6th Air and Air Defense Forces Army
Organizational Overview
The 6th Air and Air Defense Forces Army is a formation of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) subordinated to the Western Military District. It integrates mixed aviation, army aviation, air defense, radio-technical, command-and-control, and support units to provide airspace control, air defense, and operational air support across Russia’s northwestern strategic direction. The formation traces its lineage to Soviet-era air and air-defense organizations and has been part of the VKS since the 2015 consolidation of the Air Force and Aerospace Defense forces.
Headquarters and Command Structure
Headquarters: military unit 09436, Saint Petersburg. The reported commander is Lieutenant General Oleg Makovetsky. Command and control are supported by the 213rd Command Center (military unit 03213) and a Separate Communications Battalion (military unit 03213-2). These nodes enable planning, air tasking, airspace management, and secure communications across subordinate aviation and air-defense elements, and interface with Western Military District joint command systems.
Geographic Orientation and Mission Set
The formation’s focus is the northwestern axis, including the approaches to Saint Petersburg and the Gulf of Finland, as well as the Baltic and Finnish directions. Core missions include air defense and airspace surveillance, tactical and operational airlift, helicopter assault and close air support, and command-and-control of regional air operations. Supporting tasks include aeromedical evacuation, aerial photography and mapping, and airfield engineering for sustained operations in all seasons.
33rd Separate Mixed Aviation Transport Regiment (military unit 49719)
The 33rd Separate Mixed Aviation Transport Regiment is a theater-level airlift and utility aviation unit reported with 8 An-12, 12 An-26, 2 An-30, 6 An-72, 2 An-148-100E, 2 Tu-134, 2 L-410UVP-E20, 16 Mi-8, and 1 Mi-26. Public reporting places the regiment at Levashovo air base in Saint Petersburg. Roles include intra-theater transport, personnel and cargo movement, airdrop, liaison, and VIP transport. The An-30 is configured for aerial photography and mapping; Russia withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies in December 2021, but the type continues to support cartographic missions. The An-72 and L-410 provide short-field utility lift, while the Mi-26 offers heavy-lift rotary capability.
Mixed Aviation Squadron of the 33rd Regiment
A Mixed Aviation Squadron subordinate to the 33rd Regiment is reported with 6 An-26 and 7 Mi-8MTV-5. This element provides responsive tactical airlift and rotary-wing support for regional tasks, including personnel movement, light cargo transport, and support to command and liaison missions. The Mi-8MTV-5 variant is configured for all-weather, day-night operations with updated avionics and navigation, suitable for assault support and utility roles.
15th Army Aviation Brigade (military unit 44440)
The 15th Army Aviation Brigade is reported with 16 Mi-28N, 10 Mi-35M, 18 Ka-52, 20 Mi-8MTV-5, and 6 Mi-26. Open sources consistently place this brigade at Ostrov (Veretye airfield), Pskov Oblast. The brigade provides attack, reconnaissance, and assault support: Mi-28N and Ka-52 for anti-armor and close air support; Mi-35M and Mi-8MTV-5 for assault transport and fire support; Mi-26 for heavy-lift (up to approximately 20 tonnes) including outsize cargo and recovery. This composition enables massed helicopter operations and rapid concentration of combat power within the regional theater.
378th Army Aviation Base (military unit 41687)
The 378th Army Aviation Base is reported to operate Mi-24V, Mi-24P, and Mi-8MT. These platforms provide a mix of attack (Mi-24 variants) and transport/assault (Mi-8MT) capabilities for close air support, escort, and air assault. Precise current garrison details are not consistently confirmed in open sources and may have been affected by organizational reforms that converted many aviation bases to brigades in the 2013–2015 period.
