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Belarusian Air Force
Belarusian Air Force
	; Belarusian Su-25
Active	since 1991
Country	Belarus
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-25, Mi-24
Bomber	Su-24
Fighter	MiG-23, MiG-29, Su-27
Trainer	L-39
Transport	An-12, An-24, An-26, Il-76, Mi-8, Tu-134

The Belarusian Air Force is the air force of the Armed Forces of Belarus, formed in 1942 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Belorussian SSR.

[edit] Organization

In accordance with an edict of the President of Belarus in 2001, the Air Force, and Air Defense troops were created as one of the arms of the Armed Forces of Belarus. The VVS and Air Defense forces are intended to protect population centres such as cities and regions, as well as the administrative, industrial, economic interests of the Republic. They are also intended to defend troops from the impacts of enemy air attacks, and also against the attacks of hostile troops, as well as fire support and the guarantee of combat operations of ground forces.

In peacetime, VVS and Air Defense forces are on standby to protect the state boundary in the air and also control of Belarussian airspace.

The Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Belarus are organized into six major flying regiments, including two interceptor, three strike, and a reconnaissance regiments. The air force consists of more than 22,000 personnel, though this number is being reduced. Major bases include Balbasovo, Bobr, Luninets, Maladzyechna, Pribytki, Smarhon, and Vitebsk. The Air Force is responsible for all military aviation, as the Army maintains no aircraft of its own.

The Belarusian Air Force maintains close links with the Russian Air Force.

[edit] Prior History

On 5 May 1942 on the basis of the Air Forces of the Western Front the 1st Air Army was created.^[1] By General Staff order of 10 January 1949 the Army became the 26th Air Army (ГШ ВС СССР № ОРГ 120026). In 1980, the 26th Air Army was redesignated the Air Forces of the Belorussian Military District (ГШ ВС СССР 1980 года № 314/1/00170). On 1 May 1988, in accordance with the Ministry of Defence of the USSR's Decree № 0018, the Air Forces of the District were again renamed the 26th Air Army. On 15 June 1992, by decree № 05 of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, the 26th Air Army headquarters became the command of the Air Forces of the Republic of Belarus.

[edit] Aircraft Inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service^[2]	Notes
Fighter Aircraft
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum	Soviet Union	fighter	MiG-29	41	At least 5 MiG-29S have been upgraded to MiG-29BM
Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker	Soviet Union	fighter	Su-27 SU-27UB	14 2	At least 2 Su-27UB have been upgraded to Su-27UBM1 One Belarussian Su-27UBM crashed in an accident during 2009 Radom Air Show in Radom (Poland) on the 30th of August 2009.^[3]
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger	Soviet Union	fighter	MiG-23M	34
Ground-Attack Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer	Soviet Union	strike	Total Su-24K Su-24MR	35 23 12
Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot	Soviet Union	close air support	Su-25 Su-25UB	70 6
Transport and Liaison Aircraft
Antonov An-12 Cub	Soviet Union	transport	An-12BP	6
Antonov An-24 Coke	Ukraine	transport	An-24	1
Antonov An-26 Curl	Soviet Union Ukraine	transport	An-26RT	6
Ilyushin Il-76 Candid	Soviet Union	transport	Il-76MD	4
Tupolev Tu-134 Crusty	Soviet Union	VIP transport	Tu-134A	1
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	trainer	L-39C	6
Attack Helicopters
Mil Mi-24 Hind	Soviet Union	attack	Mi-24C Mi-24D Mi-24E Mi-24F	5 24 14 12
Transport and Utility Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Hip	Soviet Union	transport/attack	Mi-8	129	At least 2 Mi-8MT have been upgraded to Mi-8MTKO
Mi-6	Soviet Union	transport	Mi-6	15
Mi-26	Soviet Union	transport	Mi-26	14