18th Military Transport Aviation Division
Command Overview
The 18th Military Transport Aviation Division is a formation of the Military Transport Aviation (VTA) branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). Its headquarters is located in Orenburg (Orenburg Oblast). Publicly identified subordinate units include: the 117th Military Transport Aviation Regiment (military unit 45097), the 235th Military Transport Aviation Regiment (military unit 02366), and the 708th Military Transport Aviation Regiment. The division’s primary missions are inter-theater and operational airlift, airdrop of personnel and cargo, and strategic logistics support.
Basing and Location Analysis
The 117th Military Transport Aviation Regiment is based at Orenburg-Tsentralny (Orenburg), a joint civil-military airfield capable of supporting heavy transport operations and well positioned for routes to the Urals, Central Asia, and the Volga region. The 235th Military Transport Aviation Regiment is based at Ulyanovsk-Vostochny (Ulyanovsk Oblast), which has one of Russia’s longest paved runways (approximately 5,000 m) and extensive heavy-lift infrastructure; it is co-located with major aerospace industrial facilities. The 708th Military Transport Aviation Regiment is based at Taganrog-Central air base (Rostov Oblast), positioned in southwestern Russia near the Sea of Azov and configured to support Ilyushin Il-76 operations. Detailed coordinates and restricted operational details are not publicly disclosed.
Order of Battle and Reported Fleet
Based on open-source reporting: the 117th Military Transport Aviation Regiment (military unit 45097) operates approximately 15 Ilyushin Il-76MD and 3 Antonov An-12PPS; the 235th Military Transport Aviation Regiment (military unit 02366) operates a mixed fleet of Ilyushin Il-76MD and Antonov An-124-100; the 708th Military Transport Aviation Regiment operates approximately 26 Ilyushin Il-76MD. Exact aircraft counts fluctuate due to maintenance, overhaul, and operational deployments; official detailed inventories are rarely published.
Infrastructure Capabilities
Orenburg-Tsentralny provides concrete runway(s), cargo aprons, fuel storage, and rail/road access suitable for routine Il-76 operations and airdrop preparation. Ulyanovsk-Vostochny is configured for very heavy aircraft, with a long runway, large hardstands, high-capacity cargo handling, and proximity to aerospace manufacturing and maintenance facilities, enabling support to An-124 and Il-76 fleets. Taganrog-Central supports Il-76 operations with concrete runway and dispersal areas; the broader Taganrog aviation cluster provides additional technical resources. These bases can support cargo palletization, vehicle loading via rear ramps, personnel staging, and night/all-weather operations consistent with VTA mission profiles.
Aircraft Technical Overview: Ilyushin Il-76MD
Role: heavy/operational transport (NATO reporting name: Candid). Powerplant: 4× Soloviev D-30KP series turbofans. Maximum payload: up to approximately 48 tonnes. Cargo hold (typical): about 24.5 m (length) × 3.45 m (width) × 3.4 m (height), with a rear loading ramp. Troop capacity: up to roughly 126 paratroopers or 145 troops (configuration-dependent). Capabilities: airdrop of platforms and personnel, operations from semi-prepared runways (weight and conditions permitting), and night/all-weather flight using onboard navigation systems. Range varies with payload; representative figures in open sources indicate roughly 4,000–5,000 km with substantial loads, and ferry ranges exceeding 7,000 km under optimal conditions.
Aircraft Technical Overview: Antonov An-124-100
Role: strategic heavy transport (NATO reporting name: Condor). Powerplant: 4× Progress D-18T turbofans. Maximum commercial payload (An-124-100): approximately 120 tonnes. Cargo compartment (approximate): 36.5 m (length) × 6.4 m (width) × 4.4 m (height); features nose and tail loading, kneeling nose gear, and integral overhead cranes. Representative range figures: around 4,800 km with 120 tonnes; extended range with lighter loads. The type requires long, high-strength paved runways and specialized ground support, making Ulyanovsk-Vostochny particularly suitable for basing and heavy cargo operations.
Aircraft Technical Overview: Antonov An-12PPS
Role: electronic countermeasures (ECM)/electronic warfare variant of the An-12 (NATO reporting name: Cub). The An-12PPS is equipped with onboard jamming and electronic countermeasure systems used primarily for electronic warfare support and training tasks. Baseline An-12 characteristics include a high-wing, rear-ramp cargo design powered by four turboprops (Ivchenko AI-20 series), with a typical payload around 20 tonnes and operational ranges suitable for regional transport and training missions. Remaining An-12PPS airframes are legacy platforms retained for specialized EW roles.
Operational Roles and Employment
The division’s regiments conduct inter-theater airlift, airdrop of personnel and cargo for airborne and air-assault forces, movement of outsized equipment, and humanitarian/relief missions when tasked. Military Transport Aviation formations have been publicly documented enabling sustained airbridges and surge logistics for national-level exercises and operations, including long-range flights by Il-76 and An-124 aircraft. Typical mission profiles include rapid deployment of units and materiel, resupply to remote garrisons, and support to strategic mobility across Russia’s geographic theaters.
Industrial and Maintenance Linkages
Ulyanovsk hosts major aerospace enterprises, including Aviastar-SP, which manufactures and supports Il-76 variants (including the Il-76MD-90A) and provides heavy maintenance capability for large transports. Co-location of the 235th Regiment at Ulyanovsk-Vostochny facilitates access to heavy-lift infrastructure and industrial support. Maintenance and overhaul for Il-76 and An-124 fleets are carried out within Russia’s aviation industry network; assignment of newly produced or modernized aircraft within VTA is managed at the command level and may vary over time.
Readiness Indicators
Observable readiness indicators for VTA formations include regular large-unit airdrop training, long-range redeployment exercises, participation in strategic command-staff drills, and sustained multi-aircraft transport sorties. The Il-76 fleet supports frequent paratroop and cargo airdrops, while the An-124 provides capacity for oversized loads and long-distance strategic tasks. Publicly available information shows recurring VTA flight activity across key hubs (e.g., Ulyanovsk-Vostochny) consistent with fleet maintenance cycles and operational tasking.
Data Reliability and Caveats
Exact aircraft counts, internal command arrangements, and detailed base layouts are generally not published and may be classified. The reported inventories—117th Regiment: 15× Il-76MD and 3× An-12PPS; 235th Regiment: Il-76MD and An-124-100; 708th Regiment: 26× Il-76MD—reflect open-source reporting and can change due to maintenance, modernization, or reassignment. Where specific figures are not publicly available, they are omitted. This assessment avoids restricted operational details and uses only information suitable for open publication.