Moscow Air Defence District


The Order of Lenin Moscow Air Defence District was a formation of the Soviet Air Defence Forces and the Russian Air Defence Forces, which existed from 1954 to 1998, to fulfill the tasks of anti-aircraft defence of administrative and economic facilities. The district administration was in Moscow.
The Moscow Air Defence District has a long history, dating back to the Second World War. During the war the defence of Moscow was carried out, in part, by the 1st Air Defence Corps and the 6th Fighter Aviation Corps PVO. As part of these formations at the beginning of massive Nazi air raids had more than 600 fighters; more than 1,000 guns of small and medium calibers; 350 machine guns; 124 fixed anti-aircraft barrage balloons; 612 stations; and 600 anti-aircraft searchlights. The presence of such large forces, skillful management organisation foiled enemy attempts to inflict massive air strikes. Only 2.6% of the total number of Axis aircraft flew in the outskirts of Moscow as a result of their efforts. Air defence forces defending Moscow destroyed 738 enemy aircraft. In addition, assaults by the 6th Fighter Aviation Corps inflicted heavy blows, destroyed 567 enemy aircraft on the ground. Overall, the Air Defence Forces destroyed 1,305 aircraft, and in combat with the enemy armies of Nazi Germany and its allies, alongside the Air Force, destroyed 450 tanks and 5,000 military vehicles.
The Moscow district air defence had been provided during the Second World War by initially the Moscow PVO Corps Region. The Corps Region Headquarters, then formed the Moscow Front PVO from 6 April 1942 – 10 July 1943. In turn, the Moscow Front PVO was redesignated as Headquarters, Special Moscow PVO Army.
Until 1950, MiG-15 interceptor regiments were concentrated in the Moscow District to protect the capital against U.S. bomber attack. After 1950 significant elements, the 64th Fighter Aviation Corps, were redeployed to fight in the Korean War.
In 1948 the North-Western Air Defence District was redesignated the Moscow Air Defence Region, which became the Moscow Air Defence District in 1950.
In 1956, the Tagansky Protected Command Point operated as an emergency command post headquarters of the Moscow Air Defence District communication center.
For its great contribution to strengthening the defence power of the Soviet state and its armed defence, success in combat and political training and in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Army and the Navy by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 22, 1968, the Moscow Air Defence District was awarded the "Order of Lenin". The Order was handed over to the Moscow Air Force and Air Defence District for continuity.
The district's commander, Marshal of Aviation Anatoly Konstantinov, was replaced shortly before the Mathias Rust affair in 1988 for insufficient support of Mikhail Gorbachev's perestroika policy.

History of Moscow's air defence

Organising for the air defence of Moscow began on April 25, 1918, when the Military Director of the Moscow District issued Order No. 01 of 25.04.1918, establishing the Moscow Air Defence Directorate.
The units, formations and associations that carried out air defence of Moscow, depending on the prevailing situation and the tasks to be solved, had different organizational forms:

