Unit intelligence profile

Aerospace Forces

Subordinates: 10
Locations: 2

Profile summary

Intelligence briefRF forces

HQ: Moscow, Commander: Colonel General Viktor Afzalov

Assessment

Identification

This record aligns with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), the service branch created on August 1, 2015 by merging the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Forces under a single command. Interfax reported when the service was formed that its main command would be concentrated in Moscow, on Znamenka in the Arbat area, which is consistent with the metadata's Moscow HQ reference. ([tass.com](https://tass.com/russia/812184))

Command

Viktor Afzalov was confirmed as commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces in October 2023. In the latest public source I found naming the current chiefs directly, TASS reported that Afzalov attended a Kremlin armaments meeting on June 11, 2025 in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the VKS, which supports the metadata listing him as commander. ([tass.com](https://tass.com/defense/1698111?utm_source=openai))

Mission

Public descriptions of VKS state that the service unifies aviation, air defense, anti-missile defense, and space forces under one command. Early official breakdowns also listed strategic aviation, military transport aviation, district air-and-air-defense armies, an air-defense/ABM army, and supporting EW, communications, engineering, meteorological, logistics, and research elements. Russian state reporting has also tied VKS formations in the Moscow region to air defense of Moscow and the Central Industrial District. ([tass.com](https://tass.com/russia/812184))

Balashikha site

The first placemark is consistent with military unit 13816, a real Ministry of Defense federal institution registered in Balashikha and described in registry-based public records as conducting activity related to military security. However, I could not verify from authoritative open sources the more specific placemark label describing it as an automotive/electric-gas airfield-technical storage base, so that functional attribution should be treated as unconfirmed. ([spark-interfax.ru](https://spark-interfax.ru/moskovskaya-oblast-balashikha/fku-voiskovaya-chast-inn-5001010441-ogrn-1035000702692-6906d9863aeb226ae0531b9aa8c04bb6?utm_source=openai))

Beloozersky site

The second placemark matches the State Treasury Research and Testing Ground for Aviation Systems named for L.K. Safronov (GkNIPAS) in Beloozersky, Voskresensk. Official sources describe it as one of Russia's larger aviation test complexes, with more than 10,000 hectares, about 50 experimental-base objects, a 2.5 km rail track, and facilities for testing aircraft systems, propulsion, escape systems, parachutes, and civil-aircraft components. Those same official sources list GkNIPAS under the National Research Center "Zhukovsky Institute" since 2015, so its inclusion here as a direct VKS site is ambiguous in open sources and direct VKS control was not publicly confirmed in the material reviewed. ([nrczh.ru](https://nrczh.ru/suborg/gknipas/))

Command structure

Subordinate formations

Russian Air Force

Intelligence briefRF forces

HQ: Moscow, Commander: Lieutenant General Sergey Dronov

8th Special Purpose Aviation Division

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military unit 42829

92nd Special Purpose Helicopter Research and Development Squadron

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military unit 45095-А, (Mi-8, Mi-8AMTSh)

209th Training Aviation Base

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military unit 14254, (Yak-130, Su-25, L-39)

219th Training Aviation Base

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L-39

35th Junior Aviation Specialists School

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military unit 15542

344th Combat and Retraining Center

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military unit 45095, (Mi-24PN, Mi-8MT/MTV-2/MTV-5, Mi-28N, Ka-52, Mi-26)

357th Air Force Training Center

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military unit 27898

1488th Technical Base

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military unit 58172, air defense equipment storage

1494th Technical Base

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military unit 63002

Air Force Repair and Maintenance Base

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military unit 23476

Aviation Equipment Storage Department

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MiG-29

Air Force Receiving and Telegraphic Radio Center

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military units 23452 & 66213

Air Force Separate Engineer Battalion

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military unit 30114

116th Fighter Aviation Combat Use Training Center

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MiG-29UBM, MiG-29SMT

221st Training Air Base

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An-72, An-26, Mi-8.

339th Training Aviation Base

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military unit 21965, (Ansat-U, Mi-8T, Ka-226)

38th Air Force Arsenal

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military unit 21228

Air Force Aeronautical Test Center

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military unit 52527

136th Separate Air Force Communications Regiment (?)

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military unit 41427

339th Air Force Training Base

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military unit 15566

Air Force Engineer Base (?)

