Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Alexander Zelin spoke about the development of national military aviation.
"Independent Military Review" continues to summarize the intermediate results of the reform of the Armed Forces, which is in our army and navy in the last three years. The main questions that we ask our interlocutors are what has changed during this time in the troops subordinate to them, what unresolved problems have remained, what needs to be done to implement the plan.
Honored military pilot, commander-in-chief of the Air Force, Colonel-General Alexander ZELIN answers the questions of the NVO editor-in-chief.
FIRST BUSINESS FLIGHTS
“I want to start our conversation, Alexander Nikolayevich, with a message that arrived on informational tapes on the eve of our meeting.” It is about the fact that the Minister of Defense of Russia Anatoly Serdyukov signed with the director general of the Sukhoi company Igor Ozar a contract for the supply to the Air Force by 2020 of 92 Su-34 front-line bombers. What other planes and helicopters and in what quantities will go into service with our aviation until the twentieth year?
- I will not call the number, but it is up to hundreds.
- Up to hundreds of each species?
- Yes, according to Su-34, the figure has already been voiced - this is 92 machines. But in total, the Air Force will include 124 of such aircraft, and later on 140 machines. In principle, if we talk about the Su-34, we received the presidential face of this aircraft, but at the same time we continue to increase the combat capabilities of this bomber. What is it? We put a powerful onboard complex of self-defense, we develop a new weapon, with new, enhanced combat capabilities. Mainly, air – surface, air – radar, air – ship, and we plan that it will become the carrier of other long-range missiles. Such work is underway, and I believe that this is the platform that is able to solve this problem - that is, to increase the forces of nuclear deterrence as part of the strategic aviation of the Air Force.
Despite the fact that the supply contract was concluded, I signed the technical specifications for this contract, where I indicated the possibility to carry out further modernization to increase the combat capabilities of this flying complex.
- By its effectiveness?
- According to its effectiveness and combat capabilities in a single system of warfare, which the General Staff is currently building, connected with the issue of the fashionable concept of network-centric control systems. So that in this control loop with already installed communications and automated control systems, we have solved this problem.
I recently arrived from St. Petersburg, where a meeting of the interdepartmental commission for the creation of the A-100 aircraft was held under my leadership. This is a continuation of the A-50 topic and more. There will be a machine with such combat capabilities, which will create an opportunity not only to control the crews in the air, but also to target all radio-contrast and other targets on the ground, but also to control the unmanned aircraft from this aircraft.
Such a massive planning. With tasks for 30-s. As for other purchases that are expected to receive the Air Force. This is a Su-35 aircraft ...
- The contract on it, as I remember, was signed on MAX on 48 machines.
- Yes, for such a quantity, but we will still purchase. Somewhere up to a hundred units. I consider this plane in conjunction with the Su-30SM aircraft. We are not buying and are not planning to buy, let it not seem unexpected to you, combat training aircraft. We buy combat aircraft with the ability of the machine to conduct training for flight personnel. Requirements for combat training aircraft include a number of tasks that the pilot works in the air. For example, the system of failures, other problems ...
But now the cabin of the aircraft has changed so much that we can work all these actions on the ground. On simulators. Since several multi-functional indicators can replace each other. And to talk about the refusal of some devices and to train the pilot to do without them in the air - this task itself goes away. We will work it out on complex procedural simulators on the ground. Understanding that a pilot must be taught to fly with failed instruments, but for this purpose we will not create an airplane and do this in the air. This is not economically feasible, since we have many interchangeable multi-functional indicators. One refused, you can go to the other and get all the necessary information.
Of course, several multifunctional indicators may fail if the plane is de-energized, but this requires a completely different action from the pilot for piloting.
- If I understand you correctly, you will not buy the Yak-130?
- No, the Yak-130 is an advanced training aircraft designed for training cadets. This is a training and combat machine, which will allow, having completed the training of a cadet in a school, in a combat unit, to transfer him immediately to a combat aircraft. Because the cabin of the Yak-130 is identified with a combat aircraft. There are also multi-functional indicators. In fact, the cab of the Yak-130, MiG-29 and Su-27, they are similar. And the combat capabilities of this aircraft are also very decent. This is a modern highly maneuverable aircraft with weapons, which the cadets in the fifth year, at the final stage of their training, especially in operational-tactical aviation, will use. We really will teach them that.
