Armenian Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Armenian Air Force is a small air arm formed by independent Armenia
in 1992 in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union
. It is organized and equipped principally to provide Armenian ground forces with tactical air support
in the form of ground attack and airlift in mountainous terrain. It provided effective support during the battles with Azerbaijan
in the Nagorno-Karabakh
region from 1992–1994, albeit without much fanfare. It currently lacks air superiority fighter
s, but air defense is provided by MiG-29s
of the Russian Air Force
under a military cooperation treaty. Since 2003, the Armenian government has been funding a modernization and enlargement of the air fleet.
as early as 1989, due to a lack of resources, suitably trained personnel and useful infrastructure, the government delayed formally creating an air force
until August 1992, and commenced combat operations in October. (However, this may not represent the first use of armed aircraft by the Armenians; an Azeri report states that the Armenians modified several civilian Mi-8
transport helicopters for dropping bombs against civilian targets in the Geranboi region of Azerbaijan, with the first instance of their use occurring on 9 March 1990. The Azeris also claimed Armenian Mi-24
attack helicopters were employed in support of an assault on Shusha
in February 1992, but this appears to have captured the use of Russian aircraft.)
According to its December 1992 declaration for the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty
, Armenia had inherited only three operational combat aircraft and at least 13 armed helicopters from the former Soviet Union, along with a portion of its air defense network
. The armed helicopter came from the former 7th Guards Helicopter Regiment and were taken over in 1991. The identities of the three combat aircraft are uncertain, but may have included one MiG-25
interceptor and two Su-25
ground-attack aircraft, probably from the former Soviet 80th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Russian
: 80-й истребительно-бомбардировочный авиаполк (ИБАП)) at Sitalçay
air base in Azerbaijan; the helicopter force comprised Mi-8 transport and Mi-24 attack versions that had been based near Yerevan
, Armenia. Other aircraft reportedly taken over by the Armenians in 1991 include six An-2
, one An-24
and one An-32
transports, as well as ten Yak-52 trainers.
Territorial conflicts with Azerbaijan instigated a major expansion of Armenia’s air and air defense forces in 1993-1994. The bulk of Armenia’s aviation-related investment, however, went to greatly strengthening the Armenian Air Defense organization. With Russian technical assistance and contributions of anti-aircraft weapons and equipment, within a year Armenia was able to integrate most of the Soviet radars and surface-to-air missile
s (SAMs) left in its territory into a coherent and effective air defense system, which it officially declared operational in April 1994. Aircraft additions were few, but by the end of 1994 the Armenian Air Force’s inventory had reached an estimated 5-6 operational Su-25s (one has long been non-operational) and possibly one MiG-25 combat aircraft; two L-39 and ten Yak-52 trainers; six An-2, two An-72
, one Tu-134
, one Tu-154
transport aircraft; and two Mi-2
, seven Mi-8
/Mi-17
, 15 Mi-24 helicopters.
To help redress its relative military weaknesses compared to Azerbaijan and Turkey, on 16 March 1995 Armenia signed a treaty with Russia giving the latter a 25-year-long military presence in Armenia. A follow-on agreement defining terms and conditions was signed 27 September 1996 which authorized the establishment of Russian bases at Gyumri
and Yerevan. Russian aviation forces in Armenia comprise 18 MiG-29 fighters of the 426th Fighter Squadron [426 Istrebitel’naya Aviatsionnaya Eskadril’ya (426 IAE)] and the 700th Air Traffic Control Center, both at the 3624th Air Base [3624 Aviatsionnaya Baza (3624 AB)] at Erebuni Airport
outside Yerevan. Russian MiG-29s arrived in four separate batches: five on 16 December 1998, five on 26 February 1999, four more on 18 June and the final four on 22 October 1999. This serial deployment of Russian aircraft to their Armenian base was initially misinterpreted as deliveries to the Armenian Air Force. The Russian MiG-29s may have supplanted an earlier deployment of MiG-23 fighters, as there have been unconfirmed reports of the latter being in service around that time, with the combined number of MiG-23s and MiG-29s at Yerevan possibly reaching as many as 30 aircraft. (There have also been unsubstantiated rumors of Armenian MiG-23 receipts.)
