105th Guards Mixed Aviation Division
Division Overview and Command Structure
The 105th Guards Mixed Aviation Division is a formation of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) assigned to the 6th Leningrad Red Banner Army of Air and Air Defense in the Western Military District. Divisional headquarters are located at Voronezh (Baltimor air base). The unit was re-established in the mid‑2010s during VKS force reorganization, inheriting historical Guards lineage. The division commands a mixed force of fighter and bomber regiments tasked with air defense, air superiority, and operational‑tactical strike missions, integrating with the Western Military District’s air defense and command-and-control network for airspace control and quick reaction alert.
Headquarters and Base Infrastructure: Voronezh (Baltimor)
Voronezh-Baltimor serves as the divisional headquarters node and the home station of the 47th aviation regiment. The air base underwent major reconstruction in the 2010s, with Russian public reporting indicating new runway, taxiway, and support facilities to sustain Su‑34 bomber operations. The site includes dispersal hardstands and revetments typical of VKS tactical bases, along with maintenance, munitions, and fuel infrastructure. From this central position in the Western Military District, the headquarters coordinates logistics and operations across subordinate regiments. Detailed internal layouts, security measures, and stockholdings are not publicly disclosed.
14th Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 45119)
The 14th Fighter Aviation Regiment is publicly reported at Kursk‑Khalino air base (Kursk Oblast) and operates Su‑30SM multirole fighters; the provided listing indicates a nominal inventory of 24 aircraft. The Su‑30SM’s two‑seat configuration supports both air‑to‑air and air‑to‑surface tasking, including combat air patrol, escort, and limited precision strike. Typical compatible armament includes R‑77‑1 (AA‑12 Adder) and R‑73 (AA‑11 Archer) air‑to‑air missiles, and Kh‑31A/P, Kh‑29, and KAB‑series guided munitions for strike roles. Open-source reporting places this regiment within the 105th Division for air defense and tactical support along the Western Military District’s southwestern sector. Aircraft counts and exact serviceability vary over time due to rotation, maintenance, and operational attrition.
47th Bomber/Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment (military unit 45117)
The 47th regiment is based at Voronezh‑Baltimor and operates Su‑34 tactical bombers; the provided listing indicates 24 aircraft. Open sources commonly refer to it as the 47th Bomber Aviation Regiment (47 BAP), while some references use the designation 47th Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment; both refer to the Su‑34 unit at Baltimor within the 105th Division. The Su‑34 is employed for operational‑tactical strike, including delivery of guided bombs (KAB‑500/1500), Kh‑31 and Kh‑59 series missiles, and, widely reported since 2023, general-purpose bombs fitted with UMPK glide kits for stand‑off release. The regiment’s basing at the divisional headquarters airfield provides proximity to command, logistics, and maintenance resources.
159th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 45121)
The 159th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment is reported at Besovets (Petrozavodsk) air base in the Republic of Karelia. The provided listing indicates 24 Su‑35S plus two Su‑27UB trainers. The Su‑35S is an advanced multirole fighter equipped with the N035 Irbis‑E radar and is compatible with R‑77‑1 and R‑73 air‑to‑air missiles; open sources also document Su‑35S employment of the long‑range R‑37M (AA‑13 Axehead) in combat. The regiment’s location supports air defense and air superiority missions covering northwestern Russia and the Baltic–Arctic approaches, a role whose importance increased after Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024) joined NATO.
790th Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 45118)
The 790th Fighter Aviation Regiment is reported at Khotilovo air base (Tver Oblast). The provided listing indicates a mixed fleet of 19 MiG‑31BSM, 5 MiG‑31BM, and 10 Su‑27SM. The MiG‑31BM/BSM variants are modernized long‑range interceptors typically armed with R‑33S and R‑37M missiles for beyond‑visual‑range engagement and are used for quick reaction alert and long‑range airspace control. The Su‑27SM provides additional fighter coverage and training capacity. This regiment contributes to the air defense of central and northwestern Russia and supports the division’s quick reaction posture.