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military unit 36713

3754th Central Aviation Technical Base

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military unit 13830

272nd Training Aviation Base of the Krasnodar Higher Military Pilot Aviation School HQ

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military unit 55661

272nd Training Aviation Base of the Krasnodar Higher Military Pilot Aviation School

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military unit 55661, L-39

874th Radio-Technical Troops Specialists Training Center

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military unit 30790

322nd Aircraft Repair Plant

Exploitation and Repair Aviation Center

Research and Training Mixed Air Group

Space Forces

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HQ: Moscow

Command: Colonel-General Aleksandr Golovko

7th Separate Scientific Testing Point

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military unit 85906, Recently expanded (2022)

26th Separate Measurement Point

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military unit 92626

28th Space Forces Arsenal

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military unit 14272

13th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 14129

14th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 26178

14th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 26178

15th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 14038

17th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 77981

18th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 97692

20th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 59946

46th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 14058

48th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 34122

65th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 14086

76th Separate Command and Measurement Complex

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military unit 14108

43rd Separate Scientific Testing Station

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military unit 25522

Separate Measurement Point

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military unit 20608

Space Forces Optical Surveillance Unit

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military unit 71496 (?)

Space Force Testing Center

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military unit 94077

Satellite Communications Center

176th Satellite Communications Center

Air Defense and Missile Defense Forces

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HQ: Moscow, Commander: Lieutenant General Andrey Demin

11th Anti-Aircraft Missile Training Center

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military unit 03215

25th Air and Missile Defense Forces Arsenal

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military unit 11291

25th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 71584, (36D6,55Zh6, 55Zh6U Nebo U)

917th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 48734

1451st Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 39836

2260th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 61943

2268th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 52357

2295th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 68109, HQ

2295th Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 68109, radars

n/a Separate Radio-Technical Battalion

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military unit 06548

590th Separate Radio-Technical Unit for Over-the-Horizon Detection of Air Targets

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military unit 84680, 29B6 Konteyner over-the-horizon radar

Missile Defense Early Warning Point

Missile Defense Early Warning Point (possibly abandoned)

Air Defense and Missile Defense Forces Command Post

1st State Testing Cosmodrome (Plesetsk)

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HQ: Arkhangelsk Oblast, Mirnyy

98th Communications Center

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military unit 32175

2nd Separate Engineering Test Section

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military unit 30107

8th Separate Engineering Test Section

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military unit 01349

16th Separate Engineering Test Section

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military unit 14056

17th Separate Engineering Test Section

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military unit 63551

29th Separate Engineering Test Section

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military unit 13973

83rd Separate Engineering Test Section

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military unit 25922

229th Separate Engineering Test Section

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military unit 14003

Separate Repair Base

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military unit 57334

3rd Measuring Point

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military unit 12403

205th Test Center

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military unit 85907

37th Separate Air Base Maintenance Battalion

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military unit 34185

478th Separate Technical Railway Battalion

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military unit 42643

40th Separate Security Battalion

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millitary unit 42651

75th Separate Operational and Technical Battalion

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military unit 42670

4th State Central Interspecific Test Site (Kapustin Yar)

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military unit 15644

4th State Central Interspecific Test Site (Kapustin Yar)

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military unit 15644

28th Separate Engineering and Testing Unit

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military unit 31925

30th Separate Engineering and Testing Unit

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military unit 52910

35th Separate Mixed Aviation Squadron

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military unit 33782, (Mi-8, An-26, An-72)

60th Missile Troops and Artillery Combat Use Training Center

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military unit 47209

144th Trasmitting Center

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military unit 39216

161st Strategic Missile Forces Technicians School

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military unit 75376

708th Interspecific Air Defense Equipment Research and Testing Center

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military unit 29139

788th Ground Forces Military Equipment Research and Development Center

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military unit 21065

UUB

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military unit 21043

Radio-Technical Site

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P-37

Traning Grounds

3rd Site

4th Site

20th Site

30th Site

32nd Site

34th Site

54th Site

59th Site

60th Site

62nd Site

65th Site

66th Site

69th Site

81st Site

87th Site

102th Site

231st Site

"AMUR" Site

3rd Measuring Point

4th Measuring Point

UI

185th Aerospace Forces Combat Use and Combat Mission Center (Ashuluk)

Intelligence briefRF forces

military unit 28004

185th Aerospace Forces Combat Use and Combat Mission Center (Ashuluk)

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military unit 28004

Air Defense Radars

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59N6-E Protivnik-GE, 5N84A Oborona-14,

Air Defense Radars

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55ZH6M Nebo-M, 48Ya6-K1 Podlet K1, 2E2 Kasta 2E,  1L220-U Zoopark-2 (?)

Ashuluk Railway Station

Staging Area

Air Defense Command Post (?)

S-300 Site

S-300/S-400 Site

S-400 TELs & 92N6E Radar

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2022 imagery show this site empty

S-400 TELs & 92N6E Radar

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2022 imagery show this site empty

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center

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military unit 43431

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center HQ

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military unit 43431

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center

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military unit 43431, transmitting radio center

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center

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military unit 43431, radio center

132nd Aerospace Forces Central Communications Node

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military unit 43431

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center (Object 30177)

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military unit 43431, bunker

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center

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military unit 43431, bunker

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center

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military unit 43431, vehicle park

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center (?)