The Armenian Air Force experienced a major expansion and modernization in 2004-2005. It tripled its fixed-wing combat arm through the procurement of ten surplus Su-25 from Slovakia
for a total of US$
1 million in August 2004. These twenty-year-old aircraft – which had not been flown for a decade and required work to re-certify their flightworthiness – were delivered in September 2005. The Su-25 receipt was also originally mis-reported as an acquisition of ten Su-27
air superiority fighters, an aircraft the Slovak Air Force
never operated. Also in 2004, Armenia received a pair of L-39C trainers from each of Russia and the Ukraine
, as well as two Il-76 transports from Russia in May.
Recently, there have been unverified reports that Armenia received up to ten Su-27 from Russia in 2006. This may have been presaged by an Azeri source which reported in October 2005 that Armenia had bought "10 fighter jets", but that, according to Azeri military sources, only 2-3 of the aircraft were Su-27; the remainder were purportedly Su-25 jets and Mi-24 attack helicopters. Ostensibly, these would have been procured on preferential terms under the provisions of the 2002 Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) agreement. To date, however, there has been no confirmation of the receipt of any of these aircraft, and it is possible that any appearance of Su-27s in Armenia may have been a deployment of Russia’s own aircraft to its airbase at Yerevan. (It has also been pointed out that the Soviets never based Su-27s in Transcaucasia because it was too difficult an environment for them to operate in. Armenia’s small size limits operational maneuver room and makes it difficult for them to climb to sufficient altitude.)
. Armenia suffered its first combat loss on 12 November 1992 when an Mi-24 gunship operating in support of the Armenians’ Martuni Offensive
was shot down near the village of Kazakh. On 23 November two Mi-8 transports were hit by groundfire, downing one and seriously damaging another; another Mi-8 was lost on 30 December.
The Azeris initiated a new offensive on 1 January 1993 which was successful in cutting the Lachin corridor
the following day, thereby isolating Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh from resupply from Armenia proper. The Armenian Air Force helped bring up reinforcements for a counterattack that began 7 January. The first day of this action, the Armenian Air Force suffered its worst single-day losses with an Mi-8, Mi-24 and a (possibly Russian) Su-25 shot down; the Su-25 may have been brought down by friendly fire. By the time the Azeri attack had been defeated at the end of the month, another three helicopters and possibly another fighter – reportedly a MiG-21 (and therefore probably Russian) – would be lost.
In late March 1993, the Armenians kicked off a new offensive in the north aimed at opening a second supply route from Armenia. Operation Kelbajar
involved a four-prong attack which was successful in routing Azerbaijan’s 2nd Army Corps and securing control of the region. Armenian Air Force losses for amounted to one Mi-8 helicopter (on 16 April). No aircraft losses were suffered during the subsequent summer offensives of 1993
or in the next year’s actions preceding the ceasefire of 16 May 1994.
As a result of a series of defense cooperation treaties beginning with the Commonwealth of Independent States
’ (CIS) 1992 “Tashkent” Collective Security Treaty (CST) treaty (which was expanded into the CSTO in 2002) and the Russian-Armenian treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance signed 29 August 1997, Armenian and Russian air and air defense forces are closely integrated. The 1997 friendship treaty, in particular, provides for mutual assistance in the event of a military threat to either party – which goes further than the CSTO security pact – and also allows Russian border guards
to patrol Armenia’s frontiers with Turkey and Iran. Armenia regularly participates in bilateral military exercises with forces from Russia’s Group of Forces in the Transcaucasus (GRVZ), and the Armenian Air Force also participates in the CSTO’s annual air defense exercises.
. It was equipped and organized as part of the military reform program of Ter-Grigoriants.
Armenian Air Defence forces comprise of an anti-aircraft missile brigade
and two regiment
s armed with 100 missile launchers of mostly Soviet and now Russia
n manufacture.
