14th Air and Air Defense Forces Army
Organizational Overview
The 14th Air and Air Defense Forces Army is a key formation within the Russian Aerospace Forces, responsible for the defense and operational control of air assets across the Central Military District. Its headquarters, designated as military unit 71592, is located in Yekaterinburg. The current commander is Major General Vladimir Melnikov, indicating a stable and experienced leadership structure. The Army integrates both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aviation assets, as well as air defense capabilities, enabling a comprehensive approach to regional airspace security and force projection.
Location Analysis
The headquarters of the 14th Air and Air Defense Forces Army is situated in Yekaterinburg, a strategic city in the Ural region. This location provides operational depth and facilitates rapid deployment across the vast expanse of the Central Military District. The positioning allows for effective command and control over subordinate units, while also ensuring logistical connectivity to both European and Asian sectors of the Russian Federation.
Infrastructure Capabilities
The infrastructure supporting the 14th Air and Air Defense Forces Army is robust, featuring multiple airfields, maintenance facilities, and command centers. The presence of specialized units such as the 17th Army Aviation Brigade and the 999th Air Base underscores the Army’s ability to sustain high-tempo operations. Facilities are equipped to support a diverse fleet of aircraft, including attack helicopters, transport helicopters, fixed-wing ground attack aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
17th Army Aviation Brigade Composition
The 17th Army Aviation Brigade, designated as military unit 45123, is a principal rotary-wing component of the Army. It operates a fleet of approximately 20 Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters and 20 Mil Mi-8MTV-5 transport helicopters. This combination provides both offensive firepower and tactical mobility, enabling the brigade to conduct a range of missions from close air support to troop transport and logistical resupply.
Air Group of the 17th Army Aviation Brigade
The Air Group of the 17th Army Aviation Brigade, identified as military unit 45123-2, supplements the brigade’s capabilities with an additional 20 Mi-8MTV-5 transport helicopters and 4 Mil Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters. The Mi-26, being the largest and most powerful helicopter in the Russian inventory, significantly enhances the unit’s heavy-lift and logistics support capacity, allowing for the rapid movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies over long distances.
999th Air Base Operational Assets
The 999th Air Base, under military unit 20022, fields a mixed fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. Its assets include 5 Su-25SM and 6 Su-25 ground attack aircraft, 2 Mi-8 helicopters, and 2 An-26 transport aircraft. Additionally, the base operates Orlan-10 and Forpost unmanned aerial vehicles, providing reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering capabilities. This diverse inventory allows the base to support ground operations, conduct tactical air strikes, and perform logistical and surveillance missions.
Command and Control Structure
The command and control structure of the 14th Air and Air Defense Forces Army is centralized at its Yekaterinburg headquarters. The HQ, designated as military unit 71592, coordinates the activities of subordinate aviation brigades and air bases, ensuring operational coherence and rapid response to emerging threats. The structure is designed to integrate air defense and offensive air operations, enhancing the Army’s overall effectiveness in both defensive and expeditionary roles.
Force Projection and Strategic Reach
The combination of attack and transport helicopters, fixed-wing ground attack aircraft, and UAVs across the 14th Air and Air Defense Forces Army’s subordinate units provides significant force projection capabilities. The presence of heavy-lift helicopters and transport aircraft enables rapid deployment and sustainment of forces across the Central Military District, while attack platforms and UAVs offer both offensive and reconnaissance options. This multi-layered approach ensures strategic flexibility and responsiveness to a range of operational scenarios.