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military unit 43431

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center

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military unit 43431

678th Aerospace Forces Central Communications Center

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military unit 43441, communications post

Air Defense Radars

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55Zh6U Nebo U

Air Defense Radars

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1L13-3 Nebo-SV

Air Defense Radars

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55Zh6U Nebo U

1L119 Nebo SVU

Air Defense Radars

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ST68UM, 55Zh6U Nebo U, 2E2 Kasta-E

Air Defense Radars

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2021 imagery - site being emptied

Air Defense Radars

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Sopka-2

Air Defense Radars

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P-37, ST68UM/36D6

Air Defense Radars

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5N84A Oborona-14, 55Zh6U Nebo-U

Air Defense Radars

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55Zh6U Nebo-U, Kasta 2E2

Air Defense Radars

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55Zh6U Nebo-U, 48Ya6-K1 Podlet K1

Air Defense Radars

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P-18, 36D6

Air Defense Radars

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P-37, Sopka-2

Air Defense Radars

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55Zh6U Nebo-U

Rezonans-NE very high frequency (VHF) radar system

Intelligence briefRF forces

Designed to detect and track a wide range of air targets at long ranges, including small and stealthy ones.

Air Defense Radars

Intelligence briefRF forces

Sopka-2

Air Defense Radars

Command Posts

Underground Reserve Command Post (of the nearby garrison)

Air Force/Air Defense Command Post

Air Bases

AB Akhtubinsk

AB Anadyr

AB Armavir

AB Ashuluk

AB Bagay-Baranovka

AB Balashov

AB Belaya

AB Belbek

AB Besovets

AB Borisoglebsk

AB Bratsk

AB Budennovsk

AB Burevestnik

AB Buturlinovka

AB Chebenki

AB Chernigovka

AB Chernyakhovsk

AB Chita Severo-Zapadny

AB Chkalovsk

AB Chkalovsky

AB Danilovo

AB Domna

AB Donskoye

AB Dyagilevo

AB Dzhankoi

AB Dzyomgi

AB Engels-2

AB Erebuni

AB Fedotovo

AB Garovka

AB Gromovo

AB Hvardiiske (Gvardeyskoe)

AB Iturup

AB Ivanovo Severny

AB Kacha

AB Kamenny Ruchey

AB Kant

AB Kapustin Yar

AB Khabarovsk Tsentralny

AB Khanskaya

AB Khmeimim

AB Khotilovo

AB Khrabrovo

AB Khurba

AB Kirovskoye

AB Klin

AB Klyuchi

AB Koltsovo International Airport

AB Korenovsk

AB Krasnodar

AB Krymsk

AB Kubinka

AB Kursk Vostochny

AB Kushchevskaya

AB Levashovo

AB Lipetsk

AB Marinovka

AB Michurinsk

AB Migalovo

AB Millerovo

AB Monchegorsk

AB Morozovsk

AB Mozdok

AB Nagurskoye

AB Nalchik

AB Olenya

AB Omsk Severny

AB Orenburg-2

AB Ostafevo

AB Ostrov

AB Perm/Bolshoye Savino

AB Postovaya

AB Pribylovo

AB Primorsko-Akhtarsk

AB Privolzhsky

AB Pskov

AB Pugachyov

AB Pushkin

AB Ramenskoye/Zhukovsky

Intelligence briefRF forces

International Aviation and Space Show

Gromov Flight Research Institute

AB Rogachevo

AB Rostov-na-Donu Tsentralny

AB Rtishchevo

AB Saki

AB Saratov Sokol

AB Seshcha

AB Severomorsk-1

AB Severomorsk-3

AB Shagol

AB Shaykovka

AB Sokerkino

AB Sormovo

Intelligence briefRF forces

Nizhny Novgorod Sokol Aviation Plant; production of MiG-31E interceptors, MiG-29UB fighter-trainer jets, and Yak-130 combat trainer jets;

AB Staraya Russa

Intelligence briefRF forces

Aircraft maintenance facility (Beriev A-50, Ilysuhin Il-76)

AB Step

AB Syzran

AB Taganrog-Tsentralny

AB Taganrog-Yuzhny

AB Tambov

AB Tiksi

AB Tolmachevo Airport

AB Torzhok

AB Uglovoye

AB Ukrainka

AB Ulan-Ude Vostochny

AB Ulyanovsk Vostochny

AB Vnukovo

AB Vorkuta Sovetsky

AB Voronezh Malshevo

AB Vyazma

AB Yelizovo

AB Yermolino

AB Yeysk

AB Zernograd

Geospatial index

Known places

Aerospace Forces Automotive and Electric Gas Service of the Airfield Technical Support Storage Base

Intelligence briefRF forces

military unit 13816