Airborne troops of the Russian Federation- This is a separate branch of the Russian Armed Forces, which is in the reserve of the Commander-in-Chief of the country and is directly subordinate to the Commander of the Airborne Forces. At the moment, this position is held (since October 2016) by Colonel General Serdyukov.

The purpose of the airborne troops- these are actions behind enemy lines, carrying out deep raids, capturing important enemy facilities, bridgeheads, disrupting enemy communications and enemy control, conducting sabotage in his rear. The Airborne Forces were created primarily as an effective tool for offensive warfare. To cover the enemy and operate in his rear, the Airborne Forces can use both parachute and landing landings.

The airborne troops of Russia are rightfully considered the elite of the armed forces, in order to get into this branch of the military, candidates must meet very high criteria. First of all, it concerns physical health and psychological stability. And this is natural: the paratroopers carry out their tasks behind enemy lines, without the support of their main forces, the supply of ammunition and the evacuation of the wounded.

The Soviet Airborne Forces were created in the 30s, the further development of this type of troops was rapid: by the beginning of the war, five airborne corps were deployed in the USSR, with a strength of 10 thousand people each. The USSR Airborne Forces played an important role in the victory over the Nazi invaders. The paratroopers actively participated in the Afghan war. The Russian airborne troops were officially created on May 12, 1992, they went through both Chechen campaigns, participated in the war with Georgia in 2008.

The flag of the Airborne Forces is a blue panel with a green stripe at the bottom. In its center is an image of an open golden parachute and two planes of the same color. The flag of the Airborne Forces was officially approved in 2004.

In addition to the flag of the airborne troops, there is also the emblem of this type of troops. The emblem of the airborne troops is a flaming gold-colored grenada with two wings. There is also a medium and large airborne emblem. The middle emblem depicts a double-headed eagle with a crown on its head and a shield with George the Victorious in the center. In one paw, the eagle holds a sword, and in the other, a flaming grenada of the Airborne Forces. On the large emblem, grenada is placed on a blue heraldic shield framed by an oak wreath. In its upper part is a double-headed eagle.

In addition to the emblem and flag of the Airborne Forces, there is also the motto of the Airborne Forces: "No one but us." The paratroopers even have their own heavenly patron - Saint Elijah.

The professional holiday of the paratroopers is the Day of the Airborne Forces. It is celebrated on August 2nd. On this day in 1930, the first parachute landing of a unit was made to perform a combat mission. On August 2, Airborne Forces Day is celebrated not only in Russia, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The airborne troops of Russia are armed with both conventional types of military equipment and models developed specifically for this type of troops, taking into account the specifics of the tasks that it performs.

It is difficult to name the exact number of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation, this information is secret. However, according to unofficial data obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defense, it is about 45 thousand fighters. Foreign estimates of the number of this type of troops are somewhat more modest - 36 thousand people.

The history of the creation of the Airborne Forces

The Soviet Union, without a doubt, is the birthplace of the Airborne Forces. It was in the USSR that the first airborne unit was created, this happened in 1930. At first it was a small detachment, which was part of an ordinary rifle division. On August 2, the first parachute landing was successfully carried out during exercises at the training ground near Voronezh.

However, the first use of paratroopers in military affairs occurred even earlier, in 1929. During the siege of the Tajik city of Garm by anti-Soviet rebels, a detachment of Red Army soldiers was parachuted there, which made it possible to unblock the settlement as soon as possible.

Two years later, a special purpose brigade was formed on the basis of the detachment, and in 1938 it was renamed the 201st Airborne Brigade. In 1932, by decision of the Revolutionary Military Council, special-purpose aviation battalions were created, in 1933 their number reached 29 units. They were part of the Air Force, and their main task was to disorganize the rear of the enemy and carry out sabotage.

It should be noted that the development of the landing troops in the Soviet Union was very rapid and rapid. No expense was spared on them. In the 1930s, the country was experiencing a real "parachute" boom, parachute towers were in almost every stadium.

During the exercises of the Kyiv military district in 1935, a massive parachute landing was practiced for the first time. The following year, an even more massive landing was carried out in the Belarusian military district. Foreign military observers who were invited to the exercises were amazed at the scale of the landings and the skill of Soviet paratroopers.

According to the Field Charter of the Red Army of 1939, the airborne units were at the disposal of the main command, they were planned to be used to deliver strikes behind enemy lines. At the same time, it was instructed to clearly coordinate such strikes with other branches of the armed forces, which at that moment were inflicting frontal strikes on the enemy.

In 1939, Soviet paratroopers managed to gain their first combat experience: the 212th airborne brigade also took part in the battles with the Japanese at Khalkhin Gol. Hundreds of its fighters were awarded government awards. Several parts of the Airborne Forces participated in the Soviet-Finnish war. The paratroopers were also involved during the capture of Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia.

On the eve of the start of the war, airborne corps were created in the USSR, each of them included up to 10 thousand fighters. In April 1941, by order of the Soviet military leadership, five airborne corps were deployed in the western regions of the country, after the German attack (in August 1941), the formation of five more airborne corps began. A few days before the German invasion (June 12), the Directorate of the Airborne Forces was created, and in September 1941, the paratrooper units were withdrawn from the command of the fronts. Each corps of the Airborne Forces was a very formidable force: in addition to well-trained personnel, it was armed with artillery and light amphibious tanks.

Information:In addition to the landing corps, the Red Army also included mobile landing brigades (five units), spare regiments of the Airborne Forces (five units) and educational institutions that trained paratroopers.

Airborne units made a significant contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders. The airborne units played a particularly important role in the initial - the most difficult - period of the war. Despite the fact that the airborne troops are intended for offensive operations and have a minimum of heavy weapons (compared to other branches of the military), at the beginning of the war, paratroopers were often used to “patching holes”: in defense, to eliminate sudden German breakthroughs, to release surrounded by Soviet troops. Due to this practice, the paratroopers suffered unreasonably high losses, and the effectiveness of their use decreased. Often, the preparation of landing operations left much to be desired.

Airborne units took part in the defense of Moscow, as well as in the subsequent counteroffensive. The 4th Corps of the Airborne Forces was parachuted in the winter of 1942 during the Vyazemsky landing operation. In 1943, during the crossing of the Dnieper, two airborne brigades were thrown behind enemy lines. Another major landing operation was carried out in Manchuria in August 1945. In its course, 4,000 fighters were parachuted by landing.

In October 1944, the Soviet Airborne Forces were transformed into a separate Guards Army of the Airborne Forces, and in December of the same year, into the 9th Guards Army. Airborne divisions have become ordinary rifle divisions. At the end of the war, the paratroopers took part in the liberation of Budapest, Prague, and Vienna. The 9th Guards Army ended its glorious military career on the Elbe.

In 1946, the landing units were introduced into the Ground Forces and were subordinate to the country's Minister of Defense.

In 1956, Soviet paratroopers participated in the suppression of the Hungarian uprising, and in the mid-60s they played a key role in pacifying another country that wanted to leave the socialist camp - Czechoslovakia.

After the end of the war, the world entered the era of confrontation between the two superpowers - the USSR and the USA. The plans of the Soviet leadership were by no means limited only to defense, so the airborne troops developed especially actively during this period. Emphasis was placed on increasing the firepower of the Airborne Forces. For this, a whole range of airborne equipment was developed, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, and road transport. The fleet of military transport aircraft was significantly increased. In the 1970s, large-capacity wide-body transport aircraft were created, which made it possible to transport not only personnel, but also heavy military equipment. By the end of the 80s, the state of the military transport aviation of the USSR was such that it could ensure the parachute drop of almost 75% of the personnel of the Airborne Forces in one sortie.

At the end of the 60s, a new type of units that were part of the Airborne Forces was created - airborne assault units (DShCH). They were not much different from the rest of the Airborne Forces, but they were subordinate to the command of groups of troops, armies or corps. The reason for the creation of the DShCh was a change in the tactical plans prepared by Soviet strategists in the event of a full-scale war. After the start of the conflict, it was planned to “break” the enemy defenses with the help of massive landings landed in the immediate rear of the enemy.

In the mid-1980s, the USSR Ground Forces included 14 air assault brigades, 20 battalions and 22 separate air assault regiments.

In 1979, the war in Afghanistan began, and the Soviet Airborne Forces took an active part in it. During this conflict, the paratroopers had to engage in counter-guerrilla struggle, of course, there was no talk of any parachute landing. The delivery of personnel to the place of combat operations took place with the help of armored vehicles or vehicles, landing by landing method from helicopters was less often used.

The paratroopers were often used to guard the numerous outposts and roadblocks scattered throughout the country. Typically, airborne units performed tasks more suitable for motorized rifle units.

It should be noted that in Afghanistan, the paratroopers used military equipment of the ground forces, which was more suitable for the harsh conditions of this country than their own. Also, parts of the Airborne Forces in Afghanistan were reinforced with additional artillery and tank units.

Information:After the collapse of the USSR, the division of its armed forces began. These processes also affected the paratroopers. They were able to finally divide the Airborne Forces only by 1992, after which the Russian Airborne Forces were created. They included all units that were located on the territory of the RSFSR, as well as part of the divisions and brigades that were previously located in other republics of the USSR.

In 1993, the Russian Airborne Forces included six divisions, six air assault brigades and two regiments. In 1994, in Kubinka near Moscow, on the basis of two battalions, the 45th Special Forces Regiment of the Airborne Forces (the so-called special forces of the Airborne Forces) was created.

The 1990s became a serious test for the Russian landing troops (as well as for the entire army, by the way). The number of the Airborne Forces was seriously reduced, some of the units were disbanded, the paratroopers became subordinate to the Ground Forces. The army aviation of the SV was transferred to the air force, which significantly worsened the mobility of the airborne forces.

The airborne troops of the Russian Federation took part in both Chechen campaigns, in 2008 the paratroopers were involved in the Ossetian conflict. The Airborne Forces have repeatedly taken part in peacekeeping operations (for example, in the former Yugoslavia). Airborne units regularly participate in international exercises, they guard Russian military bases abroad (Kyrgyzstan).

The structure and composition of the troops

Currently, the Russian Airborne Forces consist of command and control structures, combat units and units, as well as various institutions that provide them.

• Structurally, the Airborne Forces have three main components:
• Airborne. It includes all airborne units.
• Air assault. Consists of air assault units.
• Mountain. It includes air assault units designed to operate in mountainous areas.

At the moment, the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation include four divisions, as well as separate brigades and regiments. Airborne troops, composition:

• 76th Guards Air Assault Division, stationed in Pskov.
• 98th Guards Airborne Division, located in Ivanovo.
• 7th Guards Air Assault (Mountain) Division, stationed in Novorossiysk.
• 106th Guards Airborne Division - Tula.

Regiments and brigades of the Airborne Forces:

• 11th Separate Guards Airborne Brigade, stationed in the city of Ulan-Ude.
• 45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade (Moscow).
• 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Place of deployment - the city of Kamyshin.
• 31st Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. Based in Ulyanovsk.
• 83rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade. Location - Ussuriysk.
• 38th Separate Guards Communications Regiment of the Airborne Forces. Located in the Moscow region, in the village of Medvezhye Ozera.

In 2013, the creation of the 345th Airborne Assault Brigade in Voronezh was officially announced, but then the formation of the unit was postponed to a later date (2017 or 2018). There is information that in 2017 an airborne assault battalion will be deployed on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, and in the future, a regiment of the 7th airborne assault division, which is currently deployed in Novorossiysk, will be formed on its basis.

