The Ukrainian Army Aviation Ukrainian: Армійська авіація України)[3] is a military aviation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
History
The first formations of army aviation in the revived Ukrainian were formed in 1992 when the former Soviet 119th Regiment joined the Ukrainian military.[4]
During the first four months of the War in Donbas, Ukraine suffered considerable losses, including four Mi-24 gunships and two Mi-8 helicopter transports.[5] Due the widespread availability of surface-to-air missiles amongst the separatist militias, the UAA was forced to restrict the use of its assets.[1]
In 2014 the 16th Brigade participated in the liberation of Slovyansk.[6]
International missions
Structure
Structure:[7]
- 8th Command Post, Chernihiv
- 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Kherson", Kherson International Airport (Chornobaivka) attached to 6th Corps[8]
- 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Maj Gen Viktor Pavlenko", Novyi Kalyniv Air Base attached to 13th Corps[8][9]
- 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Brody", Brody Air Base attached to 8th Corps[8]
- 18th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Ihor Sikorsky", Poltava Air Base[8] (formed 2015)[9]
- 1st Squadron (Mi-2)[8]
- 2nd Squadron (Mi-8)[8]
- 3rd Squadron (Mi-24)[10]
- 18th Separate Helicopter Detachment supporting United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).[10]
- 57th Aviation Base, Brody Air Base[10]
Aircraft
The UAA operates overhauled Soviet-era Mi-2, Mi-8, and Mi-24 helicopters. Some of them were locally modernized as the Mi-2MSB, Mi-8MSB-V, and Mi-24PU-1.[2]
In January 2022, Key.Aero estimated that the UAA had a total of 15 Mi-2s, 60 Mi-8s, and 60 Mi-24s. Some of these were non-operational at the time, while eight Mi-8s were deployed in Congo to support the United Nations MONUSCO mission. Since then, these helicopters were recalled, while allied nations such as the United States and the Czech Republic donated helicopters to help Ukraine replenish its losses in combat.[2]
In December 2023, FlightGlobal estimated that the UAA had a total of 103 helicopters in active service, while in February 2024, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated a total of 60 helicopters in service.[11][12]
Current equipment
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | |||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | Utility | Mi-8MT Mi-8MSB-V |
15[12] − 59[11] | Some modernized by Motor Sich.[2] |
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | Attack | Mi-24/35 | 33[11] − 45[12] | |
| Trainers | |||||
| Mil Mi-2 | Poland | Utility | Mi-2 Mi-2MSB |
11[11] | Most were modernized by Motor Sich.[2] |
Former equipment
The 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade operated 4 Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters, they were withdrawn from service and placed in storage around the 2000s. The UAA also had a number of Mi-9 flying command posts (though they were used for training or transport instead).[2] As of 2024, none remain in service according to the IISS.[12]
References
- ^ a b Galeotti 2019, p. 50.
- ^ a b c d e f Trendafilovski, Vladimir (25 July 2022). "An overview of Ukrainian Army Aviation". Key.Aero. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Армійська авіація – Український мілітарний портал". mil.in.ua. Archived from the original on 2017-02-28.
- ^ 16th separate Brigade of army aviation (Brody) (16а окрема бригада армійської авіації (Броди)). Aviatsiya Halychyny.
- ^ Galeotti 2019, p. 49.
- ^ "10 pilots won't win a war. There must be 100 and all prepared", chief (10 льотчиків не виграють війну. Їх має бути 100 і всі підготовлені — начальник). Hazeta po ukrayinsky. 5 March 2019
- ^ "Сухопутні війська". www.ukrmilitary.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ukraine Army Aviation". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ a b AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2022. p. 44.
- ^ a b c AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2022. p. 46.
- ^ a b c d Hoyle 2023, p. 32.
- ^ a b c d IISS 2024, p. 212.
Bibliography
- Galeotti, Mark (2019). Armies of Russia's War in Ukraine. Bloomsbury USA. ISBN 978-1-4728-3344-0.
- Hoyle, Craig (2023). World Air Forces 2024. FlightGlobal (Report). London: Flight Global Insight. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Russia and Eurasia". The Military Balance 2024. 124. Taylor & Francis: 210−215. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298592.
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