The Russian Chief of the General Staff, General Vladimir Mikhaylov
, said:
in Yerevan and Shirak Airport
in Gyumri, with the addition of a training base at Arzni.
limits Armenia to 100 fixed-wing combat aircraft and 50 attack helicopters.
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|In Service
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"| Variants
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Acquired
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Active
(2011)
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft
|-----
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
| interceptor aircraft
| 1991–date
| MiG-25PD
| 1
| 1
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Ground-Attack Aircraft
|-----
| Sukhoi Su-25
| Close air support aircraft
| 1991–date
| total
Su-25
Su-25K
Su-25UBK
| 15
5
9
1
| 15
0
14
1
| Ten aircraft acquired from Slovakia in September 2005 are sometimes incorrectly reported as Su-27 fighters.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
|-----
| Yakovlev Yak-52
| Basic trainer aircraft
|
| Yak-52
| 16
| 10
|
|-----
| Yakovlev Yak-18
| Trainer aircraft
|
| Yak-18T
| 1
| 1
|
|-----
| Aero L-39 Albatros
| Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft
| 1991–date
| L-39C
| 6
| 6
| Some have been armed with machine gun
pods.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft
|-----
| Ilyushin Il-76
| Strategic airlifter
|
| Il-76
| 3
| 2
|
|-----
| Tupolev Tu-134
| Transport
|
| Tu-134A-3
| 1
| 1
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | UAVs
|-----
| Krunk UAV
| UAV
|
|
| 15
| 15
|
|}
Note: Several other aircraft types have been reported from time to time as in Armenian service, but their actual use has been unconfirmed to date by reliable independent sources.
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"| Variants
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Acquired
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Active
(2011)
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack Helicopters
|-----
| Mil Mi-24
| Attack helicopter
| 1991–date
| total
Mi-24
Mi-24K
Mi-24P
Mi-24R
| 16
–
6
12
2
| 12
12
–
–
–
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport and Utility Helicopters
|-----
| Mil Mi-8/-9/-17
| medium transport helicopter
| 1991–date
| total
Mi-8T/MT/-17
Mi-9
| 18
11
7
| 9
7
2
| The Mi-9 is an Airborne command post variant of the Mil Mi-8
transport helicopter. These helicopters are sometimes reported as Mi-8s.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Training Helicopters
|-----
| Mil Mi-2
| light utility helicopter
| 1991–date
| Mi-2
| 10
| 6
|
|}
Pilots and technical personnel begin their training at the Military Aviation Institute in Yerevan, which was established in 1993. Pilot candidates undertake a basic and primary flying training course which includes 80 hours on the Yak-52 and is followed by 60 hours of jet conversion and advanced training on the L-39. This training is conducted at the airbase at Arzni (sometimes mis-identified as Areni), a former Soviet DOSAAF
base located 30 km (18.6 mi) northeast of Yerevan. In 2005, the facility also operated a single Yak-18
aerobatic
trainer for drop training of paratrooper
s. A pair of Mi-2
helicopters were also kept available for training helicopter air crews. Type conversion and advanced tactical training are conducted at operational units.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 1992 in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It is organized and equipped principally to provide Armenian ground forces with tactical air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
in the form of ground attack and airlift in mountainous terrain. It provided effective support during the battles with Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
region from 1992–1994, albeit without much fanfare. It currently lacks air superiority fighter
Air superiority fighter
An air superiority fighter is a type of fighter aircraft intended to gain air superiority in a war, by entering and seizing control of enemy airspace. Air superiority fighters are designed to effectively engage enemy fighters, more than other types of aircraft...
s, but air defense is provided by MiG-29s
Mikoyan MiG-29
The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other...
of the Russian Air Force
Russian Air Force
The Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...
under a military cooperation treaty. Since 2003, the Armenian government has been funding a modernization and enlargement of the air fleet.