In addition to combat units, the Russian Airborne Forces also include educational institutions that train personnel for the Airborne Forces. The main and most famous of them is the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, which, among other things, trains officers for the Russian Airborne Forces. Also, the structure of this type of troops includes two Suvorov schools (in Tula and Ulyanovsk), the Omsk Cadet Corps and the 242nd training center located in Omsk.

Armament and equipment of the Airborne Forces

The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use both combined arms equipment and samples that were created specifically for this type of troops. Most types of weapons and military equipment of the Airborne Forces were developed and manufactured back in the Soviet period, but there are also more modern models created in modern times.

The most popular models of airborne armored vehicles at present are the airborne combat vehicles BMD-1 (about 100 units) and BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units). Both of these vehicles were produced back in the Soviet Union (BMD-1 in 1968, BMD-2 in 1985). They can be used for landing both by landing and by parachute. These are reliable vehicles that have been tested in many armed conflicts, but they are clearly outdated, both morally and physically. This is openly stated even by representatives of the top leadership of the Russian army.

More modern is the BMD-3, the operation of which began in 1990. Currently, 10 units of this combat vehicle are in service. Serial production has been discontinued. The BMD-3 is to replace the BMD-4, which was put into service in 2004. However, its production is slow, today there are 30 BMP-4s and 12 BMP-4Ms in service.

Also, the airborne units are armed with a small number of BTR-82A and BTR-82AM armored personnel carriers (12 pieces), as well as the Soviet BTR-80. The most numerous armored personnel carrier currently used by the Russian Airborne Forces is the tracked BTR-D (more than 700 pieces). It was put into service in 1974 and is very outdated. It should be replaced by the BTR-MDM "Shell", but so far its production is moving very slowly: today in combat units there are from 12 to 30 (according to various sources) "Shells".

The anti-tank weapons of the Airborne Forces are represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled anti-tank gun (36 units), BTR-RD Robot self-propelled anti-tank systems (more than 100 units) and a wide range of different ATGMs: Metis, Fagot, Konkurs and "Cornet".

The Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation are also armed with self-propelled and towed artillery: Nona self-propelled guns (250 pieces and several hundred more units in storage), D-30 howitzer (150 units), and Nona-M1 mortars (50 units) and "Tray" (150 units).

The air defense means of the Airborne Forces consist of portable missile systems (various modifications of Igla and Verba), as well as the Strela short-range air defense system. Special attention should be paid to the newest Russian MANPADS "Verba", which was only recently put into service and now it has been put into trial operation in only a few units of the RF Armed Forces, including the 98th Airborne Division.

Information:The Airborne Forces also operate self-propelled anti-aircraft guns BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (150 units) of Soviet production and towed anti-aircraft guns ZU-23-2.

In recent years, new samples of automotive equipment have begun to enter the Airborne Forces, of which the Tiger armored car, the A-1 Snowmobile all-terrain vehicle and the KAMAZ-43501 truck should be noted.

The airborne troops are sufficiently equipped with communication, control and electronic warfare systems. Among them, modern Russian developments should be noted: electronic warfare systems "Leer-2" and "Leer-3", "Infauna", the control system for air defense systems "Barnaul", automated command and control systems "Andromeda-D" and "Flight-K".

The Airborne Forces are armed with a wide range of small arms, among which there are both Soviet models and newer Russian developments. The latter include the Yarygin pistol, the PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The main personal weapon of the fighters remains the Soviet AK-74 assault rifle, but deliveries of the more advanced AK-74M to the troops have already begun. To carry out sabotage missions, paratroopers can use the Val silent assault rifle.

The Airborne Forces are armed with machine guns "Pecheneg" (Russia) and NSV (USSR), as well as a heavy machine gun "Kord" (Russia).

Among the sniper systems, it should be noted SV-98 (Russia) and Vintorez (USSR), as well as the Austrian Steyr SSG 04 sniper rifle, which was purchased for the needs of special forces of the Airborne Forces. The paratroopers are armed with automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30, as well as an easel grenade launcher SPG-9 "Spear". In addition, a number of hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers of both Soviet and Russian production are used.

To conduct aerial reconnaissance and adjust artillery fire, the Airborne Forces use Russian-made Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles. The exact number of Orlans in service with the Airborne Forces is unknown.

The airborne troops of the Russian Federation use a large number of different parachute systems of Soviet and Russian production. With their help, landing of both personnel and military equipment is carried out.

Today, Russian paratroopers and veterans of the Russian Airborne Forces celebrate their professional holiday.

The history of our Airborne Troops began on August 2, 1930. On this day, at the exercises of the Air Force of the Moscow Military District, which were held near Voronezh, 12 people were parachuted from the air as part of a special unit. The experiment showed the enormous possibilities and prospects of the parachute units.

From that moment on, the rapid development of new troops in the USSR, in its tasks for 1931, the Revolutionary Military Council of the Red Army determines: "... airborne operations must be comprehensively studied from the technical and tactical side by the Headquarters of the Red Army in order to develop and send out appropriate instructions to the places." Which is what was done.

In 1931, an airborne landing detachment was formed in the Leningrad Military District, numbering 164 people. For landing, they use the TB-3& aircraft, which took on board 35 paratroopers, and on the external suspension - either a light tank, or an armored car, or two 76 mm caliber guns. The idea was verified by experiment.

On December 11, 1932, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR adopted a resolution on the creation of mass Airborne Troops. On the basis of the airborne detachment of the Leningrad Military District, which has been landing all year, an entire brigade is being formed. The main task is the training of paratrooper instructors, plus the development of operational and tactical standards. By March 1933, the instructors were trained, the standards were calculated, and in the Belarusian, Ukrainian, Moscow and Volga military districts they began to form special-purpose aviation battalions.

For the first time, a massive parachute assault was dropped in the presence of foreign delegations at maneuvers in the Kiev military district in September 1935. 1200 specially trained military personnel landed, who quickly captured the airfield. This impressed the observers. At the next major exercise in the Belarusian military district, 1,800 paratroopers were already dropped. This impressed the German military observers, including Göring. who was on topic. In the spring of that year, he gave the order to form the first German airborne regiment. The experience of the Soviet Airborne Forces was appreciated from the very beginning according to its merits abroad.

Soon, the troops, who first appeared in the composition of our armed forces, will have the opportunity to test their capabilities in real combat conditions. In 1939, the 212th Airborne Brigade took part in the battles with Japanese troops on the Khalkhin Gol River. During the Soviet-Finnish war (1939-1940), the 201st, 204th and 214th airborne brigades fought.

By the summer of 1941, five airborne corps each numbering 10,000 people were being completed. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, all five airborne corps participate in fierce battles on the territory of Latvia, Belarus, and Ukraine. During the counter-offensive near Moscow in early 1942, the Vyazemsky airborne operation took place with the landing of the 4th airborne corps. This is the largest operation of the Airborne Forces during the war years. In total, about 10 thousand paratroopers were dropped behind German lines.

During the war years, all airborne formations receive the rank of guards. 296 paratroopers - the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Based on the experience of the war in 1946, the Airborne Forces are withdrawn from the Air Force and included in the reserve troops of the Supreme High Command and directly subordinate to the Minister of the USSR Armed Forces. At the same time, the post of commander of the Airborne Forces of the USSR Armed Forces was established.

The first commander of the Airborne Forces is Colonel General V.V. Glagolev.

In 1954, V.F. became the commander of the Airborne Forces. Margelov (1909-1990), who remains in this position with a short break until 1979. An entire epoch in the history of Russian airborne troops is associated with the name of Margelov; it is not for nothing that the Airborne Forces received the unofficial name "Uncle Vasya's Troops".

In the 1950s, during the exercises of airborne units, special attention began to be paid to new methods of defense behind enemy lines, to airborne operations in the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons. Parts of the Airborne Forces begin to receive heavy weapons - artillery installations (ASU-76, ASU-57, ASU-85), tracked airborne combat vehicles (BMD-1, BMD-2). Military transport aviation is equipped with An-12, An-22 aircraft, which were able to deliver armored vehicles, vehicles, artillery, and ammunition behind enemy lines. On January 5, 1973, for the first time in history, a caterpillar BMD-1 with two crew members on board was parachuted from the An-12B military transport aircraft on parachute-platform means in the Centaur complex. The crew commander is the son of Vasily Filippovich Margelov, Senior Lieutenant Alexander Margelov, the driver is Lieutenant Colonel Zuev Leonid Gavrilovich.

The Airborne Forces take part in the Czechoslovak events of 1968. Parts of the 7th and 103rd Guards Airborne Divisions captured and blocked the airfields of Ruzin (near Prague) and the city of Brno, paratroopers prepared them to receive military transport aircraft. Two hours later, paratroopers capture four bridges across the Vltava, the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, publishing houses, the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the main post office, the television center, banks and other important objects in Prague. This happens without firing a shot.

In the future, units of the Airborne Forces participate in the war in Afghanistan, military conflicts in the territory of the former USSR - Chechnya, Karabakh, South and North Ossetia, in Osh, Transnistria and in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz confrontation. Two airborne battalions perform tasks

UN Peacekeeping Forces in Yugoslavia.

Now the Airborne Forces are one of the most combat-ready units of the Russian Army. They form the backbone of the Special Operations Forces. The ranks of the Airborne Forces number about 35 thousand soldiers and officers.

World experience

The US Airborne Forces have a rich tradition and great combat experience. Unlike Russia, the Airborne Forces in the United States are not a separate branch of the military; the Americans consider the Airborne Forces as a special component of the ground forces. Organizationally, the US Airborne Forces are united in the 18th Airborne Corps, which also includes tank, motorized infantry, and aviation units. The corps was formed in 1944 in the British Isles and took part in the fighting in Western Europe. Formations and units from its composition participated in the hostilities in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Haiti, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The corps currently consists of four divisions and a variety of support units and units. The total number of personnel is 88 thousand people. Corps Headquarters is at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

UK Airborne Forces

In the British Army, the Airborne Forces also do not form a separate branch of the military, but are part of the Ground Forces.

To date, the British Armed Forces have one - the 16th Air Assault Brigade as part of the 5th Division of the British Army. It was formed on September 1, 1999, including units of the 5th Airborne Brigade and the 24th Airborne Brigade. It consists of airborne, infantry, artillery, medical and engineering units.

The main emphasis in the British military doctrine of the use of the Airborne Forces is on airborne assault with the support of helicopter units.

The brigade inherited its name from the 1st and 6th airborne divisions, during the Second World War. The Attack Eagle emblem was borrowed from the Special Training Center located in Lohilot, Scotland.

The 16th brigade is the main strike unit of the British Army, so it takes part in all military operations conducted by the UK: Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Iraq, Afghanistan.

The brigade has a strength of 8,000 personnel, making it the largest of all British Army brigades.

Airborne Forces of France

The French Airborne Forces are part of the Ground Forces and are represented by the 11th Parachute Division. The division is divided into two brigades and consists of seven units, corresponding to the size of the battalion: the 1st Parachute Regiment of the Marine Corps, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment of the Foreign Legion, the 1st and 9th Regiments of Parachute Commandos (light infantry) , 3rd, 6th, and 8th Marine Parachute Regiments.

The division headquarters is located in Tarbes, in the province of Hautes-Pyrenees. The personnel consists of about 11,000 people.

French paratroopers participated in all recent French military conflicts from the war in Indochina to the peacekeeping operation in Mali.

Airborne Forces of Germany

German paratroopers form the basis of the special operations forces of the Bundeswehr. Organizationally, the airborne troops are represented in the form of a Special Operations Division with headquarters in Regensburg. The Division includes: a special-purpose detachment of the KSK (“Kommando Spezialkrafte”), formed on the basis of the former 25th paratrooper brigade; 26th Airborne Brigade; 31st Airborne Brigade; and the 4th command and communications regiment; anti-aircraft missile battery; 310th separate reconnaissance company; 200th reconnaissance and sabotage company. The staff consists of 8 thousand people.

