Russian Air Power: Current Organisation and Aircraft of all Russian Forces (new edition)

A follow up to the hugely popular first publication of Russian Air Power in 2009, Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov bring readers the fully updated and revised new edition. The original volume was the first comprehensive survey published on all the Russian Air Forces and was the result of Yefim Gordon's unrivalled access to information on Russian air forces. Since the first edition was published Russia has undergone a complete restructuring of its air forces.

The previous edition of Russian Air Power described the Russian Air Force's post-Soviet organisation, order of battle and, to a certain extent, the types in Russian Air Force service. In the course of the 20 years that have had elapsed since the demise of the Soviet Union the Russian Air Force and Russian Naval Aviation have had repeatedly been reformed; still, the Russian government was not happy with the results. The Russian President voiced his dissatisfaction with the Air Force's performance especially strongly after the August 2008 operation in the Caucasus whose aim was to 'compel Georgia to peace'. The many reforms of the Russian aircraft industry, too, have failed to yield the desired results. Therefore, the Russian political leaders and military top brass took the decision in 2009 to launch yet another reform of the Russian Armed Forces, including the Air Force. The new Air Force organisation is to improve the control of first-line units by eliminating superfluous and inefficient links in the chain of command.

In 2009 the customary air armies, air divisions and air regiments were replaced by aviation bases, each of which comprises two or three squadrons operating a single type or several types of aircraft. In the course of reorganisation a sizeable number of airbases (military airfields) were transferred to the Air Force reserve and are presently unoccupied. Many air regiments were disbanded, their personnel and aircraft being transferred to other aviation bases. Each aviation base has its unique number and is a direct reporting unit. Moreover, in late 2008 the Russian Air Force started fielding new aircraft and helicopter types. The long-awaited maiden flight of the Sukhoi T-50 (alias PAK FA) - Russia's fifth-generation fighter - took place in late January 2010. The Russian Air Force has a lot riding on this aircraft; some defence analysts believe that the T-50 outperforms the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in several parameters. The Russian Navy has ordered the new MiG-29K/MiG-29KUB shipboard fighter to complement the Su-33; for the Russian Air Force's strategic arm, funding has been allocated for further work on the PAK DA, a new bomber that is to be far superior to both the Russian Tu-160 and the American B-2.

Following a re structuring to Russian's air forces, Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov provide readers with a fully revised and updated new edition of the popular Russian Air Power.The title will include any updates made since the publication of the first edition and provide a true picture of Russian Air Power and forces today. The contents are completely revised and packed with extensive detail, photographs and colour artworks.