1st Air Defence Army of Special Designation

In August 1950, the Soviet Government decided to create an additional air defence zone around Moscow. The S-25 Berkut stationary anti-aircraft missile system was chosen as the main armament. According to the plan, it was supposed to disperse 56 anti-aircraft rocket regiments armed with S-25 air defence systems in two echelons around Moscow, which were supposed to ensure the defeat of air targets at a depth of 100 kilometers and a reach of about 25 kilometers in height.
The first test of the S-25 took place in July 1951. In 1953, a prototype of the V-200 missile guidance station was tested. At the same time, work began on the arrangement and construction of missile positions and military camps for future air defence formations.
The formation was created as part of the Moscow Air Defence District on October 24, 1952, with the army headquarters in the city of Balashikha Moscow Oblast.
From the end of 1952 and during 1953, units of the 1st Air Defence Army were created. In early December 1953, the creation of the 1st Special Purpose Air Defence Army was completed. As part of the army, 4 "air defence corps" were formed.
In March 1954, the S-25 complexes were delivered to the formation with subsequent adjustment of the equipment, fine-tuning of the components and assemblies of the complexes.
In August 1954, the formation became part of the troops of the Moscow Air Defence District. With the completion of acceptance work for all anti-aircraft missile systems that came at the beginning of 1955, the S-25 system was put into service.
For the full functioning of the units and formations of the 1st Air Defence Army, two rings of concrete roads were built around Moscow with a total length of 2000 kilometers, with a distance of about 50 and 100 kilometers from the center of Moscow. Anti-aircraft missile regiments were dispersed along the outer and inner rings. 34 regiments were dispersed on the outer ring, 22 regiments on the inner ring.
The Moscow District of the Air Force and Air Defence was formed in 1998 on the basis of formations and units of the Moscow Air Defence District District and 16th Red Banner Air Army.
In connection with the ongoing reform of the Russian Armed Forces, the Moscow Region of the Air Force and Air Defence on September 1, 2002 was reorganized into the Special Purpose Command.
The establishment of a new Operational-Strategic Command for Air and Space Defence was reported in 2008-2009. The command was to be established by the end of 2010 and located at Balashikha near Moscow, where the previous 1st Air Defence Corps was located.

Commanders

The following officers commanded the Moscow Air Defence Region or the district during its existence.

The composition of the district

The composition of the district included:
In 1955 the district included the 52nd Fighter Aviation Army, the 151st Guards Fighter Aviation Division PVO, the 182nd independent Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron
90th independent Transport Aviation Squadron, the 1st Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division, and six other anti-aircraft artillery divisions, and nine other anti-aircraft artillery regiments.