It is even planned to create training centers where young lieutenants will undergo retraining. And on the basis of the Yak-130 there is an idea to create a light strike aircraft, which later, in order to increase the class qualification from the third class to the second, will be located in the Lipetsk training center. And with his help, we will solve this problem. At least, we are currently working on this option with the Deputy Head of the State Center, in order to prepare pilots for flights on Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft.
And in order to accomplish tasks with highly mobile Su-35 aircraft, later with T-50, we plan to purchase Su-30CM aircraft. This aircraft is the same highly maneuverable, two-cabin, but combat, capable of performing any combat tasks, but in a two-man crew.
Why is that? Because we have a flight manning ratio of one and a half. And in order to give everyone the opportunity to fly with the current full-size, the two-cabin machine allows you to carry out combat flights throughout the flight. Train and those and others. Thus, everyone will be constantly in the training, and we will follow the instructions of the Chief of the General Staff so that the raid we have more than 130 hours. This is a very real task. When changing the fleet in tactical aviation, we will solve this problem easily, having two-cabin cars in combat form.
- I wanted to ask you about the storms, but I will do it a little later. While I would like to know from you what will happen to other planes? For example, with the MiG-31.
- MiG-31 is a wonderful aircraft. He has a great future. We are now determined. According to the list, we have about 300 such aircraft, more precisely, 252 as part of the Air Force. We plan to have such planes in service with up to 100. We decided on its modernization for the new tasks in the MiG-31BM variant. We decided that we are upgrading the MiG-31BS, and we have, in addition to the MiG-31B, the DZ series and the BS series. We decided that the BS series will remain without refueling in the air, DZ - with refueling and B - also with refueling in the air. At the same time, the DZ series will perform its special tasks. And in our roster will be up to 100 aircraft. With the new armament long-range air-to-air missile, in essence, realize the combat capabilities of the onboard complex, then the combination of the old and modern weapons and the new navigation system.
Today we are moving the whole aviation to another range. From decimeter move to meter. All our near navigation will go to this range. This is connected, first of all, with the decision of the government on the transition of all television to digital communications. And we in this case leave the decimeter range. But in this case we will begin to implement the possibility of landing on any civilian airfield. And with 2014, this opportunity will be enshrined in law. Now it is not from the budget, but funds are allocated for air navigation services. And with 14 year, we will be exempt from paying for the airfield service - for parking and airport services.
We will be able to safely fly throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, using the entire aerodrome network, both military and civil aviation. And the MiG-31 is one of the first aircraft to receive such an opportunity. He has to fly in high latitudes. This is an aircraft that is practically intended for autonomous operations outside the radar field - it has such opportunities. Therefore, he must use any aerodrome he needs. As for the Arctic Circle, and in the south of the country. In Kamchatka, Chukotka, in the Far East - wherever it is needed.
The ACS system on it is quite advanced, it allows the aircraft to land at the border of 50 meters of cloudiness and visibility of the order of 800 meters. The equipment of the aircraft allows all this, the equipment of the aerodrome as well. And he will solve all his tasks very well.
- We talked about Su-34. But in theory, he should replace the Su-24 bomber in perspective.
- Not in theory, but he really goes to replace him.
- And what will be the fate of the Su-24, until all the Su-34 come?
- We have upgraded the Su-24. And we already have two squadrons of new upgraded versions of this machine. This is the OCD "Gusar" - we have 24 units in the Far East. And directly in the European part and in the Urals, in Shugol, there is a direct modernization of the Metronom OKRu. It is conducted by the company of the famous Alexander Nikolaevich Panin.
We can say that the results that we obtained on this machine, we are completely satisfied. And we will be engaged in the modernization and reduction of simple Su-24, which we still have in service. Naturally, they serve their life cycle, this is an excellent aircraft soldier who solved his tasks. And we will deliver high-series aircraft to the troops. For the time being, by 2020 we will not fully switch to Su-34 airplanes, which we will have in our lineup more than 120.
In fact, we have four commanders, the state center - five main base points, where we will create flying groups of X-NUMX – 24 – 28 Su-30 airplanes. The Far East is Khurba, it is Chelyabinsk, it is Krymsk and Voronezh and Lipetsk.
- I remember how we stood next to Farnborough and watched the F-22 fly. At that time you didn’t very much approve of him, noting that he doesn’t hold out to those promotional materials, which signed his unsurpassed merits.