The paratroopers of the Bundeswehr take an active part in all peacekeeping and military operations of the UN and NATO, conducted recently.

Airborne Forces of China

In China, the airborne troops are part of the Air Force. They are consolidated into the 15th Airborne Corps (headquarters in Xiaogan, Hubei Province), which consists of three airborne divisions - the 43rd (Kaifeng, Hubei Province), the 44th (Inshan, Hubei Province) and 45th (Huangpi, Hubei Province).

At present, according to various estimates, the airborne troops of the PLA Air Force number from 24,000 to 30,000 personnel.

(SSO of Belarus)
Ukraine(DShV of Ukraine)

Motto "Nobody except us!" Participation in Afghan war commanders Notable commanders Cm.

The main method of delivery of the Airborne Forces is landing both by parachute and by landing. Also units can be delivered by helicopters; glider delivery was practiced during World War II.

In different countries airborne troops called differently: air infantry , winged infantry, rapid reaction forces (troops), airmobile troops , highly mobile landing troops , commandos(British commandos) and others.

They consist of a central body of military control (management, headquarters), formations, units, divisions and institutions (for example, in Russia: Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School).

In peacetime, the Airborne Troops perform the main tasks of maintaining combat and mobilization readiness at a level that ensures their successful use as intended.

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Armament and military equipment

In the US airborne divisions, the equipment is the same as for light infantry brigades and consists of vehicles based on HMMWV, M1117 ASV, 8x8 HEMTT tractors and trucks, 2.5-/5-ton 4x4/6x6 FMTV trucks and howitzers M119, M777.

In the French 11th Airborne Brigade, the armament consists of the VAB armored personnel carrier, VBL and PVP armored personnel carriers, the AMX-10RC and ERC 90 armored personnel carriers, the RTF1 120 mm mortar, DRAC reconnaissance drones, CAESAR 155 mm howitzers, 20 mm Giat 53T2 cannons on TRM 2000 trucks, Mistral MANPADS.

In the Spanish 6th Airborne Brigade, the equipment consists of Iveco LMV, BMR, URO VAMTAC, 81-mm mortar ECIA L-65 / 81 on the URO VAMTAC chassis, 155-mm towed howitzer SIAC, reconnaissance units move on Centauro and BRM VEC -M1.

In the British 16th air assault brigade, the equipment used consists of Lynx AH9A helicopters, WAH-64 Apache, L118 105 mm howitzers, Jackal vehicles, WMIK Land Rover, Pinzgauer 4x4, Supacat ATMP amphibious transport vehicle, Starstreak HVM MANPADS, minidrones Desert Hawk III.

Airborne Forces of the USSR and Russia

Airborne Forces of the USSR

The first use of airborne assault in the history of military affairs took place in the spring of 1929. In the city of Garm besieged by the Basmachi, a group of armed Red Army soldiers was landed from the air, which, with the support of local residents, defeated a gang that had invaded the territory of Tajikistan from abroad. However, the Day of the Airborne Forces in Russia and a number of other countries is August 2, in honor of the parachute landing at the military exercise of the Moscow Military District near Voronezh on August 2, 1930.

In 1935, major military exercises took place in the Kiev Military District, during which, for the first time in the history of the USSR, a mass airborne landing was practiced with the aim of capturing Brovary airport. The whole operation took no more than 2 hours. This airborne assault was also witnessed by British Field Marshal Archibald Wavell.

In 1940, they took part in the operation to annex Bessarabia to the USSR.

Landing operations were used in the Manchurian strategic operation in August 1945.

In August 1944, the Airborne Forces were merged into the Separate Guards Airborne Army, and on December 18, 1944, by order of the SVGK KA No. 0047, the army was disbanded. On its basis, the 9th Guards Army was formed. All divisions and brigades of the Airborne Forces were reorganized into guards rifle divisions and corps. The remaining three airborne brigades (5th, 8th, 24th) were transferred to the KA Air Force. Lieutenant-General Zatevakhin Ivan Ivanovich has been appointed head of the Airborne Forces Department of the Air Force of the Spacecraft.

In the USSR, for the first time in the world, airborne troops, which had their own armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery. In the Afghan war (1979-1989), one airborne division, one separate airborne assault brigade, one separate airborne regiment and two airborne assault battalions as part of separate motorized rifle brigades participated from the airborne and airborne assault formations of the USSR Armed Forces .

Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation

The Russian Airborne Forces have the status of a separate branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. They are the reserve of the Supreme High Command.

In other countries

Belarus

Special Operations Forces(belor. Forces of special operations): Command reports directly to the General Staff of the Armed Forces. They include: 38th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade, 103rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade, 5th Separate Special Purpose Brigade, 33rd Separate Guards Special Purpose Detachment.

Kazakhstan

Germany

Wehrmacht

The formation of parts of the Wehrmacht Airborne Forces (German: Fallschirmjäger) began in 1936 and continued during the Second World War. Between 1940 and 1941 they were used in major airborne operations in Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Greece. In subsequent years, there were even larger-scale operations with their participation, but mostly only as regular infantry formations, to support the main forces. From the allies, they received the nickname "Green Devils". Throughout World War II, their founder, Colonel-General Kurt Student, was the permanent commander.

Bundeswehr

USA

Israel

The brigade was formed in 1954-1956 by the merger of several special forces units.

The Tsankhanim brigade belongs to the Central District and is part of the 98th Reserve Airborne Division, staffed by reservists who have completed active service in the brigade.

Italy

Main article: Parachute Brigade "Folgore"

The Italian Airborne Forces are the Folgore Parachute Brigade (Italian. Brigata paracadutisti "Folgore") stationed in Livorno, Tuscany. Folgore is part of the Friuli division.

Spain

Main article: 6th Airborne Brigade

The Spanish Airborne Forces consist of the 6th Airborne Brigade "Riders" (Spanish. Brigada "Almogavares" VI de Paracaidistas ) stationed in Paracuellos de Jarama, in the region of Madrid. 6 pdbr is part of the Castillejos division.

Poland

Main articles: 25th Air Cavalry Brigade and 6th Airborne Brigade (Poland)

The Polish Airborne Forces are the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade (Polish. 25 Brygada Kawalerii Powietrznej) and the 6th Airborne Brigade (Polish 6 Brygada Powietrznodesantowa).

France

Main article: 11th Airborne Brigade

The French airborne forces are represented by the 11th paratrooper brigade (fr. 11 e brigade parachutiste) stationed in Balma, Occitania region. The 11th Infantry Brigade is part of the 3rd Panzer Division.

Ukraine

From December to August 2 - Airmobile Troops of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; September 2 to November 21 - Highly mobile landing troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; From November 21 - Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Air assault troops of Ukraine- a separate elite branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which includes airborne, airborne assault and airborne units and subunits, as well as support units, in particular training. Designed for actions behind enemy lines, actions during special, anti-terrorist and peacekeeping operations and the performance of tasks that cannot be effectively solved by other forces and means. In 2005, the United Rapid Reaction Forces were formed on the basis of the then Airmobile Forces. Ukrainian DShV consist of five separate air assault (45th, 46th, 79th, 80th and 95th), one separate airborne (25th) and one separate airmobile () brigades.

Japan

Army and Navy of the Empire of Japan (1871-1945)

The Empire of Japan had two types of airborne forces: army and navy. The parachute units of the ground forces took an active part at the beginning of the Pacific War. The army airborne forces consisted of several regiments, reduced to one division by the end of the war. The naval airborne forces consisted of three divisions and were also used as marines.

Japan Self-Defense Forces

Main article: 1st Airborne Brigade (Japan)

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force includes the 1st Airborne Brigade (Japanese: 第1空挺団, Dai-Ichi Kūtei Dan).

Faddey Bulgarin

At this signal from the blowgun from the balloon of the chief commander of the air squadron, the soldiers suddenly rushed headlong to the ground from an immeasurable height. I froze with fear, but soon came to my senses, seeing parachutes opening in the air, which, smoothly descending in various directions, presented to my eyes a different kind of charming spectacle. The soldiers, having touched the ground, deftly disentangled themselves from the nets, rolled up their parachutes and, tying them like knapsacks to their backs, immediately lined up and began to perform foot maneuvers.

Plausible Fables, or Wandering the World in the 29th Century

	AT

Airborne troops are one of the strongest components of the army of the Russian Federation. In recent years, due to the tense international situation, the importance of the Airborne Forces has been growing. The size of the territory of the Russian Federation, its landscape diversity, as well as the borders with almost all conflict states, indicate that it is necessary to have a large supply of special groupings of troops that can provide the necessary protection in all directions, which is the air force.

In contact with

As air force structure extensive, the question often arises of the Airborne Forces and the DSB are the same troops? The article analyzes the differences between them, the history, goals and military training of both organizations, the composition.

Differences between troops

The differences lie in the names themselves. The DShB is an air assault brigade organized and specializing in attacks on the enemy's close rear in the event of large-scale military operations. Air assault brigades subordinate to the Airborne Forces - airborne troops, as one of their divisions and specialize only in assault seizures.

Airborne Forces are landing troops, whose tasks are the capture of the enemy, as well as the capture and destruction of enemy weapons and other air operations. The functionality of the Airborne Forces is much wider - reconnaissance, sabotage, assault. For a better understanding of the differences, consider the history of the creation of the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Forces separately.

History of the Airborne Forces

The Airborne Forces began its history in 1930, when an operation was carried out near the city of Voronezh on August 2, where 12 people parachuted from the air as part of a special unit. This operation then opened the eyes of the leadership to new opportunities for paratroopers. The following year, based Leningrad Military District, a detachment is being formed, which received a long name - airborne and consisted of about 150 people.

The effectiveness of the paratroopers was obvious and the Revolutionary Military Council decides to expand it by creating airborne troops. The order saw the light at the end of 1932. In parallel, in Leningrad, instructors were trained, and later they were distributed to the districts by special-purpose aviation battalions.

In 1935, the military district of Kyiv demonstrated to foreign delegations the full power of the Airborne Forces, arranging an impressive landing of 1200 paratroopers, who quickly captured the airfield. Later, similar exercises were held in Belarus, as a result of which the German delegation, impressed by the landing of 1,800 people, decided to organize their own airborne detachment, and then a regiment. Thus, The Soviet Union is rightfully the birthplace of the Airborne Forces.

In 1939, our landing troops there is an opportunity to show themselves in practice. In Japan, the 212th brigade was landed on the Khalkin Gol River, and a year later the 201st, 204th and 214th brigades will be involved in the war with Finland. Knowing that the Second World War would no longer pass us by, 5 air corps of 10 thousand people each were formed and the Airborne Forces acquired a new status - guards troops.

The year 1942 was marked by the largest airborne operation during the war years, which took place near Moscow, where about 10 thousand paratroopers were dropped into the German rear. After the war, it was decided to attach the Airborne Forces to the Supreme High Command and appoint the commander of the Airborne Forces of the USSR SV, this honor falls to Colonel General V.V. Glagolev.

Big innovations in airborne troops came with "Uncle Vasya". In 1954 V.V. Glagolev is replaced by V.F. Margelov and holds the post of commander of the Airborne Forces until 1979. Under Margelov, the Airborne Forces are supplied with new military equipment, including artillery mounts, combat vehicles, and special attention is paid to work under the conditions of a surprise attack by nuclear weapons.