History
Although Armenia began working to establish an independent Armenian armed forcesArmed Forces of Armenia
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia comprise two services: the Army, and the Air Force and Air Defense . It was partially formed out of the former Soviet Army forces stationed in the Armenian SSR...
as early as 1989, due to a lack of resources, suitably trained personnel and useful infrastructure, the government delayed formally creating an air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
until August 1992, and commenced combat operations in October. (However, this may not represent the first use of armed aircraft by the Armenians; an Azeri report states that the Armenians modified several civilian Mi-8
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
transport helicopters for dropping bombs against civilian targets in the Geranboi region of Azerbaijan, with the first instance of their use occurring on 9 March 1990. The Azeris also claimed Armenian Mi-24
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
attack helicopters were employed in support of an assault on Shusha
Shusha
Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
in February 1992, but this appears to have captured the use of Russian aircraft.)
According to its December 1992 declaration for the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty
Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
The original Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe was negotiated and concluded during the last years of the Cold War and established comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe and mandated the destruction of excess weaponry...
, Armenia had inherited only three operational combat aircraft and at least 13 armed helicopters from the former Soviet Union, along with a portion of its air defense network
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
. The armed helicopter came from the former 7th Guards Helicopter Regiment and were taken over in 1991. The identities of the three combat aircraft are uncertain, but may have included one MiG-25
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau the first prototype flew in 1964 with entry into service in 1970...
interceptor and two Su-25
Sukhoi Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975...
ground-attack aircraft, probably from the former Soviet 80th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: 80-й истребительно-бомбардировочный авиаполк (ИБАП)) at Sitalçay
Sitalçay
Sitalçay is a village and municipality in the Khizi Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 1,234.The Sitalchay air base was the location of the first Soviet Air Forces Sukhoi Su-25 unit....
air base in Azerbaijan; the helicopter force comprised Mi-8 transport and Mi-24 attack versions that had been based near Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, Armenia. Other aircraft reportedly taken over by the Armenians in 1991 include six An-2
Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
, one An-24
Antonov An-24
The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau from 1957.-Design and development:...
and one An-32
Antonov An-32
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
transports, as well as ten Yak-52 trainers.
Territorial conflicts with Azerbaijan instigated a major expansion of Armenia’s air and air defense forces in 1993-1994. The bulk of Armenia’s aviation-related investment, however, went to greatly strengthening the Armenian Air Defense organization. With Russian technical assistance and contributions of anti-aircraft weapons and equipment, within a year Armenia was able to integrate most of the Soviet radars and surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
s (SAMs) left in its territory into a coherent and effective air defense system, which it officially declared operational in April 1994. Aircraft additions were few, but by the end of 1994 the Armenian Air Force’s inventory had reached an estimated 5-6 operational Su-25s (one has long been non-operational) and possibly one MiG-25 combat aircraft; two L-39 and ten Yak-52 trainers; six An-2, two An-72
Antonov An-72
The Antonov An-72 is a transport aircraft developed by Antonov in the former Soviet Union. It was designed as a STOL transport and intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-26, but variants have found success as commercial freighters.The An-72 gets its nickname, Cheburashka, from the large...
, one Tu-134
Tupolev Tu-134
The Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engined airliner, similar to the American Douglas DC-9 and the French Sud Aviation Caravelle, and built in the Soviet Union from 1966–1984. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain other Russian airliners , it can operate from unpaved...
, one Tu-154
Tupolev Tu-154
The Tupolev Tu-154 is a three-engine medium-range narrow-body airliner designed in the mid 1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. As the mainstay 'workhorse' of Soviet and Russian airlines for several decades, it serviced over a sixth of the world's landmass and carried half of all passengers flown...
transport aircraft; and two Mi-2
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
, seven Mi-8
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
/Mi-17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
, 15 Mi-24 helicopters.