“I told you wrong then.” I said, “You see, I smile. I am very pleased that he flies like this. ” We then stood next to Poghosyan Mikhail Aslanovich, therefore, apparently, we were not shown all the opportunities this machine possesses, but Pogosyan and I realized that our partners are also trying to move on to the highly maneuverable parameters that we have. They denied this fact for a very long time, apparently because there were some technical problems with the solution of this problem. And second, we fly no worse than they fly. You are convinced of this more than once at MAKS. Both in 2009 and in 2011, when they demonstrated MiG-29 with OBT, Su-35 ...
I then told Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin. - V.L.) that we did not even find a name for the maneuvers that our plane performs.
- I remembered the F-22 in connection with the T-50. Should he be better than an American fighter?
- I have already told someone from foreign correspondents: to determine whether it is better or worse, you need to look at how the car behaves in the air. At one time we were told that the F-15 is an unsurpassed aircraft. When I studied at our Gagarin Academy, we were told that it was just a “super-airplane”. And when fate allowed me to fly on the last modification of this F-15, we flew in Ramstein with General Kharchevsky - he was on the same machine, I - on the other, I realized that even at MiG-23MA you could easily fight with this plane. Calmly
Everything is relative. Here our proverb works: “It’s better to see once than to hear a thousand times”.
“But the T-50 is already flying.” Three cars, if I'm not mistaken, pass the test.
- T-50 flies. The flight characteristics are flown around, we are going over to the test of the onboard complex, a vehicle is being built that will go into combat use. All within. I constantly say this. There are technical problems. It is clear that when creating such a machine, everything goes smoothly. But I am the chief designer Alexander Nikolayevich (Davydenko. - V.L.) satisfied. When I am in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, I never pass a workshop where a fighter is assembled. The topic is closed and everything else, but we regularly discuss the progress of work on the aircraft with the director, a respected Alexander Ivanovich (Pekarsh. - VL). So far there are no fundamental questions.
- That is, everything is on schedule.
- Yes, that recently Vladimir Vladimirovich was there (Putin. - V.L.), we all showed him, he asked many questions. And when we begin to engage in the use of T-50 for its intended purpose, and it is intended to gain air supremacy, this is one of its main tasks - to conquer the area of hostilities, air supremacy (in HPV we have somewhere before 60 such machines) I believe that only first-class pilots will fly these planes.
We understand that this will be a special plane, we know where it will be deployed, for what tasks. And there will fly already, we will say, high-class professionals. This will be an elite unit that will perform the most demanding and challenging tasks and which will be able to perform them. Speech about young pilots is not here. I do not even set myself such a task.
WTA DEVELOPMENT PLANS
- Our conversation is very interesting, informative. But you have not said a word about military transport aircraft, about helicopters. What plans await us here?
- There are plans to create a promising long-range aviation complex. We returned to this issue.
- Vladimir Putin spoke about this in his article.
- Yes. Somewhere in the 30s, we should have in the Air Force a new aircraft with combat capabilities that will adequately allow him to play one of the main roles in the nuclear deterrent forces of the Air Force in the triad of the Strategic Nuclear Forces of all Armed Forces.
As for military transport aviation. Here I can not rejoice over the decisions that have been made. Here and the restoration of the An-124-100 production in the An-124-300 version, and in large strides in accordance with the capabilities of the plant, the production of the An-124-100 is underway.
- No, it's all in Ulyanovsk. Further, the IL-76MD-90А production line was deployed there. Everything, we left Tashkent, we ourselves created this project in digital form, and in July, I think, this car will fly.
We are buying a sufficiently large number of such machines, and it will be our main carrier for special tasks, which I mentioned earlier. The same, for example, refuellers will fly on this machine, which will allow the D-90 engine to perform refueling tasks without changing the flight altitude. Now, for objective reasons, we need to go down lower for such an operation. Because of the engine. And with the new economy, these tasks we will be easier to solve.
Farther. I am the chairman of the commission for the completion of the creation of the An-70. I was in Kiev, we removed all the contradictions that were there. Ukrainians collect the car that they have, and also in June – July they must present it to us, and we must fly. Apparently, we will carry out all the finishing work on the territory of Ukraine in order to promptly eliminate all the shortcomings that, naturally, will be at this stage. And later, on the territory of Ukraine and on the territory of Russia, we will complete OCDs on this aircraft.
- And will it be collected in Omsk?
- While preliminary in Voronezh. Antonovtsy actively interact with this plant on the An-148 aircraft, there are other projects on the An-158, An-178 - there are established connections, engineering, technical, organizational and technical, purely organizational, there is mutual understanding. In addition, Voronezh is not so far from Kiev. And from Kharkov as well. And I think that a short distance will allow them to quickly resolve all issues.
