12th Military Transport Aviation Division
Order of Battle Overview
The 12th Military Transport Aviation Division is a formation of the Russian Aerospace Forces Military Transport Aviation with headquarters at Tver (Migalovo Air Base). Based on the provided reporting, its listed elements are: 76th Separate Guards Military Transport Aviation Squadron with Antonov An-22; 81st Military Transport Aviation Regiment with Ilyushin Il-76; 196th Guards Military Transport Aviation Regiment (military unit 41486) with Il-76MD; 334th Military Transport Aviation Regiment with Il-76MD and Il-114; 566th Military Transport Aviation Regiment with Antonov An-124; and the 144th Airborne Early Warning and Control Regiment operating Beriev A-50, Il-22M-11, and Mi-8MT. In Russian practice, the AEW and specialized aviation elements are typically managed separately from Military Transport Aviation, but they are co-located and operate closely with transport units.
Location Analysis and Basing
Headquarters and core transport units of the division are centered at Tver (Migalovo), a long-runway heavy airlift base used historically by Il-76 and An-22. The 81st Military Transport Aviation Regiment and the 144th AEW and Control Regiment are based at Ivanovo-Severny, which is the principal operating location for A-50 aircraft. The 334th Military Transport Aviation Regiment is at Pskov-Kresty Air Base in Pskov Oblast, positioned to support nearby airborne formations. The 566th Military Transport Aviation Regiment operates from Sescha Air Base in Bryansk Oblast, the main Russian military hub for An-124 operations. All four airfields are configured for heavy transport operations, with long concrete runways, substantial aprons, and instrument approach procedures.
Aircraft Types and Technical Capabilities
Antonov An-124 Ruslan is a strategic heavy airlifter with a maximum payload generally cited around 120 tonnes, a nose door with kneeling capability and a rear ramp on most airframes, and a typical range on the order of several thousand kilometers under heavy load with ferry range exceeding ten thousand kilometers. Ilyushin Il-76MD is a medium-heavy strategic and operational airlifter with a payload commonly cited at approximately 42 tonnes, capable of paratroop and cargo airdrop, short austere field operations relative to its class, and in-flight refueling on some variants. Antonov An-22 Antei is a heavy turboprop transport historically rated up to roughly 80 tonnes payload, used for outsized cargo and unprepared surface operations more tolerant than jets of the same era. Beriev A-50 and A-50U are AEW and control aircraft based on Il-76 airframes, equipped with Shmel family radars used to detect, track, and control air engagements; open publications describe fighter-size target detection at a few hundred kilometers with the ability to track numerous targets and direct multiple interceptors. Ilyushin Il-22M-11 is a modernized airborne command post and communications relay derivative of the Il-18/Il-22 series; detailed performance and fit remain largely undisclosed publicly. Mi-8MT is a medium multirole helicopter broadly used for transport, liaison, and support tasks.
Unit-Level Roles and Mission Profiles
The 566th Military Transport Aviation Regiment at Sescha provides strategic heavy lift for outsize and ultra-heavy cargo that cannot be carried by other types, to include major equipment and large loads for inter-theater movements. The Il-76-equipped regiments (81st, 196th Guards, 334th) provide the bulk of operational and strategic airlift, including personnel movement, paratroop insertion, cargo airdrop, and rapid sustainment for fielded forces. The 76th Separate Guards Squadron with An-22 retains a unique heavy turboprop capability for bulky loads and operations from less improved surfaces than jet transports of similar payload. The 144th AEW and Control Regiment at Ivanovo provides airborne radar picket, battle management, and communications relay in support of air defense and offensive air operations, as well as command and control augmentation during large-scale exercises and operations.
Infrastructure and Airfield Capabilities
Migalovo, Ivanovo-Severny, Pskov-Kresty, and Sescha are established heavy-transport bases with long, wide concrete runways, dispersed parking, and access routes to rail and road nodes to facilitate rapid loading and throughput. Sescha in particular is configured for An-124 operations with large hardstands, high-capacity fuel and cargo handling, and maintenance infrastructure sized for very large aircraft. Pskov-Kresty is positioned near major road and rail corridors supporting western theaters and is co-located with airborne units it routinely supports. Ivanovo-Severny is equipped for specialized electronics support and mission systems maintenance associated with AEW aircraft, including dedicated hangars, calibration facilities, and ground support for mission avionics.