To help redress its relative military weaknesses compared to Azerbaijan and Turkey, on 16 March 1995 Armenia signed a treaty with Russia giving the latter a 25-year-long military presence in Armenia. A follow-on agreement defining terms and conditions was signed 27 September 1996 which authorized the establishment of Russian bases at Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
and Yerevan. Russian aviation forces in Armenia comprise 18 MiG-29 fighters of the 426th Fighter Squadron [426 Istrebitel’naya Aviatsionnaya Eskadril’ya (426 IAE)] and the 700th Air Traffic Control Center, both at the 3624th Air Base [3624 Aviatsionnaya Baza (3624 AB)] at Erebuni Airport
Erebuni Airport
Erebuni Airport is a joint civil and military airport serving Yerevan and the country of Armenia. It is located south of the center of Yerevan. At present, the airport is mostly operated by the military, although private firms operate chartered helicopter flights inside the country and to the...
outside Yerevan. Russian MiG-29s arrived in four separate batches: five on 16 December 1998, five on 26 February 1999, four more on 18 June and the final four on 22 October 1999. This serial deployment of Russian aircraft to their Armenian base was initially misinterpreted as deliveries to the Armenian Air Force. The Russian MiG-29s may have supplanted an earlier deployment of MiG-23 fighters, as there have been unconfirmed reports of the latter being in service around that time, with the combined number of MiG-23s and MiG-29s at Yerevan possibly reaching as many as 30 aircraft. (There have also been unsubstantiated rumors of Armenian MiG-23 receipts.)
The Armenian Air Force experienced a major expansion and modernization in 2004-2005. It tripled its fixed-wing combat arm through the procurement of ten surplus Su-25 from Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
for a total of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1 million in August 2004. These twenty-year-old aircraft – which had not been flown for a decade and required work to re-certify their flightworthiness – were delivered in September 2005. The Su-25 receipt was also originally mis-reported as an acquisition of ten Su-27
Sukhoi Su-27
The Sukhoi Su-27 is a twin-engine supermanoeuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States fourth generation fighters, with range, heavy armament, sophisticated avionics and high manoeuvrability...
air superiority fighters, an aircraft the Slovak Air Force
Slovak Air Force
The Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic , is the aviation and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 70 aircraft from 3 major bases - Kuchyňa, Sliač, Prešov...
never operated. Also in 2004, Armenia received a pair of L-39C trainers from each of Russia and the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, as well as two Il-76 transports from Russia in May.
Recently, there have been unverified reports that Armenia received up to ten Su-27 from Russia in 2006. This may have been presaged by an Azeri source which reported in October 2005 that Armenia had bought "10 fighter jets", but that, according to Azeri military sources, only 2-3 of the aircraft were Su-27; the remainder were purportedly Su-25 jets and Mi-24 attack helicopters. Ostensibly, these would have been procured on preferential terms under the provisions of the 2002 Collective Security Treaty Organization
Collective Security Treaty Organization
The Collective Security Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance which was signed on 15 May 1992. On 7 October 2002, the Presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed a charter in Tashkent founding the CSTO.Nikolai Bordyuzha was appointed...
(CSTO) agreement. To date, however, there has been no confirmation of the receipt of any of these aircraft, and it is possible that any appearance of Su-27s in Armenia may have been a deployment of Russia’s own aircraft to its airbase at Yerevan. (It has also been pointed out that the Soviets never based Su-27s in Transcaucasia because it was too difficult an environment for them to operate in. Armenia’s small size limits operational maneuver room and makes it difficult for them to climb to sufficient altitude.)
Nagorno-Karabakh War
Although Armenia began taking over Soviet weapons shortly following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, it would not be until October 1992 that its nascent air force was able to conduct offensive combat operations. Until then, Armenia was entirely reliant on the Russian Air Force for all air support in the Nagorno-Karabakh WarNagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
. Armenia suffered its first combat loss on 12 November 1992 when an Mi-24 gunship operating in support of the Armenians’ Martuni Offensive
Mardakert and Martuni Offensives
The Mardakert and Martuni Offensives took place during the late summer and early autumn months of 1992 in fighting between Armenians and Azeris during the Nagorno-Karabakh War....
was shot down near the village of Kazakh. On 23 November two Mi-8 transports were hit by groundfire, downing one and seriously damaging another; another Mi-8 was lost on 30 December.