Now about light military transport aircraft. We have so far stopped on the An-140-100 variant. And we do not present such a military task of transporting equipment to it. This aircraft will be designed, first of all, for the transportation of personnel and small cargoes within the districts, which will save both time and fuel. And then we have an intergovernmental agreement and a joint project with India on the creation of a joint military transport aircraft with a payload of up to 20 tons - MTA. We are ready to purchase such machines up to one hundred units.
The issue of mobility without military transport aircraft will not be resolved. And I believe that the aircraft fleet for these purposes should be no less than 300 aircraft of various classes. Super heavy, heavy, operational-tactical, light, each to complete its task.
The General Staff set the task for us: for those troops that are in the combat force of the Armed Forces, we need to have planes for the transfer of heavy brigades, medium and light. Easy should instantly in any corner of the country or abroad, in connection with our international obligations to solve their problems. How? Only using military transport aviation.
- And the helicopters?
- My favorite army aviation (they say that front-line pilots do not like army aviation - this is a profound mistake). We, like no one, understand the role and place of army aviation in modern armed conflicts that occur and will continue to occur. And its role is understood by the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. Including the Minister, and the Chief of General Staff.
We stated that we were buying a thousand helicopters before 20. Including the heavy Mi-26 helicopters in the Mi-26T variant, this is already a helicopter, we have more than one hundred units. We are improving and have received a modified Mi-8 helicopter, the latest modification of AMTSH, MTV-5. Next - we are doing an all-weather, round-the-clock helicopter with enhanced combat capabilities. Again, based on the Mi-8. The industry offers us a transitional helicopter, between heavy and medium - Mi-38. This machine also has a certain perspective.
- And what role will play Mi-38?
- The Mi-38 is the medium helicopter between the Mi-26 and the Mi-8. These are other engines, another payload. Some states say that the Mi-26 is too heavy, they do not need it. But with a payload of 12 tons, 15 tons, 8 tons would be very useful. This is the class of this helicopter.
Russian Helicopters are addressing this issue. We told them: you first create this product, and then we will see for what purpose and for what purposes to use it.
Now about combat. You know, for a long time in the press and among experts there were disputes as to whether it was better - Mi-28 or Ka-52. It was adopted, in my opinion, a very competent state decision to make both cars. They, in fact, complement each other. Mi-28 as a linear primary helicopter on the battlefield.
In modern conditions, and here I am grateful for the support of the Minister of Defense, that all aviation, with the exception of fleet aviation and everything related to solving fleet tasks, is all concentrated in the Air Force. On the one hand, there are more tasks, but on the other hand, all local interests have gone, all the more so since all management is now under the direction of the General Staff. And the planning of the application, and the organization of combat training. I think this is a very good decision made by the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. This is my personal belief. Although, as always, we like something, do not like something, but life will show.
THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL REVOLUTION
“In connection with this remark, we moved on to the important question that I wanted to ask you.” How is aviation going today? It is known that all of it was transferred to the districts or to the operational-strategic command, 7 air bases were created, 28 airfields were repaired, and other, frankly, revolutionary changes were carried out. What is now engaged in the commander in chief of the Air Force and its headquarters?
- I would say that. If the conceived control system with instruments and systems is implemented, an automated control system (ACS) is created, then everything is built correctly. Now, in my opinion, we are somewhat revolutionary in many matters. And these revolutionary steps are acutely felt in the planned work. Without completing the creation of one technically, organizationally, we may have completed this, we have to manually adjust something, correct it. But we do not refuse to solve these problems.
I have buttons on the remote for calling all four district commanders. We chat online with them often. And most importantly - the combat training remained with the main command of the Air Force. Construction of the form and combat training. And without combat training what could be the application?
There are disputes. We prove something to each other. I do not think that all issues are resolved. And the minister is talking about this. Yes, we have completed all the organizational arrangements. Let's see. If something does not suit someone, prove, show, tell. We will correct. Either agree, or come and prove that something is wrong. Today we held a meeting on this issue. I do not criticize the decisions made. Yes, at the decision-making stage I proved my point of view, my vision for solving the upcoming problems, I had to agree somewhere, somewhere they listened to me on some issues, but since we are at the stage of decisions already taken, we need to follow them. Work.