District forces 1988

In 1988 the Order of Lenin Moscow Air Defence District had four air defence corps and a division, which included 11 fighter aviation regiments, one transport helicopter regiment, 28 anti-aircraft rocket regiments, and four radar brigades and regiments. The corps were the 2nd, at Balashikha
  • District Command and Staff - Moscow, RSFSR
  • 118th District Communications Nod - Moscow
  • 436th Separate Transport Aviation Regiment - Stupino, Moscow Oblast, RSFSR - An-12, An-26, An-24, Mi-8
  • 1082nd Separate Automobile Battalion of the Moscow District of Air Defence, awarded the Order of Lenin 1st Red Banner Air Defence Army of Specific Purpose - Balashikha, Moscow Oblast, RSFSR
  • * 1082nd Command Post  - Balashikha
  • * 9th Communications Nod  - Balashikha
  • * 2366th Separate Cable Communications Battalion - Mytishchi, Moscow Oblast, RSFSR
  • * 1081st Separate Automobile Battalion
  • * 1092nd Separate Automobile Battalion
  • * 669th Separate Equipment Service and Overhaul Battalion - Istra, Moscow Oblast, RSFSR
  • * - 26 S-300 missile air defence regiments between the four divisions -
  • * 52nd Radio-Technical Brigade - Mytishchi
  • ** 4 separate radio-technical battalions :
  • *** 2317th, 2318th, 2319th and 2320th
  • * 86th Air Defence Division of Specific Purpose - Vidnoye
  • ** 499th Separate Signals Battalion - Vidnoye
  • ** 6 missile air defence regiments :
  • *** 635th, 628th, 705th, 16th, 614th and 549th
  • ** 9th Radio-Technical Regiment - Kashira
  • ** 1486th Missile Technical Base - Tolbino
  • ** 225th Technical Base - Belye Stolby
  • * 87th Air Defence Division of Specific Purpose - Balashikha
  • ** 501st Separate Signals Battalion - Balashikha
  • ** 6 missile air defence regiments:
  • *** 674th, 799th, 654th, 756th, 629th and 606th
  • ** 14th Radio-Technical Regiment - Kosteryovo
  • ** 1488th Missile Technical Base - Makarovo
  • ** 194th Technical Base - Fryazevo
  • * 88th Air Defence Division of Specific Purpose - Dolgoprudny
  • ** 187th Separate Signals Battalion - Dolgoprudny
  • ** 7 missile air defence regiments:
  • *** 789th, 17th, 658th, 722nd, 748th, 584th and 566th
  • ** 21st Radio-Technical Regiment - Savyolovo
  • ** 1491st Missile Technical Base - Trudovaya
  • * 89th Air Defence Division of Specific Purpose - Odintsovo
  • ** 250th Separate Signals Battalion - Odintsovo
  • ** 7 missile air defence regiments:
  • *** 791st, 662nd, 650th, 6th, 709th, 612th and 625th
  • ** 25th Radio-Technical Regiment - Goretovo
  • ** 1494th Missile Technical Base - Istra
  • ** 190th Technical Base - Golitsyno2nd Air Defence Corps - Rzhev, Tver Oblast, RSFSR
  • * Corps Command and Staff
  • * Corps Command Post
  • * Corps Automatised Command and Control Systems Center
  • * 4 fighter aviation regiments
  • ** 28th Guards Leningradskiy, awarded the Order of Kutuzov Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Krichev, Mogilyov Oblast, Belarus SSR - MiG-25P/U
  • ** 790th Awarded the Order of Kutuzov Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Khotilovo, Tver Oblast, RSFSR - MiG-25P/U
  • ** 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Andreapol, Tver Oblast, RSFSR - MiG-23P/UB
  • ** 401st Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Smolensk, Smolensk Oblast, RSFSR - MiG-23P/UB
  • * 6 missile air defence regiments:
  • ** 242nd Guards, 47th, 195th, 210th Red Star, 713th and 1281th
  • * 3rd Radio-Technical Brigade - Rzhev, Tver Oblast, RSFSR3rd Air Defence Corps - Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast, RSFSR
  • * Corps Command and Staff
  • * Corps Command Post
  • * Corps Automatised Command and Control Systems Center
  • * 124th Communications Nod - Yaroslavl
  • * 114th Separate Radio-Relay Battalion
  • * 380th Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion
  • * 2 fighter aviation regiments
  • ** 415th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Tunoshna, Yaroslavl Oblast, RSFSR - MiG-23P
  • ** 611th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Dorokhovo, Tver Oblast, RSFSR - Su-15
  • * 79th Guards Missile Air Defence Brigade - Pitino village, Vologda Oblast, RSFSR
  • * 7 missile air defence regiments:
  • ** 48th, 164th, 380th, 474th, 485th, 488th and 1257th
  • * 6th Red Banner Radio-Technical Brigade - Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast, RSFSR
  • * 66th Radio-Technical Regiment - Vologda, Vologda Oblast, RSFSR 7th Air Defence Corps - - Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, RSFSR
  • * Corps Command and Staff
  • * Corps Command Post
  • * Corps Automatised Command and Control Systems Center
  • * 208th Communications Nod - Bryansk
  • * 2 fighter aviation regiments
  • ** 191st Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Yefremov - MiG-23P/UB
  • ** 472nd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Kursk (Vostochny), Kursk Oblast, RSFSR - MiG-23P/UB
  • * 8 missile air defence regiments:
  • ** 80th Guards, 493rd Guards Venskiy, awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Kutuzov and the Order of Alexander Nevsky, 108th Tulskiy, 260th Red Banner, 326th, 559th, 791st and 1284th
  • * 41st Radio-Technical Brigade - Oryol16th Air Defence Corps - - Gorky, Gorky Oblast, RSFSR
  • * Corps Command and Staff
  • * Corps Command Post
  • * Corps Automatised Command and Control Systems Center
  • * 101st Communications Nod - Gorky
  • * 904th Separate Radio-Relay Signals Battalion - Gorky
  • * 412th Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion - Gorky
  • * 2 fighter aviation regiments
  • ** 153rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Morshansk, Tambov Oblast, RSFSR - Su-15
  • ** 786th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Air Defence Forces - Pravdinsk, Gorky Oblast, RSFSR - MiG-31
  • * 72nd Missile Air Defence Brigade - [Gorodets, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast|Gorodets, Nizhny Novgorod|Gorky Oblast], RSFSR
  • * 4 missile air defence regiments:
  • ** 371st Guards Bobruysko-Berlinskiy, awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of Kutuzov and the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, 291st, 356th and 387th
  • * 9th Radio-Technical Brigade - Gorky
  • * 65th Radio-Technical Regiment - Morshansk

