Russian Naval Aviation


The Russian Naval Aviation is the air arm of the Russian Navy, a successor of Soviet Naval Aviation. The Russian Navy is divided into four fleets and one flotilla: Northern Fleet, Pacific Fleet, Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet, and Caspian Flotilla.
The air forces of the largest and most important fleets, the Northern and Pacific fleets, operate Tu-142 long-range anti-submarine warfare aircraft, Il-38 medium-range ASW aircraft, and Ka-27 shipborne ASW and search-and-rescue helicopters. Formations operating Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers were transferred to the Russian Long Range Aviation in 2011. The relatively small fleets, the Baltic and Black Sea, currently have only Su-24 tactical bombers and ASW helicopters in service. Since the early 2000s, the small Caspian Flotilla has not had its own naval aviation units, so it currently uses airplanes and helicopters from the Russian Air Force and the Black Sea Fleet Naval Aviation.
In 2011, the Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Naval Aviation and Air Defense/Commander, Naval Air and Air Defense Forces is Major General Igor Kozhin.
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History

Beginning

On 30 May 1912, the Vice-Admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy, Vice-Admiral Alexander Karl Nikolai von Lieven submitted a written report No. 127 on the plan for the creation of aviation detachments in the fleets. This document, approved with some reservations by the Naval Minister Vice Admiral Ivan Grigorovich, acquired the character of an order for the Naval Ministry. The logical continuation of the report was a letter from MGSh No. 1706/272 dated 06/02/1912 to the head of the General Staff School on the formation of the infrastructure of aviation units in 1913.
As of 1 January 1913, there was one seaplane and two wheeled airplanes in the Baltic, and five seaplanes on the Black Sea. In the spring of 1914, by the decision of the Minister of the Navy, an aviation department was introduced into the staff of the Naval General Staff, consisting of three people.

World War I

The beginning of the World War I found the Russian Naval Aviation at the stage of organizational formation. In total, by 1 August 1914, the Naval Ministry had about three dozen aircraft of various types and about 20 certified pilots. About 10 more officers underwent flight training directly in the fleets. By the beginning of the war, there were only 10 seaplanes in the Baltic, based in Libau, and 8 seaplanes in the Black Sea, in Sevastopol, and Kilen Bay. It was planned to deploy air detachments in the Pacific Ocean only by the summer of 1915, but this was not implemented due to the outbreak of the war.
File:Aviation Officer's School 42.jpg|thumb|An FBA Type C flying boat of the Russian Naval Aviation Officer School in Baku, 1917
At the beginning of March 1915, the Naval Aviation already had 77 aircraft, including 47 in the Baltic, and 30 seaplanes in the Black Sea. They were served by 78 officers and 859 lower ranks. As of 1 January 1917, the Russian Naval Aviation was an impressive force and included 264 airplanes of various types. Of these, 152 aircraft and 4 small controlled balloons were in the Black Sea Fleet, 88 aircraft in the Baltic. Another 29 aircraft were available in the Petrograd and Baku naval aviation officer schools.
From September 1916 to May 1917 alone, the Naval Department received 61 Grigorovich M-11 and M-12 seaplanes. 26 of them flew in the Black Sea, about 20 entered the Baltic. In the Black Sea and Baltic aviation units, respectively, 115 and 96 officers, 1039 and 1339 conductors, non-commissioned officers and privates served.

Civil War and interwar period

The regular Soviet naval aviation units were created in 1918. They participated in the Russian Civil War, cooperating with the ships and the army during the combats at Petrograd, on the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Volga, the Kama River, Northern Dvina and on the Lake Onega. The newborn Soviet Naval Air Force consisted of 76 obsolete hydroplanes. Scanty and technically imperfect, it was mostly used for resupplying the ships and the army.
In the second half of the 1920s, the Naval Aviation order of battle began to grow. It received new reconnaissance hydroplanes, bombers, and fighters. In the mid-1930s, the Soviets created the Naval Air Force in the Baltic Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet and the Soviet Pacific Fleet. The importance of naval aviation had grown significantly by 1938–1940, to become one of the main components of the Soviet Navy. By this time, the Soviets had created formations and units of the torpedo and bomb aviation. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, all of the fleets had a total of 1,445 aircraft.