And in matters related to the problems of technical support of management (an automated control system is being created, which has not fully earned yet, but it starts from the Central Command Center of the General Staff), errors are now being eliminated. The central command centers of the species were eliminated, but until the ACS was operational, we came to the conclusion that the management of the commander in chief of the organization and control of combat training must be restored. Now all decisions are made, agreed and control is restored. The Chief of General Staff supported us. But, I think, this authority will become obsolete when other technical means appear that will allow me, as commander in chief, to deal online with the main issue — the organization of combat training.
More than 70 – 80 of our parts fly daily. All this needs to be monitored, coordinated, controlled, the Air Force is the kind that is constantly in motion and constantly demands control. Not just set the task and forget, but set the task, further control how it is executed and control its results. On another it is impossible.
- Then you adjust them.
- Yes.
- In continuation of this problem, a question arises with air defense. You transferred to the districts not only aircraft, but also to the Aerospace Defense Brigade.
- We are not all air defense brigade transferred to the aerospace defense. We transferred the East Kazakhstan region only the central industrial region. The one that once covered the Moscow air defense district, then the special forces command, then the operational-strategic command as part of the Air Force. In the end, we transferred this USC to the new branch of the East Kazakhstan region. And, in fact, they are now engaged in air defense and missile defense of the Central Industrial District. Moscow and all that surrounds it.
The remaining air defense tasks are assigned to district commanders. But again, the main command is engaged in the combat training of these troops. We are preparing the troops, we are preparing the entire regulatory framework, methodological base, we are conducting exercises, preparing the troops for the exercises and everything else. And district commanders accept troops and use them for their intended purpose. Here is such a subtlety.
- And who orders military equipment?
- Ordering management. But its ideology is built by the Air Force Main Board.
- So you determine how much C-300 is needed, how many C-400, C-500 ... Use C-300B or C-300ВМ?
- So far this ideology is behind the Air Force. Until. But what happens next, we'll see. I emphasize once again that the troops of the East Kazakhstan region are tackling the problems of the Central Industrial Region.
And everything that will be connected with the strategic missile defense and theater missile defense systems, too, naturally, will be confined to the leadership of these troops. They will build an ideology here. But in any case, all decisions will be taken by the General Staff. Naturally, with the active participation of all species and genera. Because it is impossible to talk about air defense, not understanding what role aviation plays here, the fleet, especially in the coastal areas, where it plays the main role, is a complex task. And only one control body can decide it - the General Staff.
- Clear. But then the question arises with the air defense of the Ground Forces. Should they also enter this system or remain under the authority of the commanders of the combined-arms brigades?
- There are so many opinions about this. I believe that in modern conditions the protection of troops on the battlefield is the task of the air defense of the Ground Forces. But, besides this, it is impossible not to talk about the organicity of inscribing them into other systems. We must look at our doctrine. If we plan to conduct military operations outside the Russian Federation, this is one approach. If we say that we will defend ourselves, this is a different approach. But they, the air defense troops and the air defense troops of the Ground Forces, complement each other. According to the tasks. And it is necessary, of course, to create a unified air defense command and control system on the territory of Russia in order to eliminate all these discrepancies.
On the territory of the district commander commanded, for God's sake. I argued on this topic for a very long time, I argued and told me that this was apparently a mistake. I do not want to say whether I am right or not, but I have a special opinion. But all decisions are made, and we are obliged to comply with them.
At the same time, whether we like it or not, but from the Central Command Post of the General Staff this task will be solved, and it is one of the main tasks of the strategic actions of the Armed Forces, there is no doubt. And it is written in such a way that the main executor of this task is the central military command body represented by the General Staff. As soon as the technical management is fully completed, what we talked about - the network-centric management was created, then everything will fall into place. And the decision-making system and the organization of the decision-making of all strategic actions will naturally fall into another plane. This is our near future. We see it, we understand it, but it has not come up yet.
COMBAT TRAINING GOES ON PLAN
- You have already dealt with this issue. But I asked you to talk about it in more detail later. About the flying of pilots. I remember history with Major Troyanov when he got lost in the skies over the Baltic and was forced to eject over Lithuania. It turned out that his raid did not exceed seven hours. You said that the task was to fly the 130 watch. How to solve this problem? And further. 130 hours - is it only for fighter and ground attack aircraft, or for strategic and military transport? Are there also such standards?
- No, there is an order of the Minister of Defense about the norms of the raid. They are defined. And depending on the type of aircraft, from the position of the pilot different rates of attack. For example, the command staff of the norm is half or one and a half less than the rest of the pilots, the commander does not need such a raid. Although at the expense of instructor flights or flights on training, the flight of the management personnel will be much greater than that of the ordinary pilot, who is engaged in his personal improvement. And if we talk about Troyanov, then I would not so much blame the pilot and recall his raid ...