Airborne units took part in all the most significant conflicts - the events of Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh, North and South Ossetia. Several of our battalions carried out UN peacekeeping missions in Yugoslavia.

In our time, the ranks of the Airborne Forces include about 40 thousand fighters, when conducting special operations - paratroopers form its basis, since the Airborne Forces are a highly qualified component of our army.

The history of the formation of the DShB

Air assault brigades began their history after it was decided to rework the tactics of the Airborne Forces in the context of the unleashing of large-scale hostilities. The purpose of such air defenses was to disorganize opponents by mass landings close to the enemy, such operations were most often carried out from helicopters in small groups.

Toward the end of the 60s in the Far East, it was decided to form the 11th and 13th brigades with helicopter regiments. These regiments were involved mainly in hard-to-reach areas, the first attempts at landings took place in the northern cities of Magdachi and Zavitinsk. Therefore, in order to become a paratrooper of this brigade, strength and special endurance were needed, since the weather conditions were almost unpredictable, for example, in winter the temperature reached -40 degrees, and in summer there was abnormal heat.

The location of the first DShB not just because the Far East was chosen. It was a time of difficult relations with China, which became even more aggravated after the clash of interests on the island of Damascus. The brigades were ordered to prepare to repel an attack from China, which could attack at any time.

The high level and significance of the DSB was demonstrated during exercises in the late 80s on the island of Iturup, where 2 battalions and artillery landed on MI-6 and MI-8 helicopters. The garrison, due to weather conditions, was not warned about the exercises, as a result of which they opened fire on the landers, but thanks to the highly qualified training of the paratroopers, none of the participants in the operation was injured.

In the same years, the DSB consisted of 2 regiments, 14 brigades, about 20 battalions. One brigade attached to one military district, but only to those who had access to the border by land. Kyiv also had its own brigade, 2 more brigades were given to our units located abroad. Each brigade had an artillery battalion, rear and combat units.

After the USSR ceased to exist, the country's budget did not allow the mass maintenance of the army, so there was nothing left to do but to disband some parts of the DSHB and the Airborne Forces. The beginning of the 90s was marked by the withdrawal of the DSB from the subordination of the Far East and the transfer to full subordination to Moscow. Air assault brigades are being transformed into separate airborne brigades - 13 OVDbr. In the mid-90s, the plan to reduce the Airborne Forces disbanded the composition of the 13th Airborne Brigade.

Thus, from the foregoing, it can be seen that the DSB was created as one of the structural divisions of the Airborne Forces.

Composition of the Airborne Forces

The composition of the Airborne Forces includes the following units:

• airborne;
• air assault;
• mountain (which operate exclusively on mountain hills).

These are the three main components of the Airborne Forces. In addition, they consist of a division (76.98, 7, 106 Guards Air Assault), brigades and regiments (45, 56, 31, 11, 83, 38 Guards Airborne). In Voronezh, a brigade was created in 2013, which received the number 345.

Personnel of the Airborne Forces prepared in educational institutions of the military reserve of Ryazan, Novosibirsk, Kamenetz-Podolsk, in Kolomenskoye. The training was conducted in the areas of paratrooper (airborne assault) platoon, commanders of reconnaissance platoons.

The school produced about three hundred graduates annually - this was not enough to satisfy the personnel requirements of the airborne troops. Consequently, it was possible to get into the military personnel of the Airborne Forces by graduating from the landing faculties in special areas of such schools as combined arms and military departments.

Training

The commanders of the DShB were most often selected from the Airborne Forces, and the battalion commanders, deputy battalion commanders, company commanders from the nearest military districts. In the 70s, due to the fact that the leadership decided to repeat their experience - to create and staff the DShB, the planned enrollment in educational institutions is expanding who trained future officers of the Airborne Forces. The mid-80s were marked by the fact that officers were issued for service in the Airborne Troops, having been trained according to the educational program for the Airborne Forces. Also in these years, a complete rearrangement of officers was underway, it was decided to replace almost all of them in the DShV. At the same time, excellent students went to serve mainly in the Airborne Forces.

To get into the service in the Airborne Forces, as in the DSB, you must meet specific criteria:

• height 173 and above;
• average physical development;
• secondary education;
• without medical restrictions.

If everything matches, then the future fighter begins training.

Particular attention is paid, of course, to the physical training of airborne paratroopers, which is carried out constantly, begins with a daily rise at 6 in the morning, hand-to-hand combat (a special training program) and ends with long forced marches of 30–50 km. Therefore, each fighter has a huge endurance and endurance, besides, guys who were engaged in any kind of sport that develops that very endurance are selected into their ranks. To check it, they pass an endurance test - in 12 minutes a fighter must run 2.4-2.8 km, otherwise there is no point in the Airborne Forces service.

It is worth noting that it is not for nothing that they are called universal fighters. These people can operate on various terrains in any weather conditions absolutely silently, can disguise themselves, own all types of weapons of both their own and the enemy, manage any type of transport, means of communication. In addition to excellent physical fitness, psychological training is also required, since the fighters have to overcome not only long distances, but also “work with their heads” to get ahead of the enemy throughout the entire operation.

Intellectual fitness is determined using tests compiled by experts. It is mandatory to take into account psychological compatibility in the team, the guys are included in a certain detachment for 2-3 days, after which the old-timers evaluate their behavior.

Psychophysical training is being carried out, which implies tasks with increased risk, where there is both physical and mental stress. Such tasks are aimed at overcoming fear. At the same time, if it turns out that the future paratrooper does not experience, in general, a feeling of fear, then he is not accepted for further training, since this feeling is quite naturally taught to control him, and not completely eradicated. The training of the Airborne Forces gives our country a huge advantage in the face of fighters over any enemy. Most of the VDVeshnikov lead an already familiar lifestyle even after retirement.

Armament of the Airborne Forces

As for the technical equipment, combined arms equipment and specially designed for the nature of this type of troops are involved in the Airborne Forces. Some of the samples were created during the USSR, but the bulk was developed after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The machines of the Soviet period include:

• landing combat vehicle - 1 (the number reaches - 100 units);
• BMD-2M (about 1 thousand units), they are used both in ground and in parachute landing methods.

These techniques were tested over many years and took part in multiple armed conflicts that took place on the territory of our country and abroad. In our time, in conditions of rapid progress, these models are outdated both morally and physically. A little later, the BMD-3 model came out, and today the number of such equipment is only 10 units, since production has been discontinued, they plan to gradually replace it with the BMD-4.

The Airborne Forces are also armed with armored personnel carriers BTR-82A, BTR-82AM and BTR-80 and the most numerous tracked armored personnel carrier - 700 units, and it is also the most outdated (mid-70s), it is gradually being replaced by an armored personnel carrier - MDM "Rakushka". There are also anti-tank guns 2S25 "Sprut-SD", an armored personnel carrier - RD "Robot", and anti-tank systems: "Competition", "Metis", "Fagot", and "Cornet". air defense represented by missile systems, but a special place is given to the novelty, which not so long ago appeared in service with the Airborne Forces - the Verba MANPADS.

Not so long ago, new models of technology appeared:

• armored car "Tiger";
• Snowmobile A-1;
• truck KAMAZ - 43501.

As for communication systems, they are represented by locally developed electronic warfare complexes "Leer-2 and 3", Infauna, system control is represented by air defense "Barnaul", "Andromeda" and "Flight-K" - automation of command and control.

Weapon represented by samples, for example, the Yarygin pistol, the PMM and the PSS silent pistol. The Soviet Ak-74 assault rifle is still the personal weapon of the paratroopers, but is gradually being replaced by the latest AK-74M, and the silent Val assault rifle is also used in special operations. There are both Soviet and post-Soviet parachute systems that can parachute large batches of soldiers and all the military equipment described above. Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30, SPG-9.

Armament DShB

DShB had transport and helicopter regiments which included:

• about twenty mi-24s, forty mi-8s and forty mi-6s;
• the anti-tank battery was armed with a mounted anti-tank grenade launcher 9 MD;
• the mortar battery included eight 82mm BM-37s;
• in the anti-aircraft missile platoon, there were nine Strela-2M MANPADS;
• also included several BMD-1s, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers for each airborne assault battalion.

The armament of the brigade-artillery group consisted of GD-30 howitzers, PM-38 mortars, GP 2A2 cannons, the Malyutka anti-tank missile system, SPG-9MD, and the ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun.

Heavier equipment includes automatic grenade launchers AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30, SPG-9 "Spear". Aerial reconnaissance is carried out using the domestic Orlan-10 drone.

One interesting fact took place in the history of the Airborne Forces, for quite a long time, thanks to erroneous information from the media, special forces soldiers (SpN) were not rightfully called paratroopers. The fact, what is in the Air Force of our country in the Soviet Union, as well as in the post-Soviet Union, there were no special forces troops and there are no special forces, but there are units and units of the Special Forces of the GRU of the General Staff, which arose in the 50s. Until the 1980s, the command was forced to completely deny their existence in our country. Therefore, those who were appointed to these troops learned about them only after they were accepted into service. For the media, they were disguised as motorized rifle battalions.

Airborne Forces Day

Paratroopers celebrate the birthday of the Airborne Forces, like the DSB since August 2, 2006. This kind of gratitude for the effectiveness of the air units, the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation was signed in May of the same year. Despite the fact that the holiday was declared by our government, the birthday is celebrated not only in our country, but also in Belarus, Ukraine and most of the CIS countries.

Every year, veterans of the Airborne Forces and active soldiers meet in the so-called "meeting place", in each city it has its own, for example, in Astrakhan "Brotherly Garden", in Kazan "Victory Square", in Kyiv "Hydropark", in Moscow "Poklonnaya Gora", Novosibirsk Central Park. Demonstrations, concerts and fairs are organized in large cities.

The composition and deployment of the Airborne Forces

Taken from http://ryadovoy.vif2.ru/militarizm/dds&antidds/dds_vdv_1a.htm

Text notes:

1. All separate brigades had the status of a connection and, therefore, their battalions (dshb) were called separate. They should not be confused with separate battalions that were not part of the brigades (odshb proper).

2. All airborne troops were guards troops. They, in fact, were formed on the basis of guards formations. In the text, their guard distinction and honorary titles are omitted.

Period 1946-68 Revival and formation.

Despite the generally unsuccessful experience of using our airborne assault forces in the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet leadership remained enviably faithful to the idea. (It is possible that the airborne assaults somewhat rehabilitated themselves in the Manchurian operation, where they showed themselves brilliantly.) Therefore, six months after the end of the war, a decision was made on the new formation of full-fledged airborne forces. A number of elite guards rifle divisions formed during the war years on the basis of guards airborne divisions are involved in this. It should be noted here that these divisions, despite the name, were reinforced rifle divisions in terms of organizational structure and weapons, and in fact were elite rifle divisions - a guard within a guard.

So, in June 1946, by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the rare remaining "real" Airborne Forces were withdrawn from the Air Force (where they were from the moment of formation), included in the reserve of the Supreme High Command and subordinated directly to the Minister of the Armed Forces. Five guards were sent to form troops. rifle corps consisting of ten guards. rifle divisions (with the preservation of numbers, guards rank, honorary titles and military awards). In addition, the existing 1st and 12th air transport divisions were included in the troops and the 3rd, 6th and 281st divisions were formed.

