21st Guards Mixed Aviation Division
Division Overview
The 21st Guards Mixed Aviation Division is a formation of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) subordinated to the 14th Air and Air Defense Army of the Central Military District. Headquarters are located at Shagol Air Base, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Public reporting identifies Colonel Andrei Yermakov as the division commander as of 2024. The division integrates multi-role strike, tactical reconnaissance, long-range interceptor, and army aviation elements to provide air defense of central Russia and to support strike and reconnaissance tasks across the Urals and western Siberia.
Order of Battle and Equipment
The division’s reported composition includes the 2nd Mixed Aviation Regiment (military unit 69806) with 24 Su-34 strike fighters and 12 Su-24MR tactical reconnaissance aircraft; the 712th Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 82873) with 21 MiG-31BM and 4 MiG-31BSM interceptors; the 764th Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 88503) with 24 MiG-31BSM interceptors; and the 337th Separate Helicopter Regiment (military unit 12739) with approximately 20 Mi-24P attack helicopters and 20 Mi-8AMTSh assault-transport helicopters. Aircraft tallies are subject to routine fluctuation due to maintenance, rotations, upgrades, and operational tasking.
Basing and Geographic Disposition
The division headquarters and the 2nd Mixed Aviation Regiment are based at Shagol, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Open-source reporting places the 712th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Kansk-Dzerzhinskoye air base in Krasnoyarsk Krai, the 764th Fighter Aviation Regiment at Perm Bolshoye Savino airfield in Perm Krai, and the 337th Separate Helicopter Regiment in Novosibirsk Oblast, co-located with the Tolmachevo aviation infrastructure. This distribution spans the Urals and western Siberia, aligning the division with the Central Military District’s air defense and operational coverage.
Infrastructure Capabilities
The division operates from established airfields with long concrete runways, night and instrument flight procedures, and all-weather operations. Shagol is a military air base supporting fighter-bomber and reconnaissance operations with dispersal hardstands and aviation technical facilities. Perm Bolshoye Savino and Novosibirsk Tolmachevo are joint civil-military aerodromes with dedicated military aprons and support zones, enabling heavy logistics throughput and sustained sorties. Kansk-Dzerzhinskoye is a military airfield tailored to high-speed interceptor operations, with munitions storage, fuel facilities, and maintenance areas typical of VKS installations. Standard VKS infrastructure includes revetments, ground support equipment, POL storage, and ordnance handling areas appropriate to the division’s aircraft types.
Aircraft and Systems Capabilities
Su-34 aircraft provide medium-range precision strike with a payload commonly cited up to approximately 12,000 kg across multiple stations, and employ guided and unguided munitions, including precision bombs and anti-radiation or anti-ship missiles from the Kh-31 series, supported by onboard electronic countermeasures such as the Khibiny system. Su-24MR aircraft are dedicated tactical reconnaissance platforms equipped with optical, infrared, radar-mapping, and electronic intelligence sensors; this variant is optimized for ISR and not configured for strike. MiG-31BM and BSM interceptors deliver long-range, high-speed air defense; the BM modernization includes the Zaslon-M radar, multi-target tracking and engagement, and integration of long-range air-to-air missiles such as the R-37M, while retaining Mach 2-plus performance and high-altitude intercept capability. Mi-24P is a gunship variant with a fixed twin-barrel 30 mm cannon and capability to employ guided anti-armor missiles such as the Ataka series, while Mi-8AMTSh is an assault-transport helicopter with armor, modern avionics, and provisions for door guns and guided/unguided ordnance, supporting air assault and logistics.
Operational Roles and Employment
The division’s MiG-31 regiments provide long-range airspace control and interception in coordination with ground-based air defense and airborne early warning assets, contributing to the layered air defense of central Russia. The 2nd Mixed Aviation Regiment executes deep and tactical strike tasks with the Su-34 and conducts tactical reconnaissance with the Su-24MR to support targeting, battle damage assessment, and situational awareness. The 337th Separate Helicopter Regiment provides army aviation support including air assault, close air support, rapid troop movement, medical evacuation, and logistics. The combined force package enables interdiction, defensive counter-air, ISR, and direct ground support missions within the Central Military District’s area of responsibility.
Command, Control, and Integration
The division operates within the VKS command structure of the 14th Air and Air Defense Army, integrating with regional air defense brigades and aviation command posts for tasking and airspace management. Interceptor operations are coordinated with ground-based radar networks and, when available, A-50 or A-50U airborne early warning platforms for beyond-line-of-sight detection and control. Strike and reconnaissance missions are tasked through the district-level air operations system, with targeting support from ISR assets and deconfliction with ground-based air defense units. Standard VKS data links and navigation aids support coordinated employment across dispersed bases.
Support, Maintenance, and Sustainment
Regimental aviation technical battalions and base-level support elements provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, armament handling, and ground support. The division’s jet units rely on established spares and engine support chains for AL-31F series engines on the Su-34 and D-30F6 engines on the MiG-31, while helicopter maintenance covers Klimov TV3-117 or VK-2500 engine families on Mi-8 and Mi-24 variants. Joint-use bases at Perm and Tolmachevo facilitate fuel, cargo handling, and rail-highway intermodal logistics. Routine dispersal between home bases and auxiliary airfields is part of VKS practice to preserve operational continuity.
Regional Posture and Coverage
The division’s basing posture provides layered coverage from the southern Urals across western Siberia, with interceptors positioned to respond rapidly across large airspace sectors and strike-reconnaissance assets positioned for operations to the west, south, and east within the Central Military District. Helicopter assets in Novosibirsk Oblast enhance responsiveness for ground force support and regional mobility. This disposition aligns with the Central Military District’s requirement to secure interior lines, reinforce adjacent districts as directed, and sustain year-round flight operations in continental climate conditions.
Data Notes and Confidence
Unit titles, military unit numbers, and aircraft types cited are consistent with publicly available reporting through 2024. Aircraft quantities are presented as reported and can vary with operational deployments, maintenance, and modernization. Specific classified details such as restricted communications parameters, real-time readiness, or sensitive basing procedures are not included. Where base locations of subordinate regiments are referenced, they reflect open-source documentation of home-stationing and may not account for temporary relocations or detachments.