549th Army Aviation Base and Base Air Group (military units 12633 and 12633-2)
The 549th Army Aviation Base (military unit 12633) is reported with Mi-28N and Mi-8 variants (Mi-8MT, Mi-8MTV-2, Mi-8MTV-5). Its subordinate 549th Base Air Group (military unit 12633-2) is reported with Mi-24PN, Mi-35M, and Mi-8MT/MTV-2. This force mix supports attack, assault transport, escort, and utility missions. Publicly available sources indicate that legacy base designations may persist administratively even where operational control has shifted to brigade structures; current basing specifics are not consistently confirmed in open reporting.
Command, Control, and Communications Backbone
The 213rd Command Center (military unit 03213) and Separate Communications Battalion (military unit 03213-2) constitute the principal command-and-control and communications nodes for the formation. Functions include operational planning, air tasking order dissemination, airspace coordination and deconfliction, datalink and voice communications, and integration with radar and air-defense networks to maintain a recognized air picture and coordinate tactical aviation and air-defense responses.
Air Surveillance and Radio-Technical Support
The 57th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion (military unit 68107) is listed with a question mark and appears twice in the provided data, indicating uncertainty. Radio-technical battalions typically operate fixed and mobile air-surveillance radars and related sensors, generating target tracks and height-finding data for air-defense command posts and fighter aviation control. Public confirmation of the exact structure and current disposition of this specific battalion is limited in open sources.
Airfield Engineering and Sustainment
The 35th Separate Airfield Engineer Battalion (military unit 55603) provides airfield construction, repair, and maintenance, including runway and taxiway repair, pavement restoration, snow and ice removal, obstacle clearance, and rapid damage repair to sustain flight operations in adverse weather and after potential runway damage. Such battalions enable dispersed basing and rapid recovery of air operations, which is essential for survivability and sortie generation in the northwestern theater.
Aircraft and Helicopter Capability Notes
Reported equipment covers fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets across transport, attack, and utility roles. Typical capabilities include: An-12 (medium transport, payload roughly up to 20 tonnes), An-26 (light transport, payload roughly 5–6 tonnes), An-30 (aerial photography and mapping), An-72 (STOL transport), An-148-100E and Tu-134 (passenger transport), L-410UVP-E20 (light utility). Rotary-wing assets include Mi-28N and Ka-52 (attack and reconnaissance, day-night and all-weather), Mi-35M and Mi-24 variants (attack with limited troop transport), Mi-8MT/MTV-2/MTV-5 (assault transport and utility), and Mi-26 (heavy-lift; approximately 20-ton payload). Performance varies by configuration and loading; figures are indicative of publicly known capabilities.
Basing and Infrastructure Considerations
Known anchor locations include the headquarters in Saint Petersburg (military unit 09436) and the 33rd Regiment at Levashovo air base in Saint Petersburg. The 15th Army Aviation Brigade is widely reported at Ostrov (Veretye), Pskov Oblast. Additional helicopter units have been associated in open sources with airfields in Leningrad Oblast, but precise current garrison and dispersal arrangements for the 378th and 549th elements are not consistently confirmed publicly and may be subject to change due to organizational reforms and operational requirements.
Operational Implications
The listed force set enables the formation to combine theater airlift with significant army aviation attack and assault capacity. Transport aircraft and utility helicopters support rapid movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies within the region, while attack helicopters provide close air support and anti-armor effects. Heavy-lift Mi-26s enable movement of outsized loads and recovery operations. Command-and-control and radio-technical elements integrate airspace surveillance with operational tasking, while airfield engineers ensure continuity of flight operations in challenging weather and damage conditions.
Data Reliability and Gaps
Unit identifiers and equipment sets are derived from the provided data and widely reported open information. Items marked with a question mark, such as the 57th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion (military unit 68107), reflect uncertainty or limited public confirmation. The duplication of that battalion in the list could indicate a repeat entry rather than distinct units. Detailed personnel strengths, exact garrison addresses, real-time deployments, and readiness states are not publicly released or are classified and cannot be provided. Some unit designations labeled as aviation bases may have been reorganized into brigades during 2013–2015 reforms; administrative identifiers can persist even as operational control changes.