Aviation Day of the Air Defense Forces of Russia
Today, January 22, pilots celebrate their professional holiday aviation Air defense of Russia. It is worth noting that most of them will spend today at the airport or directly in the air, as these brave people day and night reliably cover our skies from the enemy threat.
Speaking of threat. In connection with the geopolitical tension that has arisen between our country and the West in recent years, NATO aviation is increasingly "feeling the strength" of our air borders.
More and more we hear newsthat our fighters escorted an American bomber that was approaching the borders of our Motherland. That is why, today, air defense aviation bears a colossal responsibility, which does not leave the slightest right to make a mistake.
For the first time, as an independent branch of the military, air defense aviation began to exist in our country in 1942. On January 22, the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR signed an appropriate order, which formed the basis of today's holiday, officially celebrated in Russia since 1996.
During the Great Patriotic War, air defense pilots made an invaluable contribution to the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany. In particular, more than 30 fighter aviation regiments as part of the 6th Air Defense Fighter Corps reliably covered the sky of our capital, becoming a real "headache" for the previously "invincible" Goering aces. 20 pilots of the 6th Air Defense IK were awarded the highest award of the Hero of the Soviet Union.
In the late 90s, air defense aviation in Russia ceased to exist as a separate branch of the armed forces, becoming part of the Air Force, and since 2014 - in the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Today, Russian air defense aviation continues to develop actively: existing vehicles are undergoing deep modernization, new interceptors and highly maneuverable fighters are being developed and delivered to the troops.
At the moment, the main work to protect our air borders is carried out by MiG-31 fighter-interceptors of various modifications. The combat aircraft has a speed of up to 3 km and is capable of operating at an altitude of up to 21 km.
It is worth noting that the MiG-31BM, equipped with a powerful radar, can act not only as an interceptor, but also as a kind of command post. The winged vehicle is capable of coordinating the actions of other fighters with less powerful radars and aiming them at the target.
In turn, the MiG-31K, "converted" into a fourth-generation strike fighter and capable of climbing to a height of up to 25 km, became the carrier of the Kinzhal hypersonic aviation missile system. Just a few days ago, tests of the aforementioned complex in the Arctic were successfully completed, which means that all the “claims” of the West on our northern territories are becoming an almost impossible mission for it.
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