- By the way, what was his fate?
- He left the flight after that incident. As a matter of fact, no organizational or administrative measures were taken against him. And flight qualifications for him saved. Although in principle the pilot of the 1 class could not be so wrong. But I believe that the main mistake there was in the organization of the flight and in the unsatisfactory organization of management. In fact, the crew was lost and no one drove them. This is what we talked about a little earlier about the management system.
The control system and the organization of the control system, some do not understand this, but due to the nature of their activities, the aircraft just doesn’t fly into the air. Aircraft at all stages, from take-off to landing, are controlled by people on the ground, controlled by organs that are directly obliged to be engaged in this control. And the aircraft is controlled at three measurement points - height, azimuth, and so on. And if someone thinks that it is so easy to take and fly somewhere there, he is greatly mistaken and does not understand anything. Moreover, now the whole world has switched to dependent automatic observation.
The corresponding means are deployed in space, on the ground, on aircraft — I saw it, for example, when I was in Japan, at a civil aviation control center. At the main airport of Tokyo saw the planes that flew in the sky over Australia. It would seem that in this Asia-Pacific space there are no ground-based means of observation; nevertheless, an aircraft was visible on request over the fifth continent. This is a huge distance. And the whole world is now switching to this method of controlling the airspace.
Yes, that's right, we do not refuse radar, we will see the aircraft, if the pilot turns it on, if he turns it off, we will not see it. But for reliable security and precise control in peacetime, such a system is extremely necessary in order to qualitatively improve flight safety and the aviation control system. Including general aviation.
Now the entire aviation control system in the United States, in Europe, is built on the fact that the aircraft is still taxiing on the ground, and on the locator screens a signal has already appeared that the application has passed, the aircraft has been approved, its flight task has been agreed that it can calmly carry out the notification . The notification is a completely different approach.
But for reliable security and precise control in peacetime, such a system is extremely necessary in order to qualitatively improve flight safety and the aviation control system. Including general aviation.
Now the entire aviation system in the United States, in Europe, is built on the fact that the aircraft still taxis on the ground, and on the screens of the locators a signal has already appeared that the application has passed, the aircraft has been approved, its flight task is consistent, that it can safely perform the notification by notification. The notification is a completely different approach.
- Well, all the same, if we return to the problem of plaque.
- As for the material security, there are no questions here. I am concerned only with the resource support of airplanes and helicopters, which is designed to solve this problem.
- That is, with kerosene everything is in order?
- The presence of kerosene, fuel and other means I absolutely do not care. Everything is, it is not those years. Airfields, fuels and lubricants, we even entered into agreements with CJSC Gazpromneft-Aero, at 12 airfields we have this network deployed - the so-called outsourcing. He is already in the work. Most worried about the health and resource provision. Unfortunately, our Aviaremont structure does not respond so pragmatically to all the needs that we need, as it should. I still can not understand what is the reason.
Money for repairs and restoration allocated. And considerable ones. If you compare with the time 90-s, then at times. There are financial opportunities, responsibilities are defined, specifications are also. There is a lack of promptness and responsibility of officials who are obliged to do this. Unfortunately, only the Main Command of the Air Force, which is responsible for combat training, is sick of the serviceability of military equipment. For some reason, our other structures are responsible only for financial flows.
Hence the problem. But if last year we flew about 340 thousands of hours, we gave more 90 hours on each flyer. This is a different patina - depending on the type of aircraft. This year I set the task, especially in relation to the young pilots, to fly at least 100 hours.
Last year, 80% of young people met these standards. Some lieutenants sagged, but not because of their own fault, but because there was no resource support. And most importantly, they reacted inopportunely to forwarding them to other parts, where this task could be solved. Later we solved this problem, but they did not receive the 100 watches, but a little more 50. But these are not five, not seven, not two hours, which were in 90-ies.
- But your pilots fly, not only to improve individual training, but also, apparently, to solve complex tasks as part of exercises in the districts? Do you take part in these events?
- Of course, in all large-scale exercises, if you paid attention, aviation plays a significant role. If not the main one. Everyone looks at what is happening in the air.
- And in what major exercises you will take part this year?
- In all. Everything that has been planned is all about aviation. We have a plan for aviation support of all activities. He was approved by the Chief of General Staff, and we are very actively involved in all exercises.