The Azeris initiated a new offensive on 1 January 1993 which was successful in cutting the Lachin corridor
Lachin corridor
The Lachin corridor is a mountain pass within de-jure borders of Azerbaijan, it is the shortest route which connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
the following day, thereby isolating Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh from resupply from Armenia proper. The Armenian Air Force helped bring up reinforcements for a counterattack that began 7 January. The first day of this action, the Armenian Air Force suffered its worst single-day losses with an Mi-8, Mi-24 and a (possibly Russian) Su-25 shot down; the Su-25 may have been brought down by friendly fire. By the time the Azeri attack had been defeated at the end of the month, another three helicopters and possibly another fighter – reportedly a MiG-21 (and therefore probably Russian) – would be lost.
In late March 1993, the Armenians kicked off a new offensive in the north aimed at opening a second supply route from Armenia. Operation Kelbajar
Battle of Kelbajar
The Battle of Kelbajar took place in March and April 1993, during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. It resulted in the capture by Armenian military forces of the Kelbajar region of Azerbaijan....
involved a four-prong attack which was successful in routing Azerbaijan’s 2nd Army Corps and securing control of the region. Armenian Air Force losses for amounted to one Mi-8 helicopter (on 16 April). No aircraft losses were suffered during the subsequent summer offensives of 1993
1993 Summer Offensives
The 1993 Summer Offensives of the Nagorno-Karabakh War saw the capture of several Azerbaijani regions by Armenian military units in a series of battles from June to August 1993....
or in the next year’s actions preceding the ceasefire of 16 May 1994.
Organization
Little information has been made public about the Armenian Air Force’s organization. It is known that the Air Force operates within a joint Air and Air Defense Force structure, and in 2004 the Air Force comprised four functional units: the 121st Ground Attack Aviation Squadron [121 Shturmovoy Aviatsionnaya Eskadril’ya (121 ShAE)], based at Gyumri; 15th Mixed Aviation Regiment [15 Smeshanniy Aviatsionniy Polk (15 SAP)], a composite helicopter squadron based at Yerevan; a VIP transport unit probably based at Yerevan; and the 60th Aviation Training Squadron [60 Uchebniy Aviatsionnaya Eskadril’ya (60 UAE)], a training center at Arzni.As a result of a series of defense cooperation treaties beginning with the Commonwealth of Independent States
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
’ (CIS) 1992 “Tashkent” Collective Security Treaty (CST) treaty (which was expanded into the CSTO in 2002) and the Russian-Armenian treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance signed 29 August 1997, Armenian and Russian air and air defense forces are closely integrated. The 1997 friendship treaty, in particular, provides for mutual assistance in the event of a military threat to either party – which goes further than the CSTO security pact – and also allows Russian border guards
Border Guard Service of Russia
The Border Service of Russia , also called the Border Force of Russia is a branch of Federal Security Service of Russia tasked with patrol of the Russian border. In English, the terms "Border Guards" and "Border Troops" are frequently used to designate this service...
to patrol Armenia’s frontiers with Turkey and Iran. Armenia regularly participates in bilateral military exercises with forces from Russia’s Group of Forces in the Transcaucasus (GRVZ), and the Armenian Air Force also participates in the CSTO’s annual air defense exercises.
Air Defense Force
The Air Defence Force is part of the joint Armenian Air Force and Air Defence, part of the larger Armed Forces of ArmeniaArmed Forces of Armenia
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia comprise two services: the Army, and the Air Force and Air Defense . It was partially formed out of the former Soviet Army forces stationed in the Armenian SSR...
. It was equipped and organized as part of the military reform program of Ter-Grigoriants.
Armenian Air Defence forces comprise of an anti-aircraft missile brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
and two regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s armed with 100 missile launchers of mostly Soviet and now Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n manufacture.
The Russian Chief of the General Staff, General Vladimir Mikhaylov
Vladimir Mikhaylov
General of the Army Vladimir Sergeyevich Mikhaylov is a former commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force.Commander-in-Chief since 21 January 2002....
, said:
“On the one hand, Armenia’s national system of air defence makes us happy,” [he said]. “On the other, we will keep helping you, including with means and forces existing at the Russian military base No. 102 which is stationed here.”
