Ukrainian Army Aviation

Ukrainian: Армійська авіація України
Founded| 1992
Country| Ukraine
Type| Army Aviation
Size| 4 Brigades
Engagements|

* War in Donbas[1]
* Russian Invasion of Ukraine[2]

Insignia
Previous logo|
Roundel|
Aircraft flown
Helicopter| Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-24

Military unit

The Ukrainian Army Aviation Ukrainian: Армійська авіація України)[3] is a military aviation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

## History[edit]

The first formations of army aviation in the revived Ukrainian were formed in 1992 when the former Soviet 119th Regiment joined the Ukrainian military.[4]

During the first four months of the War in Donbas, Ukraine suffered considerable losses, including four Mi-24 gunships and two Mi-8 helicopter transports.[5] Due the widespread availability of surface-to-air missiles amongst the separatist militias, the UAA was forced to restrict the use of its assets.[1]

In 2014 the 16th Brigade participated in the liberation of Slovyansk.[6]

### International missions[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2022)

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## Structure[edit]

A Mi-2MSB

Structure:[7]

* 8th Command Post, Chernihiv
* 11th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Kherson", Kherson International Airport (Chornobaivka) attached to 6th Corps[8]
* 1st Squadron (Mi 2, Mi-8 & Mi-24)[8]
* 2nd Squadron (Mi 2, Mi-8 & Mi-24)[8]
* 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Maj Gen Viktor Pavlenko", Novyi Kalyniv Air Base attached to 13th Corps[8][9]
* 1st Squadron (Mi 2, Mi-8 & Mi-24)[8]
* 2nd Squadron (Mi 2, Mi-8 & Mi-24)[8]

A Mi-8MSB-V

* 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Brody", Brody Air Base attached to 8th Corps[8]
* 1st Squadron (Mi 2, Mi-8 & Mi-24)[8]
* 2nd Squadron (Mi 2, Mi-8 & Mi-24)[8]
* 18th Separate Army Aviation Brigade "Ihor Sikorsky", Poltava Air Base[8] (formed 2015)[9]
* 1st Squadron (Mi-2)[8]
* 2nd Squadron (Mi-8)[8]
* 3rd Squadron (Mi-24)[10]
* 18th Separate Helicopter Detachment supporting United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).[10]
* 57th Aviation Base, Brody Air Base[10]

## Aircraft[edit]

The UAA operates overhauled Soviet-era Mi-2, Mi-8, and Mi-24 helicopters. Some of them were locally modernized as the Mi-2MSB, Mi-8MSB-V, and Mi-24PU-1.[2]

An Ukrainian Mi-24

In January 2022, Key.Aero estimated that the UAA had a total of 15 Mi-2s, 60 Mi-8s, and 60 Mi-24s. Some of these were non-operational at the time, while eight Mi-8s were deployed in Congo to support the United Nations MONUSCO mission. Since then, these helicopters were recalled, while allied nations such as the United States and the Czech Republic donated helicopters to help Ukraine replenish its losses in combat.[2]

In December 2023, FlightGlobal estimated that the UAA had a total of 103 helicopters in active service, while in Feburary 2024, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated a total of 60 helicopters in service.[11][12]

### Current equipment[edit]

Aircraft  | Origin  | Type  | Variant  | In service  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | Utility | Mi-8MT
Mi-8MSB-V  | 15[12] − 59[11] | Some modernized by Motor Sich.[2]
Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union  | Attack  | Mi-24/35  | 33[11] − 45[12] |
Trainers
Mil Mi-2 | Poland  | Utility  | Mi-2
Mi-2MSB  | 11[11] | Most were modernized by Motor Sich.[2]

### Former equipment[edit]

The 12th Separate Army Aviation Brigade operated 4 Mi-26 heavy transport helicopters, they were withdrawn from service and placed in storage around the 2000s. The UAA also had a number of Mi-9 flying command posts (though they were used for training or for transport instead),[2] according to the IISS, none remain in service.[12]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Galeotti 2019, p. 50.
2. ^ a b c d e f Trendafilovski, Vladimir (25 July 2022). "An overview of Ukrainian Army Aviation". Key.Aero. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
3. ^ "Армійська авіація – Український мілітарний портал". mil.in.ua. Archived from the original on 2017-02-28.
4. ^ 16th separate Brigade of army aviation (Brody) (16а окрема бригада армійської авіації (Броди)). Aviatsiya Halychyny.
5. ^ Galeotti 2019, p. 49.
6. ^ "10 pilots won't win a war. There must be 100 and all prepared", chief (10 льотчиків не виграють війну. Їх має бути 100 і всі підготовлені — начальник). Hazeta po ukrayinsky. 5 March 2019
7. ^ "Сухопутні війська". www.ukrmilitary.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ukraine Army Aviation". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
9. ^ a b AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2022. p. 44.
10. ^ a b c AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2022. p. 46.
11. ^ a b c d Hoyle 2023, p. 32.
12. ^ a b c d IISS 2024, p. 212.

## Bibliography[edit]

* Galeotti, Mark (2019). Armies of Russia's War in Ukraine. Bloomsbury USA. ISBN 978-1-4728-3344-0.
* Hoyle, Craig (2023). World Air Forces 2024. FlightGlobal (Report). London: Flight Global Insight. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
* International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Russia and Eurasia". The Military Balance 2024. 124. Taylor & Francis: 210−215. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298592.

* v
* t
* e

Armed Forces of Ukraine

* Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
* National Security and Defence Council
* Ministry of Defence
* General Staff
* Ground Forces
* Air Force
* Marine Corps
* Navy
* Air Assault Forces
* Special Operations Forces

Structure|

| Ground Forces|

* Armoured Forces
* Mechanized Infantry
* Rocket Forces and Field Artillery
* Air Defense Missile Artillery
* Army Aviation
* Corps of Engineers of Ukraine

|

Air Force|

* Combat Aviation
* Non-combat Aviation
* Transportation
* Anti Air Defense Missile Artillery Forces
* Radar Technology Forces
* Unmanned Systems Forces

Marine Corps|

* Coastal Defense Missile Artillery
* Marine Corps bases

Navy|

* Naval Aviation
* River Flotilla
* Naval bases

Air Assault Forces|

* Air landing forces
* Airmobile forces

Other/support|

* Military Police
* Main Directorate of Intelligence
* Territorial Defense Forces
* International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine
* State Transport Special Service
* Arms Supply
* Logistical Rear Support
* Sports

Paramilitary Reserves|

* National Guard
* State Border Guard
* Sea Guard

Former formations|

* State Emergency Service
* Civil Defense Troops
* Air Defense (1992–2004)
* Internal Troops (1991–2014)
* Strategic aviation

Insignia|

* Ukrainian Armed Forces branch insignia
* Military ranks
* Awards and decorations

* Military formations
* List of guards units
* Defence companies

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