WITH CARE OF PEOPLE
- The question of the social problems of the Air Force. Increased two to three times the salaries for pilots.
- We understand with them. A single settlement center was created, it was only the second month that they started paying higher salaries, something didn’t work somewhere. We'll figure it out and fix it. People understand: all that is stated, they will receive. Not now, then later.
- Did the maintenance of money, for example, the squadron commander grow great?
- This is comparable to those payments that the pilots received on the 400-th order. And this is many times more than it was before the increase. Specific figures can be clarified in order not to deceive readers.
- What about housing?
- Housing set up a lot. You drove through Balashikha, saw how much of it. More than 6 thousands of apartments. And in the suburbs are building. But this account of ours was ruined, was in the apartment-operational parts, now they have made a single bank. We often have failures. Every Friday, including yesterday, Nikolai Egorovich (Makarov. - V.L.) holds a meeting on this issue. I don’t know when this failure will take place, but I’ve already told mine that if we don’t correct the situation on the ground, starting with the divisions and above, we won’t understand what is going on here, what should we expect from above ?! You have to figure it out yourself at the part level.
Unfortunately, part of the aviation units went to the districts, as we have said before. I, as the commander in chief, cannot influence the state of affairs there. But I have no reason to do this work. There are territorial bodies that are called upon to solve these problems. But it is impossible not to say that some officers are also irresponsible about these issues - the notice has come, and they do not draw up documents. Specially or thoughtlessly delay time. Do not fully represent the documents that should be.
The situations are different. Someone has housing, but still tries to grab. There are many temptations. The armed forces today are the only structure where people, according to the law, receive housing from the state.
Service housing has already been planned for the main bases; in fact, we will have seven base airfields for aircraft and 14 base airfields for army aviation; service housing will be created there. Everything else, whether we like it or not, will eventually go to the municipal. We will give all the towns there.
Another question is to allow the officers - well, he does not want to stay in Morozovsk or Millerovo, where beautiful apartments were built for withdrawal from the Western group of troops, but there is no industry - to go elsewhere. I believe that this opportunity can be given to officers. Although, on the other hand, people are provided with housing.
Here we have the village of Zarya, who also want to get housing in the Moscow region. We were allowed to transfer apartments from service to municipal. And the tension here is mostly relieved. With me, as I became the commander in chief, there were already three houses built. It remains only to arrange these houses, and 100 people in the main command will find a roof over their heads. Plus part of the provision, and I completely remove the task of official housing.
- Another pressing question is about education. Including the scandal that erupted due to the transfer of the Academy of Zhukovsky and Gagarin to Voronezh. What is the reason for this and what will happen to the beautiful Aviation Museum located in Monino?
- The museum as it was and will remain. He will enter the branch in the Central Museum of the Armed Forces, and no one does not encroach on him.
About the Academy. I answered this question a lot. Why such a rich country as the United States of America, have only three military universities. For the training of officers. Has anyone asked this question? Why can't they spread a network of educational institutions across the country? Why is this in England? On instructions from the minister, I and my subordinates, and these famous people - General Kharchevsky, General Gradusov, Colonel Bareev, God willing, will soon be a general - this is the elite of the modern Air Force, went on a business trip and almost a week watched the organization of combat training of the USAF. Were at the Pentagon, in all commands, including at the airbase in Nelis. By Soviet standards, it can be compared with the base in Marakh, where I once served.
We were also in Colorado Springs and in that academy where thousands of cadets in four courses study at the same time 4. And where every year from 1 thousands of 500 graduates become pilots. 500 they recruit from other universities. I studied their experience in great detail; surprisingly, my colleagues also provided me with a training program, even under the heading “Service literature”, the conversation was completely open. And I agree that everything should be concentrated in one place. Including financial and material resources.
Yes, what are we losing? In that, for example, from Siberia there is no possibility for all the guys to come and enroll in Voronezh University, but this is our task. To organize visiting commissions, conduct competitive tests and find guys who will not only study from the European part of Russia, but also from the Far East. This is the task of the species to do the selection of cadets. Including outreach work. Recruit healthy, strong guys, and these are needed in the Air Force. We used to joke once: gain health, and ask for the mind.
This is another task. But to have a network and spray money is not wise.
Yury Petrovich Klishin, this former deputy head of armaments, when he got into modern Voronezh, called from there and said: “Alexander Nikolayevich, I never expected what Vasily Zibrov did there in such a short time with his team”. Still, this is still not enough. The minister says to me: “You go to cadet colleges and see what has been done there. What means are there created to prepare the boys. And it is quite possible to do so. ”
One more thing. There, near Voronezh in 90 kilometers of Lipetsk, Lipetsk training center, which allows for the training and training of officers already operational-tactical level. All the advanced technology is there.
