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Ukrainian Air Force Повітряні Сили України Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny
Emblem of Ukrainian Air Force
Founded	17 March 1992 -
Country	Ukraine
Size	55,000 personnel 220 aircraft[1]
PS Command	Vinnytsia
Commanders
Commander	Lieutenant General Toropchyn [1]
Insignia
Air Force flag
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-24, Su-25, Mi-24
Fighter	Su-27, MiG-29
Trainer	L-39
Transport	Il-76, An-24, An-26, An-30, Mi-8

The Ukrainian Air force (Ukrainian: Повітряні Сили України, Povitryani Syly Ukrayiny) is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Air Force Command and headquarters are located in the city of Vinnytsia.

Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

The Ukrainian Air Force was established on March 17, 1992, in accordance with a Directive of the General Staff Chief of the Armed Forces. The headquarters of the 24th Air Army of the Soviet Air Force in Vinnytsia served as the basis to create the Air Force Command.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates that Ukraine's Air Force includes three Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer regiments, 7 regiments with Fulcrum and Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, two regiments with Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot', two regiments with 29 Su-24MR reconnaissance 'Fencer', three transport regiments, some support helicopter squadrons, one helicopter training regiment, and five air training regiments with 120 L-39 Albatros. They are grouped into the 5th and 14th Aviation Corps, the 35th Aviation Group, which is a multi-role rapid reaction formation, and a training aviation command. The IISS assesses the overall force size as 817 aircraft of all types and 49,100 personnel. Russian sources disagree and list three aviation groups (West, South, and Centre).^[2]

The Ukrainian Air Force, as befits the second largest country in Europe, boasts a formidable array of modern combat and transport aircraft. The Ukrainian Air Force is considered to be the country's foremost guarantor of its independence and territorial integrity.^{[citation needed]}

It should be noted that all the inoperable Tupolev Tu-160 aircraft that were based at Pryluky have now been either broken up or sold to Russia. Ukraine did operate Tupolev Tu-22Ms and possibly Tupolev Tu-95s for a period after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but they are now out of service. All Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 'Floggers' have been out of service for some time. In 2005, the UAF was planning to restructure, in an effort to improve efficiency. Moreover, Ukraine is planning to put more advanced jet aircraft into service in upcoming years.

Combat Aircraft

• MiG-29 Fulcrum (225)
• Su-27 Flanker (60)
• Su-25 Frogfoot (65)
• Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer (200)

Transport

• Ilyushin Il-76(100 Il-76/78)
• Tupolev Tu-134 (2)
• Antonov An-12 (121)
• Antonov An-24 (13)
• Antonov An-26 (28)
• Antonov An-30
• Antonov An-70 (Expected to enter service in 2008)

Helicopters

• Mil Mi-24 helicopter gunship (280)
• Mil Mi-2 (50)
• Mil Mi-8 (250)
• Mil Mi-26 (25)

Trainers

• Aero L-39 Albatros (450)

• Antonov
• Ukrainian Falcons aerobatic demonstration team
• Military of Ukraine
• Ground Force of Ukrainian Armed Forces
• Ukrainian Navy

1. ^ ^{a b} Trendafilovski, Vladimir (March 2006). "Ukrainian Reforms". AirForces Monthly (#216): pp. 32-39. 
2. ^ http://www8.brinkster.com/vad777/sng/ukraine/ukraine_vvs_chasti.htm

• IISS Military Balance 2006

• (English)/(Ukrainian) Air Force page on the official site of Ministry of Defence: in English, in Ukrainian
• (English) Photo gallery - Ukrainian Falcons in flight.
• (English) Obsolete 1990-s pennants and patches - available from Linden Hill imports