The Russian Federation Air Force is the air force of the Russian Federation and is also known under the abbreviation VVS, transliterated from Russian: ВВС, Военно-воздушные силы (Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily), the the official designation of the the former Soviet Air Force. The Russian Navy has its own airforce, the Aviatsiya Voenno Morskogo Flota (Naval Aviation), or AV-MF.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 the aircraft and personnel of the Soviet VVS were divided among the newly independent states. Russia received the majority of these forces, approximately 40% of the aircraft and 65% of the manpower. The VVS was reorganised:

• Long Range Aviation
• Military Transport Aviation
• Tactical/Air Defence Armies

The VVS participated in the First Chechen War (1994-1996) and the Second Chechen War (1999-2002). Both air campaigns highlighted shortcomings of the force, particularly lack of training and appropriate weapons. They also presented significant difficulties for the VVS including; the type of terrain, lack of significant fixed targets and insurgents armed with SAMs.

In 1998 the RFAF was merged with the Voyska PVO (Air Defence Force), which is a more common arrangement than operating two independent forces.

The RFAF continues to suffer from a lack of resources both for procurement and modernisation and pilot training, Russian pilots achieve approximately 10% of the flight hours of US Air Force pilots. The RFAF has been forced to abandon ambitious plans such as the Mig-37 advanced tactical fighter in favour of upgrades to current aircraft. While suggestions that the only way forward for the RFAF is to cut aircraft numbers to around 300 (a similar size as the Royal Air Force) are extreme, it is likely that modernisation of the force will involve at least some dramatic cuts in aircraft and bases.

Current Inventory

Fighters/Ground attack

• Su-27
• MiG-31
• MiG-31M
• MiG-29
• Su-24D
• Su-25
• Su-30
• MiG-23MLD
• Su-39

Bombers

• Tu-26/Tu-22M
• Tu-95
• Tu-160

Reconnaissance aircraft

• Su-24F/E
• Tu-26