World War II

At the end of June 1941, three air squadrons of the Civil Air Fleet were formed from civil aviation units, which were operatively subordinate to the command of the air forces of the respective fleets. Their task was to provide transport services in the interests of the fleets. In addition, from the first days of the war, some aviation units of the NKVD Border Troops were transferred to the Naval Aviation. At the same time, the first assault aviation units appeared in the Navy's Air Force: a squadron of the 57th BAP in the Baltic and the 46th OSHAE in the Black Sea Fleet.
In the Great Patriotic War, the Naval Aviation turned out to be the most effective of the forces of the fleet - the destruction of 407 enemy ships by aviation was officially confirmed, which is 66% of losses, with a total number of losses - 614 units.
In the end of World War II, a reduction in the Soviet Armed Forces began. In the Naval Aviation, after the end of hostilities, assault aviation was completely eliminated, however, three more aviation divisions were formed: the 17th SAD and the 18th SAD of the Pacific Fleet Air Force, as well as the 19th MTAD of the Navy's Main Command.

Cold War period

To attack surface ships at long ranges, the Soviet Navy was unique in deploying large numbers of bombers in a maritime role for use by Naval Aviation. The Kiev class of Soviet aircraft carriers was deployed in the late 1970s and carried up to 30 aircraft including Yak-38 VTOL fighters. The next class of Soviet aircraft carriers, named the, supported more conventional aircraft such as the Su-33 "Flanker-D" and the MiG-29 "Fulcrum".
Land-based aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger" and Tu-22M "Backfire" bombers were deployed with high-speed anti-ship missiles. Previously believed to be interceptors of NATO supply convoys traveling the sea lines of communication across the North Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America, the primary role of these aircraft was to protect the Soviet mainland from attacks by U.S. carrier task forces.

Twenty-first century

Russian naval aviation participated in the Russian military intervention in the War in Syria for a few months from November 2016 to January 2017 with the deployment of to the Mediterranean. This deployment to Syria also marked the naval aviation's combat debut.
On 15 November 2016, Admiral Kuznetsov, took part in "a large-scale operation against the positions of terrorist groups Islamic [State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State] and Al-Nusra, in the provinces of Idlib and Homs" in Syria by launching Su-33 fighter strikes. Russian Defence Ministry later reported that at least 30 militants had been killed as a result of those strikes, including 3 field commanders, among them Abul Baha al-Asfari, leader of Al-Nusra reserves in the provinces of Homs and Aleppo. Al-Asfari had also planned and led several insurgent attacks on the city of Aleppo itself. The Su-33s reportedly used precision bombs.
On 3 December 2016, an Su-33 crashed into the sea after attempting to land on the Admiral Kuznetsov. The plane crashed on its second attempt to land on the aircraft carrier in good weather conditions. The pilot was safely recovered by a search and rescue helicopter. Initially it was suspected that the plane missed the wires and failed to go around, falling short of the bow of the warship, but later it was revealed that the arresting cable failed to hold the aircraft, and was damaged in the attempt. Following the two incidents, the air wing was transferred to shore at Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia, Syria to continue military operations while the carrier's arresting gear issues were addressed.
During her deployment off Syria, aircraft from Admiral Kuznetsov carried out 420 combat missions, hitting 1,252 hostile targets. On 11 January 2017, Admiral Kuznetsov was conducting live-fire training exercises in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya. The Russian defence ministry announced that on 11 January, Admiral Kuznetsov was visited by Libya's military leader Khalifa Haftar, who had a video conference with Russian defence minister Sergey Shoygu while on board.
the non-operational aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is the Russian Navy's only carrier leaving the Russian Navy without an operational aircraft carrier. Further, reports that the s crew of ca. 1500 has been reassigned to the Russian Army for combat duty in Ukraine indicates that there is no plan to make the Russian Navy a carrier navy again.