Operational Employment Patterns
Russian Military Transport Aviation commonly employs Il-76 and An-124 fleets for strategic sustainment, heavy equipment movement, and overseas deployments. Open-source reporting since 2015 has documented frequent Il-76 and An-124 sorties supporting expeditionary logistics, humanitarian aid, and large-scale exercises. The Il-76 regiments also conduct routine paratroop and cargo airdrops to support airborne and special operations training. AEW aircraft from Ivanovo have been used to provide airborne radar coverage and battle management in national air defense exercises and operational taskings; modernization to A-50U standard has been documented in public sources.
Logistics, Sustainment, and Industrial Support
Sustainment of legacy Antonov platforms involves supply chains historically linked to Ukrainian enterprises such as Antonov and Motor Sich; post-2014 restrictions have complicated access to original equipment manufacturer support. Open-source accounts describe Russian domestic maintenance and repair initiatives for D-18T engines used on An-124 and for An-22 components, as well as reliance on parts cannibalization and limited overhauls. For the Il-76 fleet, Russia continues to operate Il-76MD and has introduced the Il-76MD-90A variant, produced at Ulyanovsk, to refresh and expand lift capacity; however, unit-level allocations of MD-90A aircraft are not comprehensively published. Maintenance for A-50 and A-50U mission systems is concentrated at specialized facilities with periodic upgrades documented in state media and industry releases.
Integration with Airborne and Joint Forces
Transport regiments within the 12th Division routinely support the Russian Airborne Troops by providing lift for brigade and division-level airdrop exercises and rapid deployment drills. Pskov-based 334th Military Transport Aviation Regiment is positioned to support airborne units in Pskov Oblast, facilitating short-notice mass airdrop and air-landing. Il-76 units conduct containerized cargo airdrops, platform airdrops of vehicles, and personnel drops using standardized procedures, while An-124 is employed for heavy air-landed delivery. AEW assets from the 144th Regiment integrate with air defense and fighter aviation to provide airborne radar coverage and command and control during joint-force training and operations.
Data Confidence and Open-Source Corroboration
The presented unit structure and basing at Tver, Ivanovo-Severny, Pskov-Kresty, and Sescha align with open-source reporting on Russian Military Transport Aviation and AEW basing. The specific aircraft counts provided should be treated as unconfirmed: multiple open sources in recent years have listed fewer than ten An-22 airframes in usable condition, reflecting the type’s advanced age and limited airworthiness. Public sources generally do not confirm Il-114 service within Military Transport Aviation regiments; the Il-114-300 program has been in flight test and initial production, but operational assignment of Il-114 to the 334th Military Transport Aviation Regiment is not substantiated in open literature. Reported totals of 23 An-124 for the 566th Regiment exceed many open-source assessments of active military An-124 airframes; precise operational counts are not publicly released. Exact aircraft numbers by regiment and real-time readiness rates are typically classified or otherwise not publicly disclosed.
Notable Equipment and Capability Notes
Il-76MD aircraft provide cargo airdrop and personnel insertion capabilities at scale, with standardized paratroop seating and ramp delivery systems for platforms and containers. An-124 supports outsized cargo such as engineering equipment, air defense system components, and large vehicles, benefitting from forward and rear loading options and floor strength designed for heavy tracked loads. A-50 and A-50U provide airborne early warning and control with upgraded avionics on A-50U improving radar performance, reliability, and mission crew workstations; public data indicate the ability to manage multiple intercepts and coordinate air defense assets over extended on-station times. Il-22M-11, as a command post and relay platform, extends communications and command connectivity between airborne, ground, and higher headquarters nodes.
Security and Vulnerability Considerations
Heavy transport and AEW aircraft are high-value assets requiring robust base defense, dispersal options, and hardened or protected parking where available. Open reporting has documented incidents affecting specialized aircraft in recent years, underscoring their operational sensitivity and the importance of maintenance and protection measures. Legacy platforms such as An-22 and older Il-76MD variants face lifecycle sustainment and obsolescence constraints, increasing reliance on modernization, selective overhaul, and careful fleet management to maintain availability.
Summary Assessment
The 12th Military Transport Aviation Division, centered at Tver with key regiments at Ivanovo-Severny, Pskov-Kresty, and Sescha, constitutes a principal component of Russian strategic and operational airlift. Its Il-76 regiments furnish bulk air mobility and airdrop capacity, the 566th Regiment provides ultra-heavy and outsized lift with An-124, and the 76th Squadron preserves specialized heavy turboprop capability with An-22. The 144th AEW and Control Regiment supplies airborne surveillance and battle management from Ivanovo. While the overall structure and basing are well-attested publicly, specific aircraft counts per unit and current readiness levels are not fully disclosed; discrepancies exist between the provided figures and multiple open-source inventories for An-22, An-124, and Il-114.