Russian Aerospace Forces

Russian Aerospace Forces
Russian Aerospace Forces
Воздушно-космические силы
	Emblem of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Founded	1 August 2015
Country	Russia
Type	Air and space force
Role	Aerial warfare; Space warfare; Missile defense;
Size	165,000 personnel (2020)
Part of	Russian Armed Forces
Headquarters	Arbat District, Moscow
Colors	Light Blue; Dark Blue; Gold; Silver;
March	"Air March" (Russian: "Авиамарш") (official march-past of the Air Force); "14 Minutes Until Launch" (Russian: "14 минут до старта") (official march of the Space Forces)
Anniversaries	Air Force Day; (12 August)
Engagements	Intervention in the Syrian Civil War; 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine;
Website	Official website
Commanders
Current; commander	Colonel General Viktor Afzalov
Deputy Commander-in-Chief	Colonel General Sergey Dronov
Notable; commanders	Colonel General Viktor Bondarev
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Patch
Middle emblem
Insignia

The Russian Aerospace Forces^[2] or Russian Air and Space Forces^[3]^[a] comprise the air and space branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Russia established the VKS as a new branch of its military on 1 August 2015 with the merging of the Russian Air Force (VVS) and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces (VVKO), as recommended by the Ministry of Defence. The VKS has its headquarters in Moscow.^[4] Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu explained the merger as improving efficiency and logistical support.^[5]

^ "Russian Armed Forces: Military Modernization and Reforms" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. 20 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^ "Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister". Archived from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
^ "6 Dead in Fire at Russian Aerospace Defense Research Institute – State Media". The Moscow Times. 21 April 2022.
^ Шойгу объявил о создании нового вида ВС - Воздушно-космических сил Archived 2015-08-05 at the Wayback Machine, ria.ru/defense, 3 August 2015
^ Compare: Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, tass.ru, 3 August 2015. - "'The formation of the Aerospace Forces by combining the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Force is the optimal option for improving the system of the country's aerospace defense,' Shoigu said. [...] 'Now the single command unites aviation, air defense and anti-missile defense troops, space forces and means of the armed forces' [...]."

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[1] "Russian Armed Forces: Military Modernization and Reforms" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. 20 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.

[2] "Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister". Archived from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2017-03-20.

[3] "6 Dead in Fire at Russian Aerospace Defense Research Institute – State Media". The Moscow Times. 21 April 2022.

[5] Шойгу объявил о создании нового вида ВС - Воздушно-космических сил Archived 2015-08-05 at the Wayback Machine, ria.ru/defense, 3 August 2015

[6] Compare: Russia establishes Aerospace Forces as new armed service — Defense Minister Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, tass.ru, 3 August 2015. - "'The formation of the Aerospace Forces by combining the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Force is the optimal option for improving the system of the country's aerospace defense,' Shoigu said. [...] 'Now the single command unites aviation, air defense and anti-missile defense troops, space forces and means of the armed forces' [...]."

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