Russo-Ukraine War, since 2022

As of 2025, aircraft losses during the Russo-Ukraine War, for both the Russian Aerospace Forces and shore-based Russian naval aviation, have included at least seven Sukhoi Su-30SMs and between 10 and 20 of the older Su-24MRs. Russia's total inventory of approximately 110 Su-30s, and reserve stocks of at least 100 Su-24s, may allow for some of these losses to be absorbed but they have not been insignificant.

Structure and Organisation

The 100th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment was formed at Saki in the Crimea on 10 March 1986. In January 1992 its personnel refused to take the oath of loyalty to Ukraine, which would have presumably made them part of the Ukrainian Navy or Ukrainian Air Force, and instead its personnel left for Russia, leaving their aircraft and equipment behind. The unit regrouped at Severomorsk-3 as part of the Northern Fleet. However, in February 1993 the regiment was disbanded and its personnel and equipment incorporated into the 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment.
The 279th Independent Shipborne Assault Aviation Regiment was established in 1973. In 1990 it became a Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment. On 22 February 1993 it was renamed the 279th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment as it absorbed the remaining elements of the 100th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment.

Structure in 2007

This is the structure of the Russian Naval Aviation, as reproduced from the August 2007 issue of the Air Forces Monthly. Given the new data from 2015 to 2016 about the two shipborne fighter aviation regiments above, the 100th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment, listed at Severomorsk-3 with the MiG-29K, has been removed from the Northern Fleet listing.
;Naval High Command – Saint Petersburg
;Northern Fleet Air Force – HQ Severomorsk
;Pacific Fleet Air Force – HQ Vladivostok
;Baltic Fleet Air Force – HQ Kaliningrad
Black Sea Fleet Air Arm – HQ Sevastopol

Structure after 2008–2011 reforms

As a result of the 2008 Russian military reforms, the units of the Russian Naval Aviation were reorganized into 13 new Naval Air Bases. Each new naval air base consists of an HQ, support units and one or more aviation groups/wings. In a second stage, the air bases were merged into territorially integrated structures. Only the 279th Regiment retained its status. The planned transfer of Naval Aviation assets to the Air Force has been delayed due to their importance to the service, but was finally implemented by the end of 2011.
As of 2012, the only fixed wing strike and fighter aircraft of Russian Naval Aviation are the Su-33 fighters and Su-25UTG attack aircraft of the 279th Regiment, plus the Su-24 bombers based in the Crimea. This sole bomber unit remained part of Naval Aviation as an exception to satisfy treaty requirements governing Russian forces deployments on Ukrainian territory. Buying brand new multirole Sukhoi Su-30SM for the Black Sea Fleet to replace Su-24 was in the planning stages and it has been completed as of December 2016. Naval aviation also retains the anti-submarine aircraft of the forces and the helicopter arm.
Given the new data from 2015 to 2016 from Russian sources regarding the 100th Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment's disbandment in 1993, Air Force's Monthly's listing of both the 100th and 279th Regiments at the Severomorsk-3 NAB has been altered by removal of the 100 KIAP.
Naval air bases of the Russian Naval Aviation include:
Baltic Fleet air bases - HQ at Kaliningrad:
Black Sea Fleet air bases - HQ at Sevastopol:
Northern Fleet air bases - HQ at Severomorsk:
Pacific Fleet air bases - HQ at Vladivostok:
  • Chkalovsk NAB
  • * 72nd Guards Air Base
  • Elizovo NAB/Yelizovo
  • * 7060th Air Base
  • Kamennyy Ruchey NAB
  • Nikolaev NAB

