Russian Aerospace Defence Forces

Russian Aerospace Defence Forces
Войска воздушно-космической обороны
Voyska vozdushno-kosmicheskoy oborony
Great emblem of the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces
Active1 December 2011–1 August 2015
CountryRussian Federation
TypeSpace force
Anniversaries4 October (Space Forces Day)
Commanders
Current
commander		Aleksandr Golovko
Insignia
Flag
Middle emblem
Insignia

The Russian Aerospace Defence Forces or Russian Air and Space Defence Forces (VVKO)[1] (Russian: Войска воздушно-космической обороны (ВВКО), romanized: Voyska vozdushno-kosmicheskoy oborony (VVKO))[2] was a branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation responsible for aerospace defence, and the operation of Russian military satellites and the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. It was established on 1 December 2011 and replaced the Russian Space Forces.[3]

The Aerospace Defence Forces was first commanded by former Space Forces commander Colonel General Oleg Ostapenko, who was promoted to Deputy Minister of Defence in November 2012.[4][5] In December 2012, Aleksandr Golovko was appointed the new commander.[6] Although it is officially translated as aerospace in English,[7] some Russian writers translate it as "air and space" instead.[4][8]

On 1 August 2015, the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces were merged to form the Russian Aerospace Forces.[9][10]

The Russian Aerospace Defence Forces duties for space defense are now with the Russian Space Forces under the umbrella of the new Russian Aerospace Forces. The RADF today only provides air defense responsibilities.

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  9. ^ "Aerospace Forces". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Шойгу объявил о создании нового вида ВС - Воздушно-космических сил". 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.