Corps and divisions - Location and composition

8th Guards Neman Red Banner VDK, Polotsk

103rd Guards. Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Airborne Forces, Polotsk, Belarus

114th Guards. Vienna Red Banner Airborne Forces, Art. Borovukha Belarus

15th Guards VDK, Rakvere, Krechevits, Novoselytsya

104th Guards. Order of Kutuzov VDD, Narva and Kingisepp (Leningrad region, Estonia) - 332nd (Rakverne) and 349th (Yehvi) pdp

76th Guards. Chernihiv Red Banner Airborne Forces, Novgorod

37th Guards. Svirsky Red Banner VDK, pos. Monastery (Primorye)

98th Guards. Svir Red Banner Airborne Forces, Art. Pokrovka (Primorsky Territory)

99th Guards. Svirskaya Order of Kutuzov VDD, art. Manzovka and Flour (Primorsky Territory) - 297th and 300th pdp

38th Guards Vienna VDK, Tula

106th Guards. Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Airborne Forces, Tula

105th Guards. Vienna Red Banner Airborne Forces, Kostroma

39th Guards. Vienna VDK, Belaya Tserkov

100th Guards. Svir Red Banner Airborne Forces, Belaya Tserkov

107th Guards. Pervomaiskaya Red Banner Order of Suvorov Airborne Forces, Chernihiv

Aviation transport units were located in the same areas of deployment.

In 1947, the 100th Airborne Division was relocated to the city of Kirovograd (Ukraine).

In the summer of 1948, the deployment of five more airborne forces began:

7th (Lithuania, 8th VDK),

11th (presumably on the territory of the Moscow Military District, 38th VDK),

13th (Transbaikalia, 37th VDK),

21st (Estonia, Valga, 15th Airborne Forces)

31st (Prikarpattya, 39th Airborne Forces) - each on the basis of one of the already existing parachute regiments. New divisions were distributed, one per corps.

The 2nd air transport division and a separate communications battalion of the Airborne Forces were also formed in the village. Bear Lakes near Moscow.

At the same time, all available forces formed the Airborne Army. Thus, the Airborne Forces had 5 corps headquarters, 15 (!!!) airborne and 6 air transport divisions. A total of 30 parachute regiments.

In April 1953, the Directorate of the Airborne Forces was reorganized into the Directorate of the Airborne Forces, all airborne divisions (except the 103rd and 114th) were transferred to a three-regiment structure [before that they had two regiments each]. Thus, the total number of parachute regiments reached 43.

All R. In the 1950s, due to the general reduction of the Armed Forces, the Airborne Forces were also reduced and reformed:

Con. 1955 - beginning. 1956 - the 11th, 21st, 100th and 114th Airborne Division and the Airborne Forces Administration were disbanded [Apparently, only the headquarters and divisional units were disbanded, and the parachute regiments, at least some of them, were transferred to other divisions. The number of divisions was thus reduced to 11.

April 1955 - airborne aviation was withdrawn from the Airborne Forces and the VTA VVS was created on its basis

1956 - the Airborne Forces were transferred to the Main Command of the SV.

1959 - the 31st and 107th airborne divisions were disbanded

October 1960 - the 44th school was formed. VDD

1964 - The Airborne Forces were again withdrawn from the SV and subordinated directly to the Minister of Defense.

The troops gained combat experience in the suppression of the anti-Soviet rebellion in Hungary. The 7th Airborne Division as part of the 80th and 108th Airborne Regiment and the 31st Airborne Division as part of the 114th and 381st Airborne Regiment took part in those events (the rest of the regiments of divisions did not participate in hostilities, they did not leave the territory of the USSR).

Two divisions changed their places of permanent deployment: the 104th in 1960 was relocated to the city of Kirovobad (Azerbaijan), and the 105th in 1961 to Fergana (Uzbekistan) and Osh (Kyrgyzstan).

In addition to these divisions, in con. In the 1950s, it was decided to deploy another training division. Such a division - the 44th training airborne division, consisting of three airborne divisions (226th, 285th and 301st) and one UAP, was formed in the city of Ostrov, Pskov Region. in the autumn of 1960 and redeployed, after being formed in the PPD on the territory of Lithuania.

Thus, from 1960 to 1967, the Soviet Airborne Forces consisted of nine combat and one training airborne divisions of three regiments, i.e. there were 30 parachute regiments.

7th Guards VDD - Kaunas, Lithuania (PribVO) - 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas) and 97th (Alytus) pdp

13th Guards. VDD- ZabVO- ???

76th Guards. VDD - Pskov region. (LenVO) - 104th (since 1959, Cherekha), 234th and 237th (both in the Pskov region) pdp

98th Guards. VDD- gg. Bolgrad and Chisinau (OdesVO) - 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) pdp

99th Guards. VDD - Primorsky Territory (DalVO) - incl. 297th and 305th pdp

103rd Guards. VDD - Vitebsk (BelVO) - 317th, 350th and 357th (all in Vitebsk) pdp

104th Guards. VDD- Kirovobad (ZakVO) - 80th, 328th and 332nd checkpoints (all in Kirovobad)

106th Guards VDD - Tula, Ryazan (MVO) - 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st (Narofominsk) pdp

44th account. guards Airborne Forces - Lithuania (PBVO) - 226th, 285th and 301st updp

Period 1968-79 Rise.

At the end of the 1960s, the 13th (Transbaikalia) and 99th (Primorsky Territory) airborne divisions were disbanded and two (11th and 13th, respectively) separate air assault brigades were deployed at their base. B - 21st brigade in the WKVO. All new ovshbr are part of the SV GK. In 1968, the 98th Guards. the airborne division was transferred to the new PPD in OdVO (Bolgrad-Chisinau). Thus, from the late 60s to 1979, the Airborne Forces consisted of:

7th Guards Airborne Forces - Kaunas, Lithuania (PribVO) - 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas), 97th airborne division (Alytus), and 1137th ap (Kalvaria).

76th Guards. VDD - Pskov region. (LenVO) - 104th (Cherekha), 234th, 237th (both in Pskov) pdp.

98th Guards. VDD-Bolgrad-Chisinau (OdVO) - 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) pdp

103rd Guards. Airborne Forces - Vitebsk (BelVO) - 317th, 350th and 357th (all in Vitebsk) pdp

104th Guards. VDD- Kirovobad (ZakVO) - incl. 80th pdp

105th Guards. VDD- Fergana, Osh (SAVO) - 345th, 351st (both in Fergana) and 383rd (Osh) pdp

106th Guards. VDD - Tula, Ryazan (MVO) - 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st (Narofominsk) pdp

44th account. guards Airborne Forces - Jonava (Lithuania) - Composition: 301st (Gaizhunai), 226th and 285th (both in Jonava) updp, as well as UAP.

Period 1979-89. Apogee.

In 1979, the 105th Guards. VDD (345th, 351st and 383rd PDP; 730th obs, etc.) was disbanded. Only the 345th opdp (Fergana) was left. Thus, there were seven airborne divisions, incl. one educational; in total - 22 parachute regiments (of which 3 are training and 1 separate).
Number

7th Guards VDD

Location: headquarters and 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Kapsukas), 97th infantry regiment (Alytus), 1137th ap (Kalvaria).

44th account. guards VDD

Location: Gaižiūnai (Lithuania). Composition: 301st (Gaijunai), 226th and 285th (both in Rukla) UPDP, as well as UAP. In 1987 it was reorganized into the 242nd Training Center of the Airborne Forces.

76th Guards. VDD

Location: Pskov. Composition: 104th, 234th, 237th pdp.

98th Guards. VDD

Location: Bolgrad and Chisinau. Composition: 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th (Chisinau) pdp.

103rd Guards. VDD

Location: Vitebsk (Belarus). From 1979 to 1989 she fought in Afghanistan. Training units remained in Vitebsk. Composition: 317th, 350th and 357th infantry regiment (in Afghanistan there is also the 62nd detachment).

104th Guards. VDD

Location: Ganja (then - Kirovabad, Azerbaijan). Composition: 28th, 382nd, 227th pdp; since 1990, it may have also had the 10th pdp.

106th Guards. VDD

Location: headquarters and 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st infantry regiments (Narofominsk).

345th OPDP

Remained from the 105th Airborne Division. Location: Fergana (Uzbekistan), since December 1979 - in Afghanistan, Kabul district, Bagram. Served as a training center. After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, in 1990 it was renamed into the 10th opdp and transferred to the Transcaucasus and there, possibly, it was merged into the 104th airborne division.

387th OUPDP

Formed in Afghanistan on the funds of the 345th OPDP as a training unit. After the withdrawal from Afghanistan - disbanded.

171st OBR

Dislocation - town. Bear Lakes.

332nd ensign school

Gaižiūnai (Lithuania)

The separate communications brigade (OBRS), which was part of the Airborne Forces, stationed in Bear Lakes, had, in addition to communications units, also a separate special intelligence company.

Period from 1989-1991 Union..

The most important events of this period were:

1989 - Renaming the air assault brigades into airborne as part of the High Command of the Ground Forces.

1988-89 - Withdrawal of airborne units from Afghanistan with their respective restructuring and rearmament. (For example, in Afghanistan, the 103rd Airborne Division had a separate tank battalion, which, after the withdrawal, was disbanded.)

Transfer of the 103rd Airborne Division to the KGB PV.

1990 - Reassignment of airborne brigades from the High Command of the Ground Forces to the Command of the Airborne Forces.

The composition of the Airborne Forces took the following form:
Number

Location, composition and notes

7th Guards VDD

Location: headquarters and 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Mariampole-Kapsukas) and 97th infantry regiment (Alytus), 1137th ap (Kalvaria).

76th Guards. VDD

Location: Pskov. Composition: 104th, 234th, 237th pdp.

98th Guards. VDD

Location: Bolgrad and Chisinau (since 1968). Composition: 217th, 299th (both in Bolgrad) and 300th pdp and ap (Chisinau).

103rd Guards. VDD

Location: Vitebsk (Belarus). Composition: 317th, 350th and 357th pdp. From January 1990 to August 1991 - as part of the KGB of the USSR. During this period it was called the 103rd Guards. VDD PV KGB.

104th Guards. VDD

Location: Ganja (then - Kirovabad, Azerbaijan). Composition: 28th, 382nd, 227th pdp and?

106th Guards. VDD

Location: headquarters and 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 331st infantry regiments (Narofominsk).

242nd Training Center of the Airborne Forces

Location: Gaižiūnai (Lithuania). Composition: 301st (Gaijunai), 226th and 285th (both in Rukla) updp, as well as UAP.

345th Guards. OPDP

After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, in 1990 he was transferred to the Western Military District and later the 10th OPDP was additionally deployed at its base.

11th Guards. VDBR

Location - Mogocha. ZabVO.

13th Guards. VDBR

Dislocation - In 1994, she was transferred from Usuriisk (Far Eastern Military District) to Orenburg. PurVO. In 1997 - disbanded.

14th Guards VDBR

Location - Cottbus (GDR), ZGV. In 1990, it was bred to Kazakhstan (Alma-Ata region).

21st Guards VDBR

Location - Kutaisi. ZakVO.

23rd Guards VDBR

Location - Kremenchug. QUO.

35th Guards. VDBR

Location - Kapchegay. TurkVO.

36th Guards. VDBR

Location - pos. Garbolovo (Vsevolozhsk district, Leningrad region). LenVO.

37th Guards. VDBR

Location - Chernyakhovsk (Kaliningrad region). PribVO.

38th Guards. VDBR

Location - Brest (Belarus). BVI.

39th Guards VDBR

Dislocation - Khyriv, (Lviv region). Since 1990, when transferred to the Airborne Forces, it was reorganized into the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces. PrikVO.

40th Guards. VDBR

Location: Nikolaev (Ukraine). OdVO.

56th Guards. VDBR

Deployment - from Afghanistan, in 1988, was withdrawn to Iolotan (Turkmenistan). SAVO.

83rd Guards VDBR

In 1990, she was relocated from Magdagachi to Ussuriysk (Primorsky Territory). DVO.