Organization

The Soviet and its successor the Russian Naval Aviation follow the TOE of the Soviet. This practice was formally established with Order No. 0036 of the Navy Chief-of-Staff. Therefore, it followed air force unit convention and its personnel held air force type ranks.
A major divergence from the practice in the NATO member states and the countries, which follow US air force traditions is that the Soviet Union, its Warsaw Pact and other Socialist allies kept flying units and the ground support units separate subordinated separately to higher command and control level. For example, an aviation regiment and the radar and signals battalion, the air field battalion and the other support units servicing the air field reported to their air division.
Another difference is that Soviet military air arms did not bring aviation units of different branches together. The only exceptions were Mixed Aviation Regiments, or rarely air regiments, which flew one single type in different variants and tasks.
The 2008 Russian military reform planned during the term of Anatoly Serdyukov changed that. The main organizational change in the Ground Forces was the transition from a 4-level operational chain of command to a 3-level one. The Air Force transitioned correspondingly to Military District — Operational Command — Air Base chain of command.
The air bases combined geographically closely located flying units of various arms with ground support units. As the naval aviation followed the air force organizational practice it too adopted the air base organization. The separate air commands of the fleets were disbanded and naval aviation assets adopted a three level operational chain of command including Military District — Fleet — Air Base.
Concerning its inventory, it was decided that the naval aviation divest its heavy bombers and fighter aircraft, transferring them to the Air Force. The re-organization of the Air Force was later reverted on the grounds of being counter-productive. The four Air Forces and Air Defence Operational Commands were reverted to Air Forces and Air Defence Armies, one per military district each.
With the establishment of the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command as a de facto fifth military district a new 45th Air Forces and Air Defence Army was formed under it. Its aviation units belong to the naval aviation unlike the other four air armies, which consist of air force units. The air force also started transforming its fighter aviation from air bases into fighter aviation regiments belonging to composite aviation divisions.
The naval aviation also reverted the decision to divest its fighter air arm. MiG-31 were transferred back to the Navy and new Su-30SM heavy multirole fighters were ordered. These aircraft were grouped into fighter aviation regiments independent from the air bases. As of 2019 the naval aviation air bases consist of maritime patrol and ASW aircraft, transport aircraft, ASW helicopters, combat and assault helicopters, transport helicopters and UAVs.
Naval aviation is following the air force in the resurrection of the air divisions as an operational level of command and control. It is yet undecided whether the naval aviation air bases will become air divisions, reforming their fixed wing, helicopter and UAV assets in aviation regiments and squadrons or new composite naval aviation divisions will be formed and the NAABs will be subordinated to them next to the fighter aviation regiments.

Naval aviation in 2019

Naval High Command

Naval High Command — Saint Petersburg
  • Units directly subordinated to the NHC
  • * Naval Aviation Central Signals Node
  • * Naval Aviation Training Center - basic theoretic training for naval aviators
  • * 859th Center for Naval Aviation Combat Application and Re-qualification of Flying Personnel - Su-33, Su-30SM, MiG-29K/KUB, Su-25UTG, L-39ZA, Il-38N, Il-20, An-140-100, An-26, Ka-27PL, Ka-28, Ka-29
  • * SAR Navy Support Aviation Squadron : An-12PS, An-26, An-72, An-140-100.

Northern Fleet Naval Aviation

The Northern Fleet was subordinated to the Western Military District, but with the re-vitalization of Russia's interests in the High Arctic it was decided to make it part of the core of a new, fifth, military district - the Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command.
Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command — SeveromorskRed Banner Northern Fleet Naval Aviation — Severomorsk

Pacific Fleet Naval Aviation

Order of Lenin, Twice Red Banner and Order of Suvorov Eastern Military District – Khabarovsk

Baltic Fleet Naval Aviation

Order of Lenin Leningrad Military District — Saint Petersburg

Black Sea Fleet Naval Aviation

Red Banner and Order of Suvorov Southern Military District – Rostov-on-Don

Equipment

The Russian Naval Aviation maintains a large and varied fleet of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, the most numerous of which is the Kamov Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter that operates from various surface ships.