Aircraft Types and Capabilities Summary
Su‑30SM (multirole fighter): two‑seat platform for air‑to‑air and air‑to‑surface employment; compatible with R‑77‑1 and R‑73 AAMs and Kh‑31/Kh‑29/KAB series for strike; radar is the Bars‑R. Su‑35S (multirole fighter): single‑seat with Irbis‑E radar, digital avionics, and compatibility with R‑77‑1, R‑73, and documented employment of R‑37M; roles include air superiority and suppression/escort. Su‑27SM/UB (legacy/upgrade): used for air defense and conversion training; compatible with R‑77 and R‑73. MiG‑31BM/BSM (long‑range interceptor): high‑speed, high‑altitude interceptor with upgraded radar and avionics, typically employing R‑33S and R‑37M for long‑range interception. Su‑34 (tactical bomber): side‑by‑side two‑seat strike aircraft for medium‑range interdiction and close air support, employing guided bombs (KAB family), air‑to‑surface missiles (Kh‑31/Kh‑59), and, widely reported since 2023, general‑purpose bombs fitted with UMPK glide kits for stand‑off use.
Geographic Distribution and Operational Reach
The division’s regiments are positioned to cover key sectors of western and northwestern Russia: Kursk‑Khalino (14th IAP) in the southwest for air defense and support to operations along the southwestern axis; Voronezh‑Baltimor (47th) centrally within the Western Military District for sustained strike operations; Besovets/Petrozavodsk (159th GvIAP) to safeguard the Baltic–Arctic approaches and the Finland border region; and Khotilovo (790th IAP) for central‑sector air defense and long‑range interception coverage. This dispersion enables layered air defense, flexible tasking, and concentration of effects when required through detachments and rotational deployments. Exact dispersal procedures, alert cycle timings, and readiness states are not publicly disclosed.
Operational Employment Since 2022 (Public Reporting)
Open-source reporting attributes frequent operational activity to the division since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Su‑34 aircraft of the 47th regiment have been repeatedly documented employing guided munitions and, increasingly from 2023, UMPK glide kits on general‑purpose bombs for stand‑off strikes. Su‑30SM and Su‑35S fighters from the 14th and 159th regiments have been cited providing combat air patrol, escort, and suppression/cover missions, including the employment of R‑77‑1 and, in Su‑35S cases, R‑37M. The MiG‑31BM/BSM aircraft of the 790th regiment contribute to long‑range airspace control and quick reaction alert for the central and northwestern regions. Precise sortie rates, loss data by regiment, and classified after‑action assessments are not publicly available.
Infrastructure and Support Considerations
Each regiment’s home base provides routine flight operations support, munitions storage, fuel facilities, and maintenance capacity consistent with VKS tactical aviation standards. Voronezh‑Baltimor’s reconstruction increased its capacity to support Su‑34 operations and divisional command functions. Kursk‑Khalino, Khotilovo, and Besovets feature dispersal hardstands and revetments typical of Russian fighter bases. Interoperability with the 6th Army’s radar and surface‑to‑air missile units provides coordinated airspace control. Detailed inventories of shelters, runway specifications, and base‑level defensive systems are not comprehensively disclosed in public sources.
Modernization and Procurement Notes
Public reporting indicates continuing production and deliveries of Su‑34 and Su‑35S aircraft to VKS units through 2023–2024, as well as ongoing MiG‑31 BM/BSM upgrades across interceptor regiments. The 159th regiment’s Su‑35S fleet has been built up since 2020 via deliveries from the Komsomolsk‑on‑Amur plant. The Su‑34 fleet has been supplemented by newer batches, including enhanced avionics configurations reported in Russian media. Su‑30SM upgrade efforts (Su‑30SM2) have been reported within VKS, but unit‑specific allocations and timelines for the 14th regiment are not consistently confirmed in public sources. Precise delivery schedules, avionics baselines, and weapons integration roadmaps remain largely undisclosed.
Notes on Unit Designations and Source Confidence
The regiment titles, military unit numbers (e.g., 45117, 45118, 45119, 45121), and aircraft counts provided align with common open‑source attributions for the 105th Guards Mixed Aviation Division. Open sources differ on the formal title of the 47th regiment at Voronezh‑Baltimor, with both Bomber Aviation Regiment and Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment used; both refer to the Su‑34 unit at that base under the division. Aircraft inventories within VKS units are dynamic due to rotations, maintenance, upgrades, and combat attrition; reported figures should be treated as snapshots rather than fixed totals. Where specific technical parameters, layouts, or readiness states are not available in public sources or are classified, they are not included here.