95th Guards. VDBR

Dislocation - Zhytomyr (Zhytomyr region, Ukraine). QUO.

100th Guards. VDBR

Location - Abakan, Krasnoyarsk Territory.

171st OBR

Dislocation - town. Bear Lakes, MVO

332nd ensign school

Gaizhunai (Lithuania), PrikVO

Thus, on ser. 1991, there were a total of (deployed, spares do not count): 22 parachute regiments (including 1 separate and 3 training) and 15 airborne brigades (including 1 training). In addition, the 38th communications brigade (renamed 171st), the Ryazan military school, and others remained.

The strength of the Airborne Forces on:

Mid-1991 - 77,036 people, including 20 generals 11,445 officers

At the end of 1991 - early. 1992, in connection with the collapse of the USSR, difficult times came for the Armed Forces. They also spoke to the Airborne Forces. With a landslide overall reduction of the Armed Forces, the Airborne Forces were no less landslide reduced. On the basis of the Soviet Airborne Forces located on their territory, such countries as Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan formed their own troops of a similar type. The idea of ​​the existence of some "strategic forces" common to the post-Soviet states, in which the airborne forces were supposed to play the main role, did not stand the test of time for half a year and quickly died. An idea of ​​this situation is provided by the following country data.

7th Guards VDD-(since 1998 - DShD)

Completely withdrawn from Lithuania in August 1993 and redeployed to Novorossiysk. At the same time, the 237th RPD was disbanded, and the 119th RPD was transferred to the 106th Airborne Division. Instead, they transferred the 345th opdp. In 1993, for a short time (2 months), the division was given the 901st Ordb. In the summer of 1998: the 97th and 345th infantry regiments were disbanded, and the newly formed 247th infantry fighting regiment was introduced in Stavropol. Thus, in the composition of the division for 1999 there were: 108th Guards. Kuban Kaz. pdp (Novorossiysk); 247th Guards. kaz. dshp (Stavropol) and 1137th Guards. art. regiment (Anapa). It is possible that - the 10th pdp (in Abkhazia) is also part of it.

76th Guards. VDD

The location remained unchanged - the district of Pskov. The composition includes: 104th, 234th and 237th pdp, 1140th ap. In 1998, it was planned to reorganize into the DSHD.

98th Guards. VDD

The forces stationed in Ukraine are divided between Russia and Ukraine - 50/50. Almost all equipment in Chisinau was left to Moldova. What was left to the Russian Federation was withdrawn to Kostroma (217th RPT) and Abakan (300th RPT). Abakansky, approximately, in 1998, was disbanded, and on the basis of the 331st (from the 106th Airborne Division) and the 217th Airborne Division, the division was re-formed. Current deployment: headquarters and the 331st infantry fighting unit in the region of the city of Ivanovo (Teikovsky district, Ivanovo region), and the 217th infantry fighting unit in Kostroma.

103rd Guards. VDD

Completely ceded to Belarus in 1992.

104th Guards. VDD

Bred in the Volga region (Ulyanovsk); at the same time, a significant part of the equipment was left to Azerbaijan. It was disbanded in 1996, and the 31st airborne brigade was deployed on its basis, and part of the equipment was transferred to the 98th airborne division.

106th Guards. VDD

One of the regiments (331st) was transferred to the 98th Airborne Division, and the 119th Airborne Division from the 7th Airborne Division arrived instead. The final composition: the headquarters and the 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 119th infantry regiment (Narofominsk), as well as the 1182nd ap (Efremov).

In February-September 1993, he was transferred to the city of Omsk in full force. The 301st UPDP was soon disbanded.

45th ORP Special Forces

Formed in 1993-94. on the basis of two separate rb spn - 218th and 901st.

10th Guards opdp

Peacekeeping. It was formed in May 1998, in Gudauta (Abkhazia) on the basis of the disbanded 345th RPD of the 7th Airborne Division. Non-standard. The recruitment was carried out on the basis of rotation from other units of the Airborne Forces. (In the summer of 2001, a decision was made to disband this regiment).

1st Guards OVDB

It was formed in 1994 on the basis of the 331st PDP as a peacekeeping force to be sent to Slavonia - and is stationed there to this day. time.

31st Guards OVDBr

Formed in 1996 on the basis of the disbanded 104th Airborne Division. It is deployed in Ulyanovsk. Has battalions with their own numbers - 91st, 54th ...

11th Guards. OVDBr

In the beginning. 90s transferred to Ulan-Ude. In 1997-98 - disbanded.

13th Guards. OVDBr

In 1994 she was transferred from Ussuriysk to Orenburg. In 1997 - disbanded.

14th Guards OVDBr

It was bred from Cottbus to Alma-Ata. Transferred to Kazakhstan in 1992

21st Guards OVDBr

From Kutaisi, in 1992, bred to Stavropol. In 1993 it received the name "Cossack". In the summer of 1998, it was reorganized into the 247th Airborne Regiment, introduced into the 7th Guards. DShD.

23rd Guards OVDBr

Location: Kremenchug. Withdrawn to Ukraine in 1992.

35th Guards. OVDBr

Stationed in the city of Kapchegay, it was transferred to Kazakhstan in 1992.

36th Guards. OVDBr

Location: pos. Garbolovo (Vsevolozhsk district, Leningrad region). LenVO. Disbanded in 1995-96.

37th Guards. OVDBr

Location: Chernyakhovsk (Kaliningrad region). PribVO. Disbanded in 1995-96

38th Guards. OVDBr

Location: Brest (Belarus). BelVO. Withdrawn to Belarus in 1992.

39th Guards OVDBr

Location: Khyrov, (Starosamborsky district, Lviv region). Since 1990, when transferred to the Airborne Forces, it was reorganized into the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces. Withdrawn to Ukraine in 1992.

40th Guards. OVDBr

Location: Nikolaev (Ukraine). OdVO. Withdrawn to Ukraine in 1992.

56th Guards. OVDBr

Since 1993 - pos. Podgora (Volgodonsk district, Rostov region). SKVO. In July 1998, it was reorganized into the DSHP and introduced into the 20th MSD of the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region.

83rd Guards OVDBr

Location: Ussuriysk, since 1990 (Primorsky Territory) Far East. Apparently disbanded in 1998. It is possible that the 635th opdb was formed on its basis and exists.

95th Guards. OVDBr

Location: Zhytomyr (Zhytomyr region, Ukraine). QUO. Went to Ukraine.

100th Guards. OVDBr

Location: Abakan (Krasnoyarsk Territory) Siberian Military District. In 1996, it was merged with the 300th opdp. Disbanded in May 1998

38th OBR

Stationed in the village. Bear Lakes. In the 90s. reorganized into the 38th OPS Airborne Forces.

332nd ensign school

In 1992 relocated to Mitino (Moscow region)

UKRAINE

On the basis of the units and formations of the Airborne Forces remaining after the division in 1992-93. Airborne Troops were formed. For some time, the names of the brigades had the addition "SpN" - special assignments, although they were not such.

Location - Bolgrad (Odessa region). Formed in 1992 on the basis of the Soviet 98th Guards. VDD. It had in its composition, initially two, and then three (1st, 25th and 45th) ambergris.

23rd OAMBR

It was formed on the basis of the 23rd airborne brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing its location - the city of Kremenchug (Poltava region). And on 07/01/95 transferred to the Border Troops and reorganized into the 23rd airmobile. neg. special forces (AMOSpN) of the Border Troops of Ukraine.

6th OAMBR

It was formed in 1995 on the basis of the 224th Training Center of the Airborne Forces of the USSR without changing its location - the city of Khyrov (Lvov region, Starosamborsky district). In the beginning. 1999 reorganized into the 80th oamp.

80th OAMP

Until 1999 - 6th Oambr.

40th OAMBR

It was formed in 1992 on the basis of the 40th airborne brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing its location - the district of Nikolaev. In the beginning. 1999 reorganized into the 79th oamp.

79th OAMP

Until 1999 - 40th Oambr.

95th OAMBR

It was formed on the basis of the 95th airborne brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing its place of deployment - the outskirts of the city of Zhytomyr.

BELARUS

On the basis of the existing airborne formations, the Mobile Forces were formed as part of the so-called. "mobile brigades" - in fact - airmobile or airborne.

Remained from the Airborne Forces of the USSR. In 1996, it was disbanded, and two AMBRs were deployed at its base.

317th Motorized Brigade

G. Vitebsk. Deployed on the basis of the 317th airborne infantry regiment of the 103rd airborne division.

350th Motorized Brigade

G. Vitebsk. Deployed on the basis of the 350th airborne infantry regiment of the 103rd airborne division.

38th Motorized Brigade

Formed on the basis of the 38th airborne brigade of the USSR without changing the PPD - Brest.

KAZAKHSTAN

On the basis of the existing formations of the Soviet Airborne Forces, their own Airborne Forces were formed.

35th OVDbr

Deployed on the basis of the 35th brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the PPD - town. Kapchegay. The number is conjectural.

14th OVDbr

Deployed on the basis of the 14th brigade of the USSR Airborne Forces without changing the PPD - the district of Alma-Ata (Almaty). This brigade was withdrawn from Cottbus (GDR). The number is conjectural.

In total, more than 18 thousand people, 5216 units of military and other equipment, 60.5 thousand tons of ammunition and stocks of material resources. The redeployed formations and units lost 58% of training facilities: 9 regular and 10 non-standard training grounds were left in their former locations.

In mid-1998, the number of Russian Airborne Forces was 32,000 people. Staffing - up to 75%.

By the middle of 2000 there was:

Russia - four divisions (76th airborne division, 106th airborne division, 98th airborne division and 7th airborne division), one (31st) brigade, two regiments (45th opspn and 38th ops) and a training center (242nd UTs). (In addition, in Yugoslavia there is the 1st consolidated brigade).

7th Guards DSHD - Novorossiysk - 108th Guards. kaz. Kuban PDP (Novorossiysk); 247th Guards. PDP (Stavropol) and 1137 (1141-?) Guards. ap (Anapa).

76th Guards. VDD-Pskov- 104th, 234th and 237th pdp, 1140th ap.

98th Guards. VDD- Ivanovo- 331st (Kostroma), 299th and 217th (Novo-Talitsy village, Ivanovo district) pdp, 1065th app.

106th Guards. VDD-Tula- 51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan) and 119th (Narofominsk) pdp.

242nd UC - Omsk 226th and 285th updp.

31st Guards OVDBr-Ulyanovsk- Includes battalions with "own" numbers. All R. The 90s were planned to be deployed in a division.

1st OVDbr (consolidated) - on the territory of the former Yugoslavia - In the Peacekeeping Forces.

10th OPDP - Gudauta (Georgia-Abkhazia) - In the Peacekeeping Forces. In July 2001, the disbandment of the regiment began.

45th ORP SpN - district of Moscow - Dislocation: 218th orb spn in Bear Lakes, and 901st orb spn - in Kubinka.

38th OBR - Bear Lakes

The total number is approx. 40.5 thousand people (Staffing is 90-95%). In 2001-02 it is planned to reduce the number by 5.5 thousand, namely, to disband two RAPs (10th and 237th).

Ukraine - one division (1st AMD), one separate brigade (95th ambr) and two separate regiments (79th and 80th oamp).

Belarus - three separate (38th, 317th and 350th), so-called. mobile brigade.

COMPLETE.

The most healthy and physically developed draft contingent was allocated for the recruitment of the l / s of the Airborne Forces. High selection requirements (height - not less than 175 cm; physical development - not lower than average; education - not lower than average, no medical restrictions, etc.) led to high opportunities for combat training.