District forces 1998

  • 1st Special Purpose Air Defense Army ;
  • 3rd Air Defence Corps
  • 7th Air Defence Corps ;
  • *Headquarters, Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, 1960 – 2001
  • *207th Communications Center
  • *153rd Fighter Aviation Regiment PVO
  • *472nd Fighter Aviation Regiment PVO
  • *108th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
  • *260th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
  • *563rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment
  • *9th Radio-Technical Brigade
  • *41st Radio-Technical Brigade
  • 16th Air Defence Corps ;
  • 5th Air Defence Division
  • 118th Air Defence Command Center
  • 436th Independent Transport Aviation Regiment ;
  • 103rd separate regiment of radio technical intelligence and interference ;
  • 2367th separate battalion of radio relay communication ;
  • 52nd Separate Engineering Airfield Battalion ;
  • 1470th Separate Engineering Battalion ;
  • 193rd separate transport battalion.
7th Air Defence Division was disbanded in 2001.

District fighting strength for 2002

  • 16th Air Army :
  • * 105th Mixed Aviation Division :
  • ** 455th Bomber Aviation Regiment ;
  • ** 899th Guards Attack Aviation Orsha twice Red Banner, Suvorov Order of the F.E. Dzerzhinsky Regiment Buturlinovka ;
  • * 226th Independent Composite Aviation Regiment ;
  • * 5th Independent long-range reconnaissance aviation detachment ;
  • * 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Leningrad Red Banner Order of the Kutuzov Regiment ;
  • * 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Leningrad Order of the Kutuzov Regiment ;
  • * 237th Guards Prozkurovsky Red Banner, the Order of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Aviation Technology Show Center named after Marshal I. Kozhedub Kubinka ;
  • * 45th Independent Helicopter Regiment ;
  • * 440th Independent Helicopter Regiment ;
  • * 469th Air Commandant's Office ;
  • * 490th Independent Helicopter Regiment ;
  • * 865th Reserve Base for Belicopters ;
  • 1st Air Defence Corps ;
  • * 8th Aviation Red Banner Special Operations Division ;
  • * 9th Air Defense Division ;
  • * 210th Order of the Red Star Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment ;
  • * 584th Guards Air Defense Rocket Regiment);
  • * 606th Guards Air Defense Rocket Red Banner Regiment ;
  • * The 614th Guards air defense Rocket Vienna Red Banner, the Order of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky, the special purpose regiment ;
  • * 612th Guards air defense Rocket Kiev three times Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky regiment ;
  • * The 144th Guards Air Defense Missile Regiment ;
  • * The 614th Guards air defence missile Vienna Red Banner, the Order of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky, the special purpose regiment ;
  • * 70th radio engineering brigade ;
  • * 9th Radio Engineering Regiment ;
  • 32nd Air Defense Corps :
  • * 611th Przemyslsky Red Banner Order of Suvorov Fighter Aviation Regiment ;
  • * 790th Order of Kutuzov Fighter Aviation Regiment
  • * 42nd Guards Rocket Guards Rocket Putilov-Kirov Order of Lenin regiment ;
  • * The 41st radio engineering brigade ;
  • * 3rd radio engineering brigade ;
  • * 6th Radio Engineering Red Banner Brigade ;
  • 846th center of military applied sports

Literature

  • Comprehensive history of the Air Defence Forces, with unit histories of all units in existence during the last years of the USSR.
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