Russian Space Forces

Russian Space Forces
Космические войска России
Kosmicheskie voyska Rossii
Emblem of the Russian Space Forces
Active
  • 1992–1997
  • 2001–2011
  • 1 August 2015 – present
Country Russia
TypeSpace force
RoleSpace warfare
Part of Russian Aerospace Forces
March14 минут до старта ("14 Minutes Until Start", official march)
Anniversaries4 October (Space Forces Day)
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces Viktor Afzalov
Commander of the Space Forces Aleksandr Golovko
Insignia
Flag
Middle emblem
Insignia

The Russian Space Forces (Russian: Космические войска России, romanized: Kosmicheskie voyska Rossii, KV) are the space force branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Having been reestablished following August 1, 2015 merger between the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces after the independent arm of service was dissolved in 2011.

Formed on August 10, 1992 alongside the creation of the Russian Armed Forces, the Russian Space Forces was the first independent space force in the world. [1] The organization shared control of the Baikonur Cosmodrome with Roscosmos, the Federal Space Agency. It also operated the Plesetsk and the Svobodny Cosmodromes. However the Russian Space Forces were dissolved in July 1997 and incorporated into the Strategic Missile Forces.[2]

The Russian Space Forces were once again reformed as an independent troop on June 1, 2001, under a military reorganization. However, by December 2011, it was dissolved once again and this time replaced by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.[3]

On August 1, 2015, the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces were merged to form the Russian Aerospace Forces.[4][5] The Russian Space Forces were reestablished as a result, and are now one of three sub-branches of the new military branch.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference nwcr_flightops was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ORT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ria was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Aerospace Forces". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  5. ^ "Шойгу объявил о создании нового вида ВС - Воздушно-космических сил". August 3, 2015. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  6. ^ Russia creates new Aerospace Force service branch Archived December 27, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, janes.com, August 4, 2015