The training of officers was carried out at first in two, and since the 70s, in one - the Ryazan school. In addition, the officer corps was staffed with officer graduates from other schools, especially for the positions of commanders of special units - artillery, sapper, automobile, communications, etc.

RVVDKU (RVVDI)

G. Ryazan

Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School. Lenin Komsomol (RVVDKU). Now - Ryazan Airborne Institute (RVDI) them. V. Margelov

AAVVDKU

Alma-Ata

Alma-Ata Higher Airborne Command School. Reorganized into combined arms in the 70s. Went to Kazakhstan in 1992.

332nd Ensign School

G. Mitino (Moscow region)

Valid.

ADDITIONS and NOTES.

1) Supplement for the 7th division. Formed in 1948 on the basis of the 322nd RAP from the 103rd Guards. VDD 8th VDK. The division included: 108th RAP (Kaunas); 119th RAP (Marijampole); 1137th AP (the city of Marijampole then - in the city of Kalvaria).

Since 1954 attached to the 80th RAP (Gaijunai). In 1959, the 80th RAP was transferred to the 104th Guards. VDD (Kirovabad-Ganja); and in return they transferred the 97th RAP from the 76th Guards. VDD. In the 70s. the division had: 108th RAP (Kaunas) 119th RAP (Kapsukas) 97th RAP (Alytus) 1137th AP (Kalvaria).

2) Regarding the transfer of airborne units to the KGB ...

I can say that it took place. The 103rd Guards was transferred to the composition of the KGB PV. VDD, which became known as Guards. airborne division of the border troops! The servicemen were dressed in border uniforms, and, due to unrest among the rank and file, it was decided to introduce in the border troops a uniform similar to a vede: he takes a bright green color and a green vest. However, the resigning soldiers were constantly trying to get landing berths.

The reason for the resubordination, apparently, lies in the internal political situation of that time. Constant unrest on national grounds and the lack of reliable troops to restore order led to the need to use the most trained Soviet infantry - paratroopers from the Airborne Forces and the Airborne Troops - in restoring order. (The operational units of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were then too few in number and were by no means as prepared as they are now, combat discipline was lame and there was no specific fighting spirit ...). In general, if we take into account the role of the KGB in provoking nationalist uprisings, and even in the covert leadership of their course, then such a resubordination looks like a mockery.

3) The 901st Odshb (since 1989 - Ordb) was withdrawn from Mongolia, in 1993 - temporarily subordinated to the 7th Airborne Forces, from 1994 - to the 901st Airborne Special Forces and introduced into the 45th OPSpN Airborne Forces.

4) The 218th obspn was formed on July 25, 1992, and before that - a special intelligence company as part of the 171st / 38th OBR in Medvezhye Ozyory. In 1993, the 45th ORP of the Special Forces deployed at its base.

5) 103rd Guards. VDD had regiments with the following honorary titles:

317th Guards Ord. Alexander Nevsky RAP

350th Guards Ord. Suvorov RAP

357th Guards Ord. Suvorov PDP.

airborne troops
The Independent Directorate of the Airborne Troops of the Red Army, which supervised the airborne corps of the brigade organization and other airborne forces created in the spring of 1941, was created on June 12, 1941.
During the Great Patriotic War, the use of formations formed as part of the Airborne Forces was determined by the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, and most of them, heading to the front, were reorganized into rifle divisions.
In October 1944, from four divisions returned from the active army, and airborne formations that were in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, a Separate Guards Airborne Army was created as part of the 37th Svirsky, 38th and 39th Guards Airborne airborne corps (each of which included three airborne divisions).
At the end of December 1944, the Separate Guards Airborne Army, which united most of the formations of the airborne troops, was transformed into the combined arms 9th Guards Army.
The remaining airborne formations (first of all, separate guards airborne brigades) and the Office of the Commander of the Airborne Forces were subordinate to the commander of the Red Army Air Force.
The 9th Guards Army included the following formations (underlined remained in the Airborne Forces in the post-war period):
37th Guards Svir Rifle Corps:
- 98th Guards Svir SD;
- 99th Guards Svir SD;
- 103rd Guards Rifle Division (b. 13th Guards Airborne Division of the second formation, deployed at the base
3rd Guards vdbr);
38th Guards Rifle Corps:
- 104th Guards Rifle Division (b. 11th Guards Airborne Division);
- 105th Guards Rifle Division (b. 12th Guards Airborne Division);
- 6th Guards Rifle Division (former 16th Guards Airborne Division);
39th Guards Rifle Corps:
-100th Guards Svir SD;
-107th Guards May Day cd;
- 114th Guards Rifle Division (b. 14th Guards Airborne Division of the second formation, deployed at the base
8th Guards vdbr);
In February 1945, the 9th Guards Army was introduced into the active army with the task of strengthening the offensive capabilities of the Soviet troops in Hungary. Not participating in the repulse of the counterattack of German troops in the area of ​​Lake Balaton, the units of the 9th Guards Army were introduced into hostilities in mid-March 1945 and completed the Great Patriotic War
war in the Vienna and Prague offensive operations.
In addition to the divisions transferred to the 9th Guards A, in the active army, divisions also fought as part of rifle corps, which retained the names of the airborne. These were airborne divisions formed at the end of 1942 and operating at the front since February 1943: 1st Guards. Zvenigorod-Bucharest, 2nd guards. Proskurovskaya, 3rd Guards. Umanskaya, 4th Guards. Ovruch. 5th Guards Zvenigorodskaya, 6th Guards. Kremenchug-Znamenskaya, 7th Guards. Cherkasy: 9th Guards. Poltava, 10th Guards. Krivoy Rog.
At the end of the hostilities of the Great Patriotic War, part of the airborne divisions operating at the front as part of rifle corps (in particular, the 4th Guards Ovruchskaya and the 7th Guards Cherkasy Airborne Forces) returned to the subordination of the airborne troops, and part was reorganized (in particular, on the basis of the 9th Guards Poltava Airborne Division, which remained part of the troops of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany, the 14th Guards Poltava Mechanized Division was formed).
In June 1946, in accordance with a decision taken at the highest level, the leadership of the airborne troops was entrusted to the command and staff, formed on the basis of the command and staff of the 9th Guards Army (transformed into the Airborne Army), and the airborne troops in general, they were withdrawn from the Air Force and subordinated directly to the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR.
In the first post-war period, the army (Airborne Army) and corps (in particular, the 38th Guards Vienna Airborne Corps) units remained in the leadership of the airborne troops, and then the airborne divisions began to report directly to the Command of the Airborne Forces.
In October 1956, the parachute regiments of the 7th and 31st Guards Airborne Divisions were involved in the operation of the Soviet troops in Hungary, and in August 1968, the 7th Guards Airborne Division actively participated in the operation "Danube "on the entry of troops of the Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia. The 99th Guards Airborne Svirskaya Red Banner Division was stationed in the Far Eastern Military District (see FEB)
In the 1980s As part of the airborne troops, in addition to separate brigades, there were 7 airborne divisions, of which one, in Lithuania, was training (besides it, another airborne division was stationed in Lithuania).
Since the places of permanent deployment of the divisions remaining in the airborne forces in the post-war period were quite stable (which, among other circumstances, was due to the "binding" to the airfield network of military transport aviation), unofficial names were assigned to combat divisions;
"Kaunasskaya" - 7th Guards. Cherkasy Airborne Division;;
"Pskovskaya" - 76th Guards. Chernihiv Airborne Division;
"Kishinevskaya" - 98th Guards. Svirskaya airborne division;
"Vitebsk" - 103rd Guards. vdd;
"Kirovobadskaya" - 104th airborne division;
"Tulskaya" - 106th Guards. vdd.
From the end of December 1979, the 103rd "Vitebsk" division, stationed in the area of ​​​​the Kabul airfield, was a connection of a limited continent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. In addition, a separate parachute regiment was deployed in Afghanistan (see "VIZH", 1993, No. 11, p.33).
In the late 1980s. the training division in Lithuania was transformed into the 272nd Guards Training Center of the Airborne Forces, and the 103rd Guards "Vitebsk" Airborne Division, which returned from Afghanistan to Belarus, at the end of 1989 in connection with preparations for the conclusion of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe transferred to the border troops of the KGB of the USSR (The structure and armament of the 103rd airborne division remained "regular" for an airborne formation and in independent Belarus it became, retaining the numbering, an airborne division subordinate directly to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus).
After the transfer of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division in the zone "to the Urals" to the KGB of the USSR, on November 19, 1990, the Soviet airborne troops had 2712 armored combat vehicles (BMD, BTR-D), 846 vehicles based on BMD and BTR-D, 595 self-propelled guns, guns and mortars.
The divisions of the Airborne Forces in terms of numbers were kept in a state close to deployed (a little more than 7.2 thousand people, including about 700 officers). In 1991, they numbered about 6 thousand people. personnel personnel each. The number of personnel of the Airborne Forces as a whole was about 75 thousand people (In the first half of the 1990s, after some reduction - 68 thousand people).
Compared to the 1970s, there have been certain changes in the parachute regiments. If earlier the regiment was based on 3 airborne battalions, self-propelled artillery, mortar and anti-aircraft batteries, then with the arrival of self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona" and vehicles based on the BTR-D (with ATGM "Konkurs" and MANPADS "Strela"), all the equipment of the Airborne Forces was unified on a single tracked chassis BMD / BTR-D, and the need for mortars, given the fire capabilities of the Nona self-propelled guns, disappeared. As for the latest BMD-3 airborne combat vehicles, the serial vehicles entered the troops after 1991, when they were armed with a battalion of one of the regiments of the 76th Guards Airborne Division.

HQ VDV - Moscow
58th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Ryazan): 3 Mi-8s

171st separate communications brigade (in the Moscow region)
Ryazan Higher Airborne School: 136BMD (20 BMD-2, 116BMD-1), 10 BTR-D; 3-2S9 "Nona", 1 D-30; 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BTR-RD, 3 BMD-1KSh
242nd Guards Training Center
(Gaižunai, Lithuania)
Management: 1 R-440 odb

The 4th (later - the 44th) Guards Airborne Ovruch Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky division in the post-war period was a linear and training formation of the airborne troops, in the last period of the deployment of Soviet troops in Lithuania - the 242nd Guards training airborne center.
Training guards parachute regiments of the 242nd guards. The training centers were stationed in Gaizhunai, and the training artillery regiment in Prenau, having the following weapons:
226th updp - 100 BMD-1, 10 BTR-D;
285th updp - 100 BMD (28 BMD-2, 62 BMD-1), 10 BTR-D;
301st updp - 43 BMD-1, 90 BTR-D; 2 BTR-RD;
1120th an - 22 - 2S9 "Nona", 9 D-; BTR-D, 1 BMD-1; 12BTR~RD,4 1V119.
The existing rapse as part of the training center of the 743rd UPDP was curtailed, like other parts, with the exception of the following:
- 367th separate training anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Gayzhunay): 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BTR-D
- 45th separate training repair and restoration battalion (Gayzhunay): 1 BTR-D
- 148th separate training battalion for the transportation of airborne equipment (Kaunas): 1 BMD-1.1 BTR-D
In total, on 11/19/90, the 242nd Guards. UC has:
245 BMDs (38 BMD-2s, 207 BMD-1s);
157 BTR-D;
22 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
14 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
3 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
9 guns D-30.