Missiles
- S-300 - long range medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM) systems - 2K11 Krug (SA-4 Ganef) - long range, medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM) system - S-75 Dvina (SA-2 Guideline)S-75 DvinaThe S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system...
- high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM) system - 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko) - highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
system - 9K35 Strela-10 - highly mobile, visually aimed, optical/infra-red guided, low-altitude, short-range surface to airSurface to airSurface-to-air can refer to:* Surface-to-air missile* Fulton surface-to-air recovery system* Surface to Air, a rock album by Zombi*Surface to Air , 1997 film...
missile system - S-125 Neva/Pechora (SA-3 Goa)S-125The Isayev S-125 Neva/Pechora Soviet surface-to-air missile system was designed to complement the S-25 and S-75. It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more...
- short range low altitude surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM) systems - 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail) - man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared homing guidance
- 9K38 Igla-1 (SA-18 Grouse) - man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM) - 9K310 Igla-1E (SA-16 Gimlet) - man-portable shoulder-fired low-altitude surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM) systems.
Airbases
Armenia’s main airbases are located at Erebuni AirportErebuni Airport
Erebuni Airport is a joint civil and military airport serving Yerevan and the country of Armenia. It is located south of the center of Yerevan. At present, the airport is mostly operated by the military, although private firms operate chartered helicopter flights inside the country and to the...
in Yerevan and Shirak Airport
Shirak Airport
Shirak International Airport is an international airport serving Gyumri and the province of Shirak. It is located about 5 km from the center of Gyumri. The airport was inaugurated in 1961, and is the second largest airport in the country, after Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport...
in Gyumri, with the addition of a training base at Arzni.
Equipment
The Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) treatyTreaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
The original Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe was negotiated and concluded during the last years of the Cold War and established comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe and mandated the destruction of excess weaponry...
limits Armenia to 100 fixed-wing combat aircraft and 50 attack helicopters.
Fixed-wing aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|In Service
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"| Variants
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Acquired
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Active
(2011)
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
|-----
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a supersonic interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. Designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau the first prototype flew in 1964 with entry into service in 1970...
| interceptor aircraft
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
| 1991–date
| MiG-25PD
| 1
| 1
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Ground-Attack Aircraft
Ground attack aircraft
Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft with primary role of attacking targets on the ground with greater precision than bombers and prepared to face stronger low-level air defense...
|-----
| Sukhoi Su-25
Sukhoi Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975...
| Close air support aircraft
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
| 1991–date
| total
Su-25
Su-25K
Su-25UBK
| 15
5
9
1
| 15
0
14
1
| Ten aircraft acquired from Slovakia in September 2005 are sometimes incorrectly reported as Su-27 fighters.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
|-----
| Yakovlev Yak-52
| Basic trainer aircraft
|
| Yak-52
| 16
| 10
|
|-----
| Yakovlev Yak-18
Yakovlev Yak-18
|-See also:-External links:*...
| Trainer aircraft
|
| Yak-18T
| 1
| 1
|
|-----
| Aero L-39 Albatros
Aero L-39
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia to meet requirements for a "C-39" during the 1960s to replace the L-29 Delfín...
| Advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft
| 1991–date
| L-39C
| 6
| 6
| Some have been armed with machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
pods.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft
Military transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft are typically fixed and rotary wing cargo aircraft which are used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the surface of the planet, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in...
|-----
| Ilyushin Il-76
Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas...
| Strategic airlifter
|
| Il-76
| 3
| 2
|
|-----
| Tupolev Tu-134
Tupolev Tu-134
The Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engined airliner, similar to the American Douglas DC-9 and the French Sud Aviation Caravelle, and built in the Soviet Union from 1966–1984. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain other Russian airliners , it can operate from unpaved...
| Transport
|
| Tu-134A-3
| 1
| 1
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | UAVs
|-----
| Krunk UAV
Krunk UAV
Krunk is an Armenian unmanned aerial vehicle in service with the Armed Forces of Armenia. It is intended for close reconnaissance, transmitting real-time video data or taking higher resolution still images....
| UAV
|
|
| 15
| 15
|
|}
Note: Several other aircraft types have been reported from time to time as in Armenian service, but their actual use has been unconfirmed to date by reliable independent sources.