I do not want to offend anyone. But in recent years, our science, including the faculty, has grown very old and has lagged behind the modern demands that the last five years have shown us. Especially the last three years. And we, as the press likes to write, continue to fight the experience of past wars. And I do not want to fight the experience of past wars. I respect the faculty, we really need to preserve it, we need to create a center - we have made such a proposal to the head of the Department of Education of the Armed Forces, such work is underway. But, frankly speaking, the training base, with the exception of the “T” corps (the training corps at the Gagarin Academy. - VL), is as old as this world. Yes, and there all the aircraft simulators that go out of this life.
All new is created in Voronezh. All modern ACS, modern simulators, modern ... So I finished the school, there were already MiG-23 and MiG-25, rockets for them and everything else. And we all flew the MiG-21, studied the US missiles, the PC2C, which was no longer in the military. That was the system. All the equipment that came to the school then was the one that left the troops.
And we say no. We must teach what is and will be in the army. Now we are finishing training at the school on an advanced training aircraft. This does not apply to air defense forces, there is already all the most modern. They do not need to fly, they must come to the troops and immediately sit down at the crew’s control consoles and begin combat work.
The pilot has a different system. We give him a flying time and a higher combat training machine. Then he comes to the state center, where we teach him to fight. And from there to the troops, where he has already been trained and taught everything. And on the technique of combat use begins to fly and perform the combat mission.
I was lucky enough to listen to Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov as a young pilot. I remembered his words for life. I was in 3 Squadron Lieutenant Zelin. 1976 year. Marshal took the chalk and began to draw on the blackboard. “This is the task I am sending it to carry out a first class pilot. To solve another problem, the link of the second class pilots. And for this I need to send the whole squadron of third-class pilots. ” Even then it was clear what a pilot of one or another class means, how to encourage pilots to improve their class skills. When they paid for class, for clouds, for that, for that ...
And now they tell us: guys, we pay you too much. For the class will not pay. I think this is absolutely wrong. The motivation of the flight crew is not least connected with the assessment of its activities. I don’t think that they didn’t think about it in Soviet times and just paid money.
- We talked about pilots. But you also have meteorologists, navigators, weapons specialists. Where to learn them?
- All - in one Voronezh University. There it is planned to create a Military Scientific Center or a State University for the training of aviation specialists.
- Where are the technicians? TECH Specialists?
- And technicians there. All in Voronezh. Currently, everyone is studying there. All engineering schools that were in 2009 began training there. Irkutsk, then Stavropol, then Tambov communication school ... All were concentrated in one place. Our only branch will be the Krasnodar College, which will train pilots. Flight crew and military command officers.
- And foreigners?
- And foreigners. In our city Voronezh is trained by all personnel, which is connected with the issues of comprehensive support of aviation activities. Rear, technical. Everything connected with it. We are preparing pilots directly in Krasnodar.
And the academic education, I did not specify, which we received in the Academy of Zhukovsky and Gagarin, it is abolished. We are moving to coursework. We will not issue a second diploma. We will issue the appropriate document at the end of the course. And then for each upcoming position the officer will be prepared specifically for such courses. This will occur in Voronezh and Lipetsk at the operational-tactical level. And accordingly in the Academy of the General Staff.
- The very last question. "Swifts" and "Russian Knights" remain?
- Nobody touches them. Nobody ever thought so.
- And on the Yak-130 they will fly?
- On the Yak-130, as soon as we receive them, we will also create a squadron to fly with smoke colorfully, like, say, Patrol de France or Triche de Color, others.
We often declare that we are the only ones who fly combat aircraft. But in life it is not. I traveled the world, looked. Americans fly on F-16 Air Force, Navy flies on F-18, demonstration flights. Previously, the Air Force flew T-50, but after the whole group broke up, it was such a difficult tragedy, they all switched to F-16. And the sea pilots both flew the F-18 and continue to fly. The Japanese, too, fly in combat aircraft. The South Koreans were flying combat, but now they have created their own T-50. This is practically a prototype of the F-16, they created a training machine for it. And the Italians buy from them, if I'm not mistaken.
When I was at their anniversary party dedicated to the 60 anniversary, I asked them: why don't you buy our planes? They took and wrote that we tendered our T-50. Ours immediately refused.
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