin air base during the Cold War. ...
. The final division was the 18th Guards 'Taganrogskaya Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov' Military Transport Aviation Division at Shaulyai
Šiauliai International Airport
Šiauliai International Airport is located 7 km southeast of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. It covers an area of 471 hectares.- History :...
, which traced its history to the wartime 6th Guards Bomber Aviation Division, and had three regiments (117th, 128th Guards, 196th). Regiments of the 18th VTAD, according to Holm included the 128th Guards VTAP at Panevėžys Air Base
Panevežys Air Base
Panevėžys Air Base is an air base in Lithuania located 6 km east of Panevėžys. It is a transport base, with a very large ring taxiway 2 km in diameter...
, and the 600th VTAP at Kėdainiai
Kedainiai (air base)
Kedainiai , also spelled Kedaynyay, is an airport in Lithuania located 45 km north of Kaunas. It has 28 large pads. Aeronautical sources list it as "civilian", so its military use has been retired....
in the Lithuanian SSR
Lithuanian SSR
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Lithuanian SSR, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union...
.
The main aircraft the 61st Air Army used was the Il-76 Candid (about 220) and An-22 Cock; or the medium transport An-12 Cub. The Russian Air Force began in 2002 to upgrade its Il-76MD transport aircraft, but this is a slow process, only two aircraft being modernized in 2005. According to the modernisation programme, 12 Il-76 aircraft are due to be modernised before 2010, to the Il-76MD-90 variant.
Structure 2007
- 61st Air Army - MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
- 610th Centre for Combat and Flight Personnel Training - HQs at Ivanovo Severny;
- Unknown Instructor Military Transport Air Squadron - Ivanovo - operates the Il-76;
- 12th Military Transport Air Division - TverTverTver is a city and the administrative center of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population: 403,726 ; 408,903 ;...
(MigalovoMigalovoMigalovo is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia located 10 km west of Tver. It is a large military airlift base. It currently houses all of Russia's remaining Antonov An-22 fleet...
);- 196th Military Transport Air Regiment - Tver - Il-76 in service;
- 566th Military Transport Air Regiment - Seshcha, Bryansk OblastBryansk OblastBryansk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Bryansk. Population: 1,278,087 .-History:...
- Il-76, An-124; - 76th Independent Military Transport Air Squadron - Tver - An-22;
- 103rd Military Transport Air Regiment - Smolensk-North - Il-76;
- 110th Military Transport Air Regiment - KrechevitsyKrechevitsy AirportKrechevitsy is an air base located 11 km northeast of Veliky Novgorod, Russia. It contains 30 large revetments in a sprawling taxiway pattern, suitable for large transports. It was home to 110 VTAP , of the 61st Air Army, flying Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft...
- Il-76; (regiment disbanded 2009) - 117th Military Transport Air Regiment - OrenburgOrenburg (air base)Orenburg is a Military Transport Aviation base in Russia located 9 km southwest of Orenburg. It has a large tarmac and revetments for 35 large transports....
- Il-76, An-12; - 334th Military Transport Air Regiment - PskovPskovPskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
- Il-76; - 708th Military Transport Air Regiment - TaganrogTaganrogTaganrog is a seaport city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the north shore of Taganrog Bay , several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: -History of Taganrog:...
- Il-76; - 78th Independent Military Transport Air Squadron - KlinKlinKlin is a town and the administrative center of Klinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northwest of Moscow. The M10 highway connecting Moscow to St. Petersburg and the Moscow-Saint Petersburg Railway run through the town. It was home to Klin air base during the Cold War. ...
-5 - operates An-26, An-12 and Tu-134; - 224th Air Detachment of Military Transport Aviation - Tver - An-124, Il-76MD;
- 610th Centre for Combat and Flight Personnel Training - HQs at Ivanovo Severny;