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
: Some MiG-23 fighters have been reportedly supplied to Armenia, but these claims appear to be Russian aircraft sometimes based at or temporarily deployed to the Russians’ 3624th Air Base airbase at Yerevan until they were replaced by the current MiG-29s.
- Mikoyan MiG-29Mikoyan MiG-29The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other...
: Reports of some 18 MiG-29 fighters being delivered to Armenia in 1998-1999 are contemporaneous with and probably confused with the known Russian deployment of 18 MiG-29s to their base at Yerevan.
- Sukhoi Su-17Sukhoi Su-17The Sukhoi Su-17 is a Soviet attack aircraft developed from the Sukhoi Su-7 fighter-bomber. It enjoyed a long career in Soviet, later Russian, service and was widely exported to communist and Middle Eastern air forces, under names Su-20 and Su-22.-Development:Seeking to improve low-speed and...
: Some reports during the early years of Armenian independence indicate that the country took control over an unknown number of Su-17/22 fighter-bombers, but there is no firm evidence that Armenia actually ever placed these elderly aircraft into service.
- Yakovlev Yak-40Yakovlev Yak-40The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small, three-engined airliner that is often called the first regional jet transport aircraft...
: An Azeri source reports that an Armenian Yak-40 utility transport was shot down by Azeri forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. There is no other confirmation of the Yak-40 as being in Armenian service, so it was more likely a Russian aircraft.
Helicopters
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Type
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"| Variants
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Acquired
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Active
(2011)
! style="text-align: center; background: lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack Helicopters
Attack helicopter
An attack helicopter is a military helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the capability of engaging targets on the ground, such as enemy infantry and armored vehicles...
|-----
| Mil Mi-24
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
| Attack helicopter
| 1991–date
| total
Mi-24
Mi-24K
Mi-24P
Mi-24R
| 16
–
6
12
2
| 12
12
–
–
–
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport and Utility Helicopters
|-----
| Mil Mi-8/-9/-17
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
| medium transport helicopter
| 1991–date
| total
Mi-8T/MT/-17
Mi-9
| 18
11
7
| 9
7
2
| The Mi-9 is an Airborne command post variant of the Mil Mi-8
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
transport helicopter. These helicopters are sometimes reported as Mi-8s.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Training Helicopters
Trainer (aircraft)
A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
|-----
| Mil Mi-2
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
| light utility helicopter
| 1991–date
| Mi-2
| 10
| 6
|
|}
Recruitment, training and military education
In the summer of 1993, the Armenian Air Force had a personnel strength of 2000; this had grown to 3000 by 2004. Originally dependent on small numbers of returning experienced Armenian military personnel, reservists, conscripts, and contract foreign nationals, during 1993-1994 Armenia established its own military institutions from scratch, among which were its own aviation vocational institute at Yerevan and related training facilities. It remains reliant on conscripts, who serve for 24 months, but also employs volunteers on a contract basis with terms of 3–15 years.Pilots and technical personnel begin their training at the Military Aviation Institute in Yerevan, which was established in 1993. Pilot candidates undertake a basic and primary flying training course which includes 80 hours on the Yak-52 and is followed by 60 hours of jet conversion and advanced training on the L-39. This training is conducted at the airbase at Arzni (sometimes mis-identified as Areni), a former Soviet DOSAAF
DOSAAF
DOSAAF was a paramilitary society in the Soviet Union, Voluntary Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation, and Fleet . The society was preserved in a number of post-Soviet Republics, e.g., in Russia and Belarus...
base located 30 km (18.6 mi) northeast of Yerevan. In 2005, the facility also operated a single Yak-18
Yakovlev Yak-18
|-See also:-External links:*...
aerobatic
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
trainer for drop training of paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
s. A pair of Mi-2
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
helicopters were also kept available for training helicopter air crews. Type conversion and advanced tactical training are conducted at operational units.