7th Guards Airborne Cherkasy Division (Kaunas)
Division Command: 8 BMD-2, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 MBD-1KSh
In the second half of 1942, the 5th Airborne Corps was formed in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, in December 1942 it was reorganized into the 7th Guards Airborne Division.
In early February 1943, the 7th Guards. the airborne division was sent to the North-Western Front, where it fought heavy battles as part of the 1st shock army, and in August 1943 was transferred to the Kharkov region as part of the 52nd army. Later, as part of this and the 4th Guards Armies, the 7th Guards. the airborne division participated in hostilities in Ukraine, in Romania, Hungary and completed its combat path in Austria, in the region of Amstetten.
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 7th Guards Airborne Division Cherkasy were stationed in Lithuania. In October 1956, two regiments of the 7th Guards. airborne troops were transferred by aircraft to Hungary, where they actively participated in the hostilities of the Soviet troops in August 1968. The 7th Guards. The airborne division was involved in Operation Danube to bring troops from the Warsaw Pact countries into Czechoslovakia.
97th (Alytus), 108th (Kaunas), 119th (Mariampole) Guards Airborne Regiments: in each regiment: 110 BMD (40 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1), 32 BTR-D; 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD; 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119
1141st Guards Artillery Regiment (Kalvaria): 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 D-30s; 6 BTR-D; 18 BTR-RD,
3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, IO-1B119
744th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Kaunas): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh

185th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Kaunas): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 7th Guards. vdd included:
- 143rd separate engineer-sapper battalion (Kaunas): 1 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 743rd separate communications battalion (Kaunas): 3 BTR-ZD, 10 BMD-1KShch, 3 R-440odb 6th separate repair and restoration battalion (Kaunas): 1 BTR-D
- 1692nd separate road maintenance battalion
- 1681st separate battalion of material support
- 313th separate medical battalion
In total, on 11/19/90, the 7th Guards. VDD had:
328 BMD (138BMD-2, 210 BMD-1);
129 BTR-D;
72 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (carriers 1GTUR);
47 BTR-ZD (carriers of MANPADS);
6 guns D-30.

76th Guards Airborne Chernihiv Red Banner Division (Pskov)
The unit was formed in August-September 1939 in the North Caucasus Military District as the 157th Rifle Division. During the Great Patriotic War, the division participated in the defense of Odessa, fought in the Crimea, and after the evacuation in May 1942 from the Kerch Peninsula, the unit, the few surviving soldiers of which retained their battle flags, was staffed again within a month.
From the beginning of June 1942, the 157th Rifle Division fought in the Rostov region, participated in further hostilities near Stalingrad, incl. in defeating the enemy directly in the city. By order of the NPO of the USSR dated 03/01/43, the formation was transformed into the 76th Guards Rifle Division.
Later, as part of the 61st Army, and from March 1944 - as part of the 114th Rifle Corps of the 70th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front, 76th Guards. sd participated in the summer 1943 offensive of Soviet troops in the Orel region, liberated Chernigov, Brest, Warsaw and completed the combat path of the Great Patriotic War in Wismar on the Baltic coast of Germany.
In the winter of 1945-46 76th Guards. The SD returned to the territory of the Soviet Union, to the Leningrad Military District, where it was subsequently reorganized into a formation of airborne troops.
According to the combat path of the connection, the regiments of the 76th Guards. the airborne forces were the most fought in the Great Patriotic War units in the post-war Soviet airborne forces.
104th (Pskov), 234th Order of Kutuzov (Pskov), 237th Torun Red Banner (Pskov) Guards Airborne Regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMDs (31 BMD-2s, 70 BMD-1s), 23 BTR-Ds (29 units in the 237th BMD); 18-2S9 "Nona", 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD (in the 237th pdp - 7 units), 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119

1140th Guards Artillery twice Red Banner Regiment (Pskov): 18-2С9 "Nona",
6 D-30; 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, 4-1V119, and 6 BTR-D
290th Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket-Artillery Battalion (Pskov): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh

242nd Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Pskov): 1 Mi-8
As part of the 76th Guards. vdd included:
- 83rd separate guards engineer-sapper order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky battalion (Pskov): And BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 728th Separate Guards Order of the Red Star Communications Battalion (Pskov): 3 BTR-D,
10BMD-1KSh, ZR-440odb

7th separate repair and restoration battalion (Pskov): 1 BTR-D
- 608th separate battalion of road support
- 1682nd separate battalion of material support 82nd separate medical battalion

In total, on 11/19/90, the 76th Guards Airborne Division had: 3L2 BMD (93BMD-2, 219BMD-1); 108 BTR-D; 72 SAU2S9 "Nona"; 36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers); 41 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers); 6 guns D-30.

98th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division (Bolgrad)
Division Command: 9 BMD-2, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1943, the 13th Guards Airborne Division was formed in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, which was reorganized in January 1944 into the 98th Guards Rifle Division of the 37th Guards Rifle Corps. In June-July 1944, formations of the 37th Guards. sk fought as part of the Karelian Front, and the further combat path of the 98th Guards Division was connected with the Separate Guards Airborne - 9th Guards Army.
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 98th Guards Airborne Svir Division were deployed in the Moldavian SSR and in the south of the Odessa region, on the territory of the OdVO.
217th (Bolgrad), 299th (Bolgrad), 300th (Chisinau) Guards Airborne Regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMD (37 BMD-2, 64 BMD-1), 23 BTR-D; 18-2S9 "Nona" (20 units in the 299th pdp); 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD; 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-1V119

1065th Guards Artillery Regiment (Merry Kut): 18-2S9 "Nona", 8 D-30s; 6 BTR-D,
18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD; 3 BMD-1KSh, 4-IB119
100th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (Bolgrad): 3 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh 243rd separate military transport aviation squadron (Bolgrad): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 98th Guards. vdd included:
- 112th separate engineer-sapper battalion (Bolgrad): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 674th separate communications battalion (Bolgrad): 3 BTR-D, 10 BMD-1KSh, 3 R-440odb
- 15th separate repair and restoration battalion (Bolgrad): 1 BTR-D
- 613th separate battalion of road support
- 1683rd separate battalion of material support
- 176th separate medical battalion
In total, on 11/19/90, the 98th Guards. airborne division had: 312 BMD (120 BMD-2, 192 EMD-1);
102 BTR-D;
74 SAU2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
47 BTR-ZD (carriers of MANPADS);
8 guns D-30.

104th Guards Airborne Division (Ganja)

Division Command: 9 BMD-1, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1944 January 1945. The 11th Guards Airborne Division, formed somewhat earlier in the reserve of the Supreme Command Headquarters, was reorganized into the 104th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Guards Army, with whose troops it completed the combat path of the Great Patriotic War in Czechoslovakia .
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 104th Guards Airborne Division were stationed in the Azerbaijan SSR, in the city of Kirovobad (Ganja), on the territory of the ZakVO.
328th (Ganja), 337th (Ganja), 345th (Ganja) Guards Airborne Regiments: in each regiment: 101 BMD (31 BMD-2, 70 BMD-1), 23 BTR-D (in 345th pdp - 28 units); 18-2S9 "Nona"; 6 BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD (in the 345th pdp - 8 units); 9 BMD-1KSh (in the 345th pdp - 8 units), 10-1V119
1080 - Guards Artillery Regiment (Shamkhor): 18-2S9 "Nona", 6-D-ZO; 6 BTR-D, 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD, 2 BMD-1KSh, 10-1VP9
103rd Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket and Artillery Battalion (Ganja): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
116th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Ganja): 1 Mi-8
In addition, the 104th Guards Airborne Division included:
- 132nd separate engineer-sapper battalion (Ganja): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 729th separate communications battalion (Ganja): 3 BTR-D, 10 BMD-1KSh, 2 R-440odb
- 24th separate repair and restoration battalion (Ganja): 1 BTR-D
- 611th separate battalion of road support
- 1684th separate battalion of material support
- 180th separate medical battalion
In total, as of 11/19/90, the 104th Guards Airborne Division had: 312 BMDs (93 BMD-2s, 219 BMD-1s);
107 BTR-D;
72 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
42 BTR-ZD (MANPADS carriers);
6 guns D-30.

106th Guards Airborne Division (Tula)
Division Command: 9 BMD-1, 12 BTR-D; 1 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh, 1-1V119
In December 1944 - January 1945. The 16th Guards Airborne Division, formed a little earlier in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, was reorganized into the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps of the 9th Guards Army, with whose troops it completed the fighting of the Great Patriotic War in Czechoslovakia .
In the post-war period, the regiments of the 106th Guards Airborne Division were stationed in the Moscow Military District, and the division's headquarters were in Tula.
51st (Tula), 137th (Ryazan), 331st (Kostroma) Guards Airborne Regiments:
in each regiment: 101 BMDs (in addition to 30 BMD-2s in the 331st BMD), 23 BTR-Ds; 18-2S9 "Nona" (in 51-mpdp-20 unit); 6BTR-RD, 13 BTR-ZD, 8 BMD-1KSh, 10-Sh119
1182nd Guards Artillery Regiment (Efremov): 18-2S9 "Nona", 8 D-30; 18 BTR-RD, 3 BTR-ZD, ZBMD-1KSh, 10-1V119, and 6 BTR-D
107th Separate Anti-Aircraft Rocket and Artillery Battalion (Donskoy): 4 BTR-ZD, 1 BMD-1KSh
110th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (Tula): 1 Mi-8
In addition, in the 106th Guards. vdd included:
- 139th separate engineer-sapper battalion (Tula): 11 BTR-D, 1 BMD-1KSh
- 731st separate communications battalion (Tula): 3 BTR-D; 10 BMD-1KSh, 4 R-440odb
- 43rd separate repair and restoration battalion (Tula): 1 BTR-D
- 610th separate battalion of road support
- 1060th separate battalion of material support
- 234th separate medical battalion
In total, on 11/19/90, the 106th Guards. VDD had:
342 BMDs (30 BMD-2s, 312 BMD-1s);
102 BTR-D;
74 self-propelled guns 2S9 "Nona";
36 BTR-RD (ATGM carriers);
47 BTR-ZD (carriers of MANPADS);
8 guns D-30

In addition to the above-mentioned training center and 5 airborne divisions (all of which were deployed in the "zone up to the Urals"), the Airborne Forces included brigades - formations equipped, as a rule, with lighter weapons.
In groups of troops in the 1980s. airborne assault brigades were deployed, of which in the "zone to the Urals" in 1991 there was one subordinate to the Airborne Forces - airborne assault regiments and brigades (for military districts and groups of troops) and airborne assault battalions (for army associations) were created since the 1970s as formations of the Ground Forces, intended for the landing of tactical and operational-tactical airborne assault forces (see "History of the military strategy of Russia", M., 2000, p. 424); in 1990, the only airborne brigade remaining in the "zone to the Urals" was subordinate to the command of the Airborne Forces, and the four remaining separate airborne brigade were still subordinate to the SV
35th brigade (in the Western Group of Forces, Cottbus): 18 D-30 guns, 30 2S12 "Sani" mortars.
Separate airborne brigades were deployed on the territory of the military districts of the "zone to the Urals", which were supposed to have 18 D-30 guns from heavy weapons.
In the zone "to the Urals" these were the following brigades:
21st brigade (in ZakVO, Kutaisi);
23rd brigade (in KVO, Kremenchug);
36th brigade (in the LVO, Garbolovo);
37th brigade (in PribVO, Chernyakhovsk);
38th brigade (in BVO, Brest);
39th brigade (in PrikVO, Khyrov, Lviv region) - In the second half of 1991, the brigade was transformed into the 22nd training center, and the number of D-30 guns was reduced to one;
40th brigade (in OdVO, Nikolaev).
In the zone "beyond the Urals" formations of airborne troops were deployed, in particular, in Uzbekistan (a separate parachute regiment equipped with BMD-I and BTR-D) and Kazakhstan (a separate airborne assault brigade).