| Ukrainian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Повітряні сили Збройних сил України | |
 Emblem of the Ukrainian Air Force | |
| Active | 1917–1921 1992–present |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 35,000 (2022)[1] 207 aircraft (2021)[2] |
| Part of | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Headquarters | Vinnytsia |
| Anniversaries | Air Force Day (the first Sunday of August)[3] |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko |
| Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force | Chief Master Sergeant Kostiantyn Stanislavchuk |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Fin flash |  |
| Flag |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-24M, Su-25 |
| Fighter | MiG-29, Su-27, F-16 |
| Helicopter | Mi-8T, Mi-17 |
| Reconnaissance | An-30, Su-24MR, Bayraktar TB2, Tu-141, Tu-143, RQ-11 |
| Trainer | Aero L-39 |
| Transport | Il-76MD, An-24, An-26B, An-30, An-70, An-178 |
The Ukrainian Air Force (Ukrainian: Повітряні сили Збройних сил України, romanized: Povitryani syly Zbroynykh syl Ukrayiny, PS ZSU) is the air force of Ukraine and one of the eight branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[5] Its current form was created in 2004 by merging the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces into the Air Force.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, many aircraft were left in Ukrainian territory. After Ukrainian independence in 1991, the air force suffered from chronic under-investment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise inoperable.[6] However its domestic defense industry Ukroboronprom and its Antonov subsidiary are able to maintain its older aircraft.[7]
The Ukrainian Air Force participated in the war in Donbas.[4] Following the 2014 ceasefire, the air force was suspended from carrying out missions in the areas of Donbas.[8] Since February 2022, the Air Force has been engaged in constant combat operations in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The air force has a few F-16 multirole jetfighters and some Soviet-made aircraft.[9]
- ^ The Military Balance 2022. International Institute for Strategic Studies. February 2022. ISBN 9781000620030.
- ^ Hoyle 2021, p. 32.
- ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №579/2007 Про День Повітряних Сил Збройних Сил України" [DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE No. 579/2007 About the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). 27 June 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
[...] I decree: 1. To establish a holiday in Ukraine - the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to be celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August.
- ^ a b "Ukrainian Air Force put on full combat alert, fighter aircraft scrambled". www.ukrinform.ua. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Military Balance in Russia and Eurasia 2023", The Military Balance, 123: 165–170, 201–205, 14 February 2023, doi:10.1080/04597222.2023.2162717, S2CID 256848656
- ^ "Ukraine returns combat aircraft to service". Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Combat Aircraft, Countries Compared". Nationmaster. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ^ "СНБО: расторжение минских договоренностей даст повод РФ ввести "миротворцев"". LB.ua. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ^ "Ukraine receives first F-16 fighter jets to bolster defenses against Russia